akshay mahimtura

mellow reindeer · Vacant

#1

First foray

I used a programming language called ChucK to develop this composition. My aim was to play and experiment with code and computer science to generate sound/music (rather than to create a particularly pleasant-sounding composition).

This piece uses three different types of oscillators to produce randomly-generated sound within set frequency ranges, but also follows established musical conventions, such as partially travelling up and down the chromatic scale.

Code

#2

Glitch Techno

'Glitchy' techno piece programmed by manipulating samples with ChucK. I recommend using headphones to listen to this composition as it features a low bassline.

Code

#3

Raga Remix

Based on Dr. Ajay Kapur's Raga Jam coded with ChucK, this piece features a programmed sitar-line, drone(s), and percussion, and uses various audio effects including delay, reverb, and pitch shift. I have composed it in the style of a Dhanasri/Dhanashree North Indian Raga (or melodic mode).

Code

#4

Heartening

This is a composition called "Heartening" I programmed with ChucK. This piece features a stiff string instrument, modal bars, drums and percussion, a synthesizer, and a variety of audio effects. It uses both manipulated samples and program-generated sound.

Code

#5

Blast Beats

"Blast beats" composition I programmed with ChucK, using manipulated samples and a public BPM (beats per minute) class; i.e, "on the fly drumming with global BPM conducting." This piece is inspired by drummers like George Kollias and Riccardo Merlini, who play blast beats at fast tempos.

Code

#6

Simple Drum Machine with Max/MSP

One of my first creations with Max/MSP visual programming language, thanks to Dr. Matthew Wright’s excellent tutorials. I created a drum machine consisting of a hi-hat, kick drum, and snare drum. The patch is designed for the user to be able to manipulate the snare pattern and the rate of the beat, as I do in the video below.

#7

Additive Synthesis with Max/MSP: An Exercise in Sound Design

Here I have created an additive synthesis patch, featuring four different envelopes and four oscillator types. I have also crafted some of my own presets (as seen towards the bottom right) for the values of the frequency multipliers/dividers of the oscillators, envelope shapes, and values of the gain~ objects, respectively. The possibilities are virtually endless, as one can alter the envelope shapes and multiply or divide frequency values (by floating point numbers, even), vary note duration and/or velocity, and more, to create all kinds of unique, complex, and savable synthesizer presets.

Check out the image below with all the features/patch cords, followed by the video demo. h/t Peter Batchelor's tutorials.

Note: In the video, I am not playing a composition; rather, I experiment with and adjust the parameters of the patch (using presets I made myself) to create custom synthesizers with unique timbres, textures, and qualities. I have hidden the patch cords and some objects for neatness.

#8

Polyrhythmic Live Coding Jam

I dive into live coding with a fun 'jam' using TidalCycles.

#9

Macadamia (Live Coding Jam)

Another 'jam'-like composition using TidalCycles. This is a piece I call "Macadamia." This time I tried out various functions/effects including reverb, 'randomness,' and more. I encourage you to use headphones to listen.

(Note: On line 8, I made a minor error. I meant to type "psr:3*4").

#10

Facsimile

Made with flin + grid.