Machine Listening Eurorack Module (2016)

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses and documents the implementation for a eurorack synthesizer module to extract instantaneous features from an incoming audio signal. This includes its function within an improvisational and compositional environment. Note that the majority of this information was compiled from various forums, help topics, and internet tutorials within DIY synth and hacking communities. While many of the details are technical, others exist as mere anecdotal advice for future instrument builders who want to make embedded audio applications. Hopefully the tutorials, software, and documentation presented will help aid that process.

I. INTRODUCTION

In the context of computer music, the migration of laptop techniques to dedicated open-source hardware is a blossoming space for developers. As ARM devices become smaller and more affordable, porting audio applications to hardware devices without the need for dedicated DSP chips has become a feasible option for digital musical instrument makers. This phenomenon has led to a flourishing community of synthesizer designers who share and open-source their hardware and software implementations. This paper documents a hardware synthesizer utility module (shown in Figure 1) and discusses current technologies surrounding this community. Specifically, the tool embeds machine listening techniques to encourage improvisation and create new mappings for electronic composition within the eurorack format. This paper focuses on development with Raspberry Pi running the Raspian operating system using open-source hardware and software packages. Furthermore, it introduces current work in development of a feature extraction library written in C++. Lastly, I discuss my experience working with the module within a music composition context.

Continue Reading: Full Paper (PDF)