Looptober 2024

This year for Looptober I decided to use my Arduino (in combination with my modular synth rack) for every track. The source code for each day's track is here and the tracks are on my Funkwhale server

Track notes

1 Logistic

Using the logistic map at an almost-chaotic point to control pitch

2 300 Baudrillard

The noise is the output from the logistic map as an audio-rate signal, sequencer is also the Arduino

3 Spoopy

Using my basic sequencer to drive three tracks. It goes out of sync because the basic sequencer has bad timing.

4 Strong Fish's Fight Theme

I implemented the Karplus-Strong algorithm early this year, this is two tracks of that with different filters applied in the modular.

5 Bad Wavetable

Using some very dodgy wavetable synthesis I did earlier this year

6 Cyber Jubilee

More of the wavetables but this time the aliasing adds to the effect

7 Mutations

Modifying a sequence as it's being played

8 Cellophane

First experiment with generating clouds of randomised gate signals

9 Stomp 7

More sequencing and a 7-TET tuning system. The timing errors really show up at the end of this

10 Too Many LFOs

Using all four of the DAC's outputs as LFOs to drive a bunch of settings on two tracks of synths

11 Scratchpad

A beat made with Karplus-Strong through a waveshaper module and filter and echo

12 Interrupt

I relearned what I'd forgotten about Arduino interrupts and got a sequencer which can count time properly

13 Accidental FM

Accidentally made an FM synthesiser by plugging the Karplus-Strong rhythm into a VCO's pitch control

14 Mondayitis

Trying to make something moody with the sequencer

15 Stretch

Trying to make something a bit funky with Karplus-Strong but that accidental FM synth is crawling around in the background

16 Eggmeat for Rooroo

The accidental FM synthesiser being tweaked in two channels

17 Superheterodyne

Fiddling with sliders on one of my synth modules resulted in this scratchy stuff

18 At Anchor

A better (I think) attempt at making something moody with the sequencer

19 Craquelure

Using the random-note-clouds technique from the 8th but this time picking pitches from a hexany tuning, running it four times and drenching it in reverb

20 Fibomod

Using the Fibonacci series modulo n, also known as the (Pisano period)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisano_period], as a wavetable, and incrementing n for each note in the sequence

21 Jacob's Ladder

Deliberate FM synthesis by using a wavetable as the control voltage of a VCO

22 Onomatopoeia

Triggering LFO patterns from the sequencer

23 Ha Ha

Using the triggering stuff from 22 to build a track with more structure

24 Wander

Another 7TET piece using the sequencer

25 Ribosome

Using the sequencer to trigger envelopes and LFOs at two scales - notes and bars

26 Slew

Basic slew / portamento

27 Stasis Field

A single track I recorded when trying to make Ribosome and left for later because I liked it

28 Spores

One thing I wanted to get working this year was triggering clouds of small events which I could layer up into richer textures. I didn't really succeed, this is as close as I got.

29 Nickel Itch

Controlling the AR logistic function with the sequencer and distorting and filtering with the modular. This is probably my favourite track. Nickel itch is a skin irritation caused by that metal which afflicts manual workers in electroplating shops.

30 Processor

More sequenced/timed control of the AR logistic noise

31 Two Against One

Trying to drive the Fibonacci algorithm with the sequencer ended up with one really good track and a bunch of failed attempts to make a bassline to go with it. Then I decided to use the attempts by themselves. Then I came back to do the mixdown and thought of adding the original track over the top. This is my second favourite after Nickel Itch.