Tag Archives: electronic music

Intermedia, Software

Audio Envelope Follower to MIDI CC

“Envelope Follower to MIDI CC” is a Max/MSP patch and stand-alone application for converting audio files into MIDI CC messages in real-time. Just load an audio file, play it, and you’ll be sending MIDI CC data based upon the amplitude envelope of the audio file. You have controls over MIDI data scaling, sampling rate, audio playback speed, and strict playback duration for mapping projects.

The impetus for the tool comes from not being satisfied with available options to convert audio amplitude into MIDI data for Digital Audio Workstation mapping projects. As a teacher, I wanted to create a resource to enable student mapping that leverages their own digital tools.

I made the software available as a repository on github. You don’t need to Max/MSP to run; I made a basic stand-alone application as well and the link is included on github.

If you dig the free software, please listen, share, and follow my music on Spotify.

Composition, Music, Publication

Random Playback Vol. 1: Rhythmcremental

Are streaming services ready for dynamic random-order concept albums?

Random Playback is a music album that explores using dynamically looped playback to generate a unique listening experience for your own device (and which never ends). The album leverages streaming technology to randomly playback material endlessly and aims to simultaneously test the boundaries of streaming services’ “gapless playback“ feature. Just hit shuffle, repeat, and play.*

Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Amazon Music.
Listen on Apple.

*phone apps for Amazon Music and Apple services are the most seamless for shuffle playback.

UPDATE 9/21/21: While Spotify is seamless on chronological, non-shuffle playback, Spotify seems to falter if randomizing playback (confirmed by other users). Amazon Music Unlimited, however, seems to handle randomization playback well, nearly seamless (from the phone app). Apple Music also has seamless shuffle playback from the phone app. That said, any browser playback has terrible audio drops between songs on shuffle mode for all services.

The source material was generated and recorded with permission from playing an iOS clicker game, Rhythmcremental, created by Batta (Simon Hutchinson and Paul Turowski). Huge shout out to Simon and Paul. And do check out their game. It’s addictive.