David Grunzweig
Music 220A
Assignment 4
For this assignment I was intrested in using the spectral centroid functionality presented in the sample code on the homework. As I read through the code, there was a line warning against the possibility of feedback if using both speakers and a microphone simultaneously. However, this actually lead me to be quite curious about what it would sound like if the computer attempted to sing with itself and what that feedback loop would sound like. So I hooked the speaker output of the computer upto a delay pedal and a mixer, ran the dry signal into the left speaker and the delayed signal into the right speaker. The result is a serious of oscilations that tend to follow a rhythmic cycle of increasing and decreasing cycle speed. As the rhythm becomes faster, it becomes more difficult for the tracker to determine the pitch and thus goes with the default pitch which is much lower in frequency. This, combined with some simple guitar playing, causes the feedback oscillation to move in and out of a chaotic state. I used this feature in the improve sections exclusively and in the second scored section. In the 1st rhythm section, I used the same pitch tracking system, but used my FM analog drum machine as the driving instrument. In the 2nd Rhythm section, I implemented the Additive Synthesis method and paired the drum rhythm with my guitar. I used a steel slide on my guitar to create the microchromatic pitches and eerie slides. Files:
Final Wave
Chuck Score
DBAP4 panning tool
Additive Synth File used in Rhythm Section 2
Spectrum Tracker For Improv Sections
Spectrum Tracker For Scored Section 2
First Improv
First Scored
First Rhythmic
Second Improv
Second Scored
Second Rhythmic