Topics

Building a chord sequence starting from a harmonic spectrum.

Functions used

pitchwheel, x-append, om-random, nth-random, repeat-n, om+ and CHORD-SEQ.

Description

In this example we will generate chords starting from a harmonic spectrum that we have constructed in tutorial 8 and transpose the results on different degrees (I - IV - I - V - I ). We will also play the resulting sequence thru a midi-expander using microtuning.

Patch structure

A: First, we shall use the harmonic spectrum we have generated in tutorial 8. Copy, or <alt-drag> the CHORD object (G) of tutorial 8 onto a new patch.

In order to visualize and play microtones one must select in the pop-up menu the desired resolution (1/2 for semitones, 1/4 for quarter tones and 1/8 for eightones).

To view the spectrum as a scale, choose 'order'.

B: Then we must send pitchbend messages to our midi expander using pitchwheel functions for each channel (see tutorial 10).

C: nth-random will randomly pick an element from a given list.

E: We will use repeat-n in order to repeat nth-random (C) n-times depending on om-random's (D)output.This will result in a chord constructed from our spectrum with a variable density between 3 to 10 notes chord.

F: Another repeat-n will be used to generate 5 different chords.

G: In order to modify the spectral harmony, we will transpose the generated chords to the upper perfect fourth (500 midicents) using om+ (H), and a perfect fifth (700 midics) (I).

Now remember, our process above will be evaluated five times because it is five times connected to x-append. This will result in five different sequences of chords based on a harmonic spectrum with two transpositions of this spectrum, all collected in a CHORD-SEQ (J).