Live Coding

Strudel.cc

Live Coding Music

Everyone knows that computer programs and games contain music, however those sounds are predetermined functions created by a programmer to accompany specific onscreen visuals triggered by user events.

Traditionally, musicians perform on instruments with their fingers, hands and feet. Up ‘till now the only way to combine an interactive collaboration between computers and humans was modular synthesis. 

Alex McLean is one of the founders of a new genre of music creation and performance, known as “Live Coding”. With Live Coding, the performer starts from a blank computer screen and begins entering in commands that will direct a software synthesizer or sampler to make a sound, in the manner chosen by the user. 

Strudel.cc is a clever program developed by Alex McLean to enable the user to access audio generators and effects in a web browser with simple code in real time. effects like delay and modulation can also be utilized to affect the core sound and produce rhythms and melodies. 

This new-ish music genre is mostly designed to be performed live, with the coding screen projected to allow the audience to witness the music evolve from a black screen to a full piece. 

I like that this method scratches multiple itches, and ties it to live performance. I’ve been able to make some noises, but in time and with much practice I may just be able to make something decent sounding. 

Slay The Space Dragon

 

Slay The Space Dragon by Voltsmyth 

Inspiration be damned. 

What will I do? What can I do? What should I do? 

My own internal struggle isn’t just an artistic one, it is a desperate struggle for the existence of my damaged soul within a confusing, fragile new life beyond cancer. 

What can I do? What should I do? What will I do? 

For me family comes first, which is why I’m still here. However, since winning that battle (for now), I’m now faced with a new, deeply personal question; what do I do next? 

Perhaps, it is because I found a love for art and music when I was very young, that it became a new focus in my mind. During my recovery, without provocation the first skills that re-emerged where those very skills. Even before I could trust myself to handle boiling a kettle, or climbing in and out of a bath, I found the empowering nature of digital art and music on my iPad. 

Like my new pandemic-puppy, this incredible digital device brought me immense cathartic enjoyment, and greatly boosted my confidence and a new sense of identity. Whoosh, that’s heavy!

Art and music therapy has for years been proven to help people heal and improve their lives. I knew this, but no one signed me up for an art therapy course, my soul decided on its own, that the most important choice I could make is to welcome (without judgement) the music and art as it would come to me. I am very grateful, thankful and pleased that it did.

This brings me to how I discovered my new electronic identity, Voltsmyth. This project gives me a joint outlet for both art and music that feed off each other. Engaging in this project (for what it is) presents me with challenges and problem solving opportunities. Penning this very blog is an eye-straining arduous process, fraught with spelling and grammatical mistakes (I have no hope of learning a new language, as I can barely use this one). No one is pushing this agenda or production schedule on me, so I have incurred none of the usual negativity and self-imposed pressure associated with that.  

Thankfully, I have a wild imagination, bizarre concepts continue to flood my mind. Since there is no physical or financial risk involved, and literally no expectations of me, I have thankfully found a stress-free digital playground, where I can focus on my personal love of creativity, on my new uncharted path.

Voltsmyth cosmic-electronica music is available on Bandcamp, streaming services and YouTube. 

Gratefully,
Nudge

A.I. Generated Images

 

Introducing Professor Joseph Humble MD

These impressive images were created by me almost entirely, using a free online AI image generation algorithm.  My involvement began with entering a simple text description, “mad radiation scientist in a laboratory”, and then like George Jetson I pressed the Enter button. Within a matter of a minute each, I was delivered these two images that are incredibly close to the character design I had envisioned. How incredible? How Unbelievable? How the hell does it do it?

The only other input I had was to accept it. I then applied a bit of my own artistic skills on top of it. I used current iPad image editing tools to adjust the colours, contrast and saturation, which ironically are also a form of A.I., so really what did I honestly do. Ultimately, I guess I (human) had an idea, then I gave that to a computer (created by humans) and then I curated it into what you see now.   

Is this wrong? Is it worse that tracing? When I was young I recall “tracing” an image was considered stealing. Is an excel spreadsheet cheating? Is a synthesizer that makes a piano sound, not a piano? These types of questions can go on and on forever.  

Anyway, as a user of things and a happy beneficiary of technology, I see myself being in any position to stop or change the course of technology. I often look at century old photos of cities and remark at all the horses in the streets. Horses were the cars and tools of the day. These days, people don’t seem to miss the horse shit in the streets.

Looking to the future, keep your eyes peeled for more from Professor Joseph Humble MD. There’s more to be seen and heard of from him and his Humble Initiative. The first project has already been leaked to the universe. It’s an audio romp involving the doctor and an unfortunate reluctant hero name ‘X1’. It is available on Bandcamp.com and most streaming platforms as ‘The Humble Initiative’ by Voltsmyth. 

Remember, “We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams”. Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy from the poem ODE. Famously said by the character Willy Wonka.

Be good to yourself, Nudge.  

Delivered From Evil

 I so badly want to put this struggle with cancer behind me and not let it define me. The first half of 2021 had me return to work and make a concerted effort to have a semi-normal life, but we know how that turned out. 

So again, I’m looking forward to a time when cancer is not my main focus. Just two weeks after surgery and we are still waiting for the pathology report. Did they get it all out? The weight of that question is sometimes a little too much to bear at the moment. 

I secretly want to feel like the tough guy movie star who doesn’t look back when the massive explosion goes off behind them. They are victorious, and cool. I want that feeling. I want to feel like I’m free of my chaotic past and that I have been Delivered From Evil. 

That’s how obsessions start; Delivered From Evil (DfE) is now my umbrella working title for some personal creative projects. Starting with a bit of logo art. Why not?