Hello, hello, welcome back.
Let’s just get right into it:
So, remind me, what is this project again?
Using Max8, an audio oriented visual programming language, the Mastermind suite is made up of several different modules that come together with a Digital Audio Workstation such as Logic Pro X or Ableton Live to create an interactive music system that can autonomously generate music.
The system takes advantage of the powerful synthesis engines available in a DAW, and provides an environment that encourages creativity and serendipity in the same way a physical synthesizer would. With a couple knob and slider adjustments, pressing a single note on a synthesizer can create a beautiful sound that can empower even those with no music theory knowledge. This system takes that to the next level, with an inboard algorithm that can autonomously generate melodies. This allows someone who is interested or intrigued by music production to have a hands on experience that won’t leave them at a loss if they have limited knowledge of music theory.
Emulating the design of synthesizer, the virtual system makes it clear what action is being performed if you press a button or turn a knob, and a wide array of parameters allows the user to modulate the melodies to a great extent, ultimately providing the ability for a musician of any experience level to make a satisfying soundscape.
And once again, if that doesn’t make a whole lotta sense and/or you don’t want to read it, here’s a Senior Thesis Blog exclusive demo of it:
Mastermind Demo (Chord Generator Module)
Cool, so how’s the progress on it?
Good and bad. Let me explain:
On top of all the pandemic-y curveballs this semester, one of the biggest curveballs for me was suddenly stumbling into an internship this semester. While having an internship at all during this time was great, the circumstances threw a wrench in the free time I was trying to make room for by taking three classes this semester.
Suffice to say, I didn’t have nearly as much free time as I anticipated, so the only pen-on-paper progress made on the project itself so far has been some polish and changes to the chord generator module (the one shown in the video).
That being said, while the “pen-on-paper” progress hasn’t been as much as I would’ve wanted, the other courses that have been occupying my time this semester focused on the software that I’m using for this project, and that is helped greatly with solidifying my plan for moving forward, along with gathering new experience that can be properly used as I move ahead. Beyond that, not being able to make significant progress has allowed ideas I’ve had to really gestate, so I can go into the more abstract pieces such as the visual design with a strong starting pointing.
So what’s next for this then?
As you’ve probably gathered by now, this project is kind of an oddball, so planning for it is more akin to planning an art project than planning for an essay.
There are next steps, but they’re more abstract than just writing the next paragraph.
I’ve covered the bulk of the more concrete steps in my last post, you can refer to that to get the gist of my next steps, but as I said there, past those steps the future of this project turns into a whimsical blur.
While I am confident that I will be able to hit everything on that itinerary before April, what I’m less sure about is exactly how long that will take. Working in Max8 can be a surreal experience, in that it is really difficult to gauge how long it can take to solve a given problem.
This is important because it not only applies to the necessities I have on the itinerary, but it also applies to the potentially following steps.
I may end up having time to explore visualizers in Max, or I may end up having time to create an entirely new module, it’s just kinda up in the air for now.
All that being said, winter break is coming up, and thanks to how the school is handling our breaks, it’s a long one, a really long one, so I’ll likely be looking to kick this project into full gear come January.
Until then…
Feel free to throw any crazy ideas for it at me. Until that future blur is solidified, they’ll be valid for me to consider.
I recently had an assignment about sound design and one of the things I learned was that sound design is very unique because of the objects that can be used to it. I think this project a good example of that. To someone like myself who has had an interest in creating music and sound production for some time, I would definitely use this.
As a beginner, I think it would be helpful to include a short manual with icons with a basic description of what each piece is meant to do. It may be good to outline issues or potential roadblocks you think you may run into, I understand how unpredictable apps on a computer can be (experience within adobe creative cloud).
Lastly, Have a plan to check in with professors about the progress of your project to show what you have, ask questions, and receive feedback.