An Experiment in A New Kind of Music (music creator)

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » 2005-09-10 06:33am

Stephen Wolfram's Wolfram Research has produced an new application:

WolframTones-- 'An Experiment in A New Kind of Music'.
It combines the principles in Stephen's book, 'A New Kind of Science' and Mathematica to 'instantly create unique music' in many different styles. They describe it as pretty neat as well as being scientifically interesting, and useful.

After listening to some compositions and creating a few random ones myself, I must agree that it is. And anyone who has listen to the radio the last few years could certainly use some unique music."
Wolfram
Cute

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2005-09-10 12:53pm

It's interesting, although what's just as interesting is how far back the concept of mathematically generated music goes, as IIRC, there was a dice game composers could use to write minuets in the late 18th century.

Duckie · Post by **Duckie** » 2005-09-10 08:49pm

Interesting. The Country and Experimental Buttons are a little iffy, but it nails Classical and Ambient right down. They're actually pretty good, even if the instruments aren't distinct enough (you should never be able to have a Japanese Flute and a Middle Eastern Percussion create Country Music that sounds half alright.)

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2005-09-11 12:28am

I agree, the Country button is in need of fine tuning. Or perhaps, there's somethings you can't make computers do.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2005-09-11 01:45pm

Doesn't do blues & jazz that well since both styles have lots of improv and off-beat stuff which can't really be punched into a formula. Both can change scales & time signatures and even instruments in the middle of a song so it's hard to get right. With the computer model it's far too structured and doesn't have life & groove to it. Probably have to put a beat & scale shifter into the thing.

Drewcifer · Post by **Drewcifer** » 2005-09-11 04:36pm

hehe they almost all sound like crappy jam bands to me. Very cool and interesting though, applying this to music. Me likey.

IRG CommandoJoe · Post by **IRG CommandoJoe** » 2005-09-11 11:50pm

MRDOD wrote:The Country and Experimental Buttons are a little iffy, but it nails Classical and Ambient right down.

"Classical" sucks. It sounds just like a bunch of notes jumbled together, without there ever being a cohesive melody played by the whole "orchestra." The strings are always going off on their own paths while whatever instrument plays something totally different. It needs much work to pass off as "classical."