Sonic Pi script to create four-part harmony from incoming notes using the “rotating chords” effect pioneered by Robby Kilgore in his work with Michael Brecker. Video here: https://vimeo.com/214204872
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# Thirty years ago, Robby Kilgore invented a neat harmonization effect for Michael Brecker: http://robbykilgore.com/?p=19 | |
# The basic idea is that incoming notes are doubled by rotating intervals. So you get diverse chords from the same melodic notes. | |
# This script is an attempt to reproduce the same effect. | |
use_real_time # Prevents latency | |
use_synth :fm # Other interesting synth sounds for this: [:hoover, :prophet, :blade, :fm] | |
middle=[-8, -5, -7, -1].ring # Rotating intervals for the middle note of each chord. | |
low=[-12, -17, 0].ring # Rotating intervals for the “bass” note of each chord. | |
# Set up the different voices, as silent and long… | |
melody = play 0, release: 1000, amp: 0, cutoff_slide: 0.02 | |
fifth = play 0, release: 1000, amp: 0, cutoff_slide: 0.02 | |
middle_voice = play 0, release: 1000, amp: 0, cutoff_slide: 0.02 | |
low_voice = play 0, release: 1000, amp: 0, cutoff_slide: 0.02 | |
live_loop :notes do | |
note_on, velocity = sync "/midi/USB_Midi_Cable/4/1/note_on" # Get incoming notes from a MIDI device. | |
if velocity > 0 # Only act on actual note_on messages. | |
control melody, note: note_on, amp: velocity / 127.0 | |
control fifth, note: note_on + 7, amp: velocity / 150.0 | |
control middle_voice, note: note_on + middle.tick, amp: velocity / 180.0 | |
control low_voice, note: note_on + low.look, amp: velocity / 127.0 | |
end | |
end | |
live_loop :windy do # Use breath control (CC 2) to modulate filter cutoff. | |
control_change, breath = sync "/midi/USB_Midi_Cable/4/1/control_change" | |
if control_change==2 | |
control melody, cutoff: breath | |
control fifth, cutoff: breath | |
control middle_voice, cutoff: breath | |
control low_voice, cutoff: breath | |
end | |
end |
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You could make this a little succinct by changing line 19 to: