Cell Music / Brain Music

(Play the video at a high volume, it's very quiet)

A little program I created in NetLogo to generate algorithmic music based on the "Brian's Brain" cellular automation. Each time the states of the cells are updated, the entire grid is "played" from left to right. Yellow and blue cells generate tones with pitch based on height. Yellow cells generate square waves and blue cells generate sawtooth waves, with some pretty cool results.

I apologize for the lousy sound quality, but it was the best my limited screen-capture technology could manage.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• algorithmic music
• generative music
• cellular automaton
• brian's brain

[VJFranzK]

very interesting ;-) The music sounds very "severe" somehow, like a tragic movie

[AsymptoteInverse]

@VJFranzK It does kind of have a harsh sound to it, and it's pretty sparse. I wish I could say I did it on purpose :) I'm currently working on a vastly-improved version that creates a lot more interesting structures and has much less dead space.

[jarblewarble]

@AsymptoteInverse The beginning reminds me of Bach's fugue and toccata in d minor.

[AsymptoteInverse]

@jarblewarble :D That's probably a way bigger compliment than I deserve, but I'll take it.

[MrsAnalytica]

The beginning is better than what came next... but I like it anyway :D

[jarblewarble]

@AsymptoteInverse It started out sounding musical, but became more repetitive and predictable as the video progressed.