An interactive software instrument for real-time rhythmic concatenative synthesis

Abstract

In this paper we describe an approach for generating and visualising new rhythmic patterns from existing audio in real-time using concatenative synthesis. We introduce a graph-based model enabling novel visualisation and manipulation of new patterns that mimics the rhythmic and timbral character of an existing target seed pattern using a separate database of palette sounds. Our approach is described, reporting on those features that may be useful in describing units of sound related to rhythm and how they might then be projected into two-dimensional space for visualisation using reduction techniques and clustering. We conclude the paper with our qualitative appraisal of using the interface and outline scope for future work.