Towards user-tailored creative applications of concatenative synthesis in electronic dance music

Abstract

The ecosystem of concatenative synthesis systems is large, diverse and oftentimes esoteric. In this article, we examine many of its key works, attempting to summarise, compare and categorise their characteristic traits. We observe that many existing systems have not taken into account any user other than the designer of the system. Subsequently we position our own implementation in this ecosystem as geared specifically with electronic dance music producers in mind. Through intensive discussion with producers and commercial music software practitioners we summarise their reactions, responses and impressions to the usability and musicality of this approach to music creation. We report on active and future work based on the outcomes of these discussions.