Nyr Sound's Chaosynth Mac Pre-Release
Version Now Available{deck}
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Chaosynth's main window
click for larger picture |
January 21, 2000
Chaosynth, from Nyr Sound, a software synthesiser
for
the PC is now available as a pre-release version for the Mac. Chaosynth
uses cellular automata and granular synthesis to create a new sound set
for the electronic musician. Chaosynth can be used as a one-shot sample
generator with direct to diskrecording, or it can be driven by MIDI as
a fully functioning monosynth.
Cellular Automata: The primary guide to the timbre of the Chaosynth
sound comes from cellular automata. These consist of a group of cells
that evolve over time following a pre-defined rule. At each time segment,
every cell changes its state depending on the conditions of its neighbours.
Starting with a random state, the cellular automata quickly settle to
form organic and eventually oscillating patterns. When this is translated
into sound, a complex evolving waveform is formed with a rich texture.
Granular Synthesis: This is the process of synthesising a large
sound using a stream of small packets (granules) of sound. Traditionally,
the characteristics of the granules have been determined by probability
mathematics or used as an effect by chopping up a sample into granules
and streaming them back randomly.
Chaosynth's use of cellular automata as a controller produces a much
more distant, controllable, and varied sound than traditional granular
synthesisers. This combination of cellular automata and granular synthesis
is a first of its kind. The sounds produced include ambient, strange,
and effects based styles amongst others. The programme was even once used
for producing fruit machine sound effects, but in general it is targeted
at dance/electronic musicians and academics.
Sporting a rich graphical interface, Chaosynth eases the user into the
sound possibilities opened up by the new sound technique. At the same
time, precise timing information allows seamless integration of the sounds
into recordings.
One of the main strengths of Chaosynth is its output quality. It can
save to disk with a sample rate up to 24bit at 11 - 200kHz. Real-time
synthesis also supports 24bit output on some soundcards.
Demo's are available for download
from their website.
For more information visit them on the web at www.nyrsound.com
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