How Do Attack, Decay and Release Modulations Affect Envelopes?

Envelopes are commonly viewed as modulation sources.

They can also become modulation targets.

This distinction is important because envelope parameters… read more

What Happens When Reverb Decay Time Is Modulated?

Reverb is often treated as a static environment surrounding a sound.

Generative music encourages a different perspective.

The acoustic space itself can evolve over time.

How Can Delay Time and Feedback Be Modulated in Generative Music?

Delay Modulation in Generative Music: Creating Evolving Rhythmic Accents

Delay effects are among the most common processing tools in electronic… read more

How Can Delayed Beats Create Evolving Polyrhythms?

Polyrhythms already create tension because multiple rhythmic cycles coexist.

Adding controlled beat delays introduces an additional layer of instability.

The… read more

How Can AND, OR, XOR and Other Logic Functions Generate Rhythms?

Logic modules are often overlooked as rhythmic tools.

Yet they can dramatically expand the possibilities of a generative patch.

Logic modules… read more

Should Rhythms Switch Abruptly or Blend Gradually?

Generative music is not always about continuously changing rhythms.

Sometimes two stable rhythms can create more interesting results than a constantly evolving one.

Which Synth Parameters Can Be Modulated Rhythmically?

Rhythm is often associated exclusively with percussion.

In reality, almost any synthesizer parameter can participate in rhythmic structures.

The chapter emphasizes… read more

How Can Random Melodies and Random Drums Share the Same Rhythm?

Random events do not automatically create coherent rhythm.

In many situations they need to be synchronized to a common timing structure.

The… read more

Should Generative Rhythms Use Clocks Instead of LFOs?

Many beginners use an LFO as the timing source for rhythm generation.

While this works for isolated patches, it often creates problems when several rhythmic systems must cooperate.

How Can ADSRs Create Smooth Transitions Between Voices?

Simple voice switching often creates abrupt transitions.

Many musical situations benefit from smoother changes.

One effective solution is to combine ADSRs with VCAs.