CELLULA AN INTERACTIVE AND EXPRESSIVE

CELLULAR AUTOMATA SONIFICATION ENVIRONMENT

By Stefano Vinciarelli
undergraduate student - LEMS (Laboratorio Elettronico di Musica Sperimentale)
Conservatoire G.Rossini Pesaro (PU) Italy
Email: stefano.vinciarelli@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This project aims to develop a prototype of an expressive and interactive synthesis environment for realized by using a sonification of
a cellular automaton (CA); the system migth be useful for musical and interactive sound installation purposes.
This prototype has been developed by using the open source programming language ProcessingTM (automa processing, visual 2d\3d
rendering), the commercial programming language Max/MSP (sound synthesis, control GUI) and using the OSC protocol (data
exchange).
CELLULA utilizes a 2D cellular automata, with the Conways Game of Life rules.
The cell matrix sonification is realized allowing the user to define a frequency matrix based on two or four coefficent (x, y or x_odd,
x_even, y_odd, y_even), two or four operator and a fundamental frequency.
By using the operator it is possible to choose between geometric, exponential or transposed harmonic series and any combination of
them. The cell frequency amplitude is therefore calculated by considering the cell and its neighbors as a binary number.
Each automa state produces a different timbre according to the alive cells and frequencies matrix settings illustrated above who can
be modified in real-time, moreover there is a mechanism of preset interpolation through an x-y controller allowing users to morph the
sound between 4 different preset.
To extend interaction and the performers expression range, a time-control feature is realized in the system, the graphic interface
allow users to explore the automa states, also by using a keyboard, or through a temporized counter, looping a particular zone or
reading randomly inside a defined zone.
The synthesis engine is grain based, and it is characterized by two main options:

Series of non-repetitive random sequences of grains .

Sequence of macro-grain i.e. the presence of all the frequencies at the same time, reproducing the CA state as an additive
synthesis spectrum, the system allow also to keep in synch, or not, automa states skipping and grains reproduction.
A stereo and quadriphonic spatialization for each cell is here provided by considering the automa state as the listening space from
above.
An experimental 2th version of CELLULA provides a 3D visualization of the automa, representing each cell as a cube in a 3d
matrix; all the cubes are rendered in grayscale (according to the amplitude levels where black color is maximum amplitude except the
state readed who is colored by using an algorithm that use the HSL color model).
Currently this version allows to render and sonificate more than one automa, applying to them, a simple rotational matrix.
An ambisonic spatialization is realized by playing each automa as a mono moving source, a green reticular sphere (i.e. the ambisonic
rendering sphere) can be placed and scaled in the 3D environment therefore the position of each automa in the listening space is
scaled according to the sphere dimension and position.
It is important to remark here how can be considered also a starting point for an interactive installation, in wich users can explore
different systems, by using touch sufaces dragging fingers on the CAs.