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NN Music: Improvising with a ‘Living’ Computer

  • Conference paper
Computer Music Modeling and Retrieval. Sense of Sounds (CMMR 2007)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 4969))

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Abstract

A live algorithm describes an ideal autonomous performance system able to engage in performance with abilities analogous, if not identical, to a human musician. This paper proposes five attributes of a live algorithm: adaptability, empowerment, intimacy, opacity and unimagined music. These attributes are explored in NN Music, a performer-machine system for Max/MSP that fosters listening and learning. Live improvisation is encoded statistically to train a feed-forward neural network, mapped to stochastic processes for musical output. Through adaptation, mappings are learnt and covertly assigned, to be revisited by both player and machine as a performance develops.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Music Department, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK

    Michael Young

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  1. Michael Young
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Richard Kronland-Martinet Sølvi Ystad Kristoffer Jensen

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Young, M. (2008). NN Music: Improvising with a ‘Living’ Computer. In: Kronland-Martinet, R., Ystad, S., Jensen, K. (eds) Computer Music Modeling and Retrieval. Sense of Sounds. CMMR 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4969. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85035-9_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85035-9_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-85034-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-85035-9

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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