Random Time Segments Between Max Intervals

The basis of all random generation of events in any creative art form, requires two key components. The first is a way to randomly or semi randomly generate a value. That value could be a trigger, or a range of numbers, or anything similar. The other key component is a way to space out or measure time usually in intervals, between that random generation. In today's blog post, I talk about some tools I've created to support the random generation of numbers or triggers in Max MSP patchers.

First I point back to a series of objects I created in the Met series. This group of patches generated a random number or semi random number with a set interval. The number or range of numbers along with the time of the interval could be set today. I have posted an expansion to that series to randomly generate the time for those intervals this is essential in the random generation of music as you want to have controlled and uncontrolled interval setting of the trigger. I'm talking in vague terms such as triggers and values and ranges because this could be applied to any setting, or work, where there is a semi generative aspect to it.

This tool which you can find on the resources page of my website features one of these met objects. This could be replaced with any of the other Max random number generators such as earned drunk etc, to alter the performance of this tool. In this tool a top range of time is put into a randommet object. Beneath that a minimum time is added to the initial value to create a minimum sense of transitionatory time. This is plugged into another randommet object, to complete the chain. The only other addition I've made to this is a force output toggle. This toggle went activated generates slightly more frequent changes as every time the initial number is changed. A trigger is done in the beneath object. When this is on you will see more changes when this is off you will see slower longer times and so less changes. This tool could be plugged into the top of any sonic or visual generator to make generative art in the patch linked on my page you will see that I have a copied in a working of the randommet object. This is there in case you do not have that object in your library.

Of course there are many ways in which this could be done, but this is a simple way that can be plugged into the top of any patcher.

I hope you enjoy!