Instead of providing elucidative comments myself, I choose to
accompany these QBasic / FreeBasic sources with a few selected links where
inquisitive readers will find all the necessary information.
Though many state diagrams of the elementary one-dimensional (k=2, r=1.5) CA
look rather dull, judicious sampling will reveal their substantial sonic potential.
The particular real time CA-to-midi mapping applied here, is straightforward and intuitive,
generating a remarkable range of sturdy rhythms and bouncing motifs from these quietly
swopping cells.
The next program feeds the CA with sound waves and dumps the updates
in a standard .wav file. What happens if a single string must bear the
weight of a full chord? The CA being second order accurate only, tremulous
little tinkling tones soon ripple the initial signal.
This one was real fun to write. Besides the CA kernel, it contains a
barebones three-operator FM-synthesizer and a routine for making diatonic chords.
It can mindlessly churn out an endless dominant progression, as well as
produce totally insane random noise.
