Getting Started with Stochastic Music in Max

U E
by Umut Eldem

Membership plan: Getting Started | Topics: Sound Design

Course overview

This workshop is an introduction to creating stochastic music using Max/MSP. Stochastic music is composed by applying mathematical probability on musical material. It was popularised in the 20th century by the composer Iannis Xenakis. By using simple random generators, Brownian motion, and Gaussian Processes, it is possible to generate unique musical phrases and textures that balance spontaneity and structure. The aim of this workshop is to create a solid understanding of the fundamentals of working with randomness in your musical creative practice in compositions, installations, and generative artworks.
Check out this tutorial from Umut for an example of his work.

What you'll learn

  • Understanding Stochastic Music Fundamentals
  • Technical Skills in Max/MSP for Stochastic Music Creation
  • Applying Stochastic Concepts in Musical Creation

Who is this course for?

  • Artists looking to expand their compositional toolkit with stochastic processes, aiming to incorporate mathematical probability into their musical creations.
  • Those involved in creating sound installations or soundscapes, where generative sound elements can enhance the listener's experience through randomness and structure.

Course content

  • 1. Introduction - What is Stochastic Music?
  • 2. Randomness in Max - Making Music
  • 3. Different Modes of Randomness
  • 4. From Randomised Notes to Randomised Music
  • 5. Getting Started with Normal Distribution
  • 6. Implementing Normal Distribution in Max
  • 7. Making Music with Normal Distribution

Requirements

  • An Internet connection
  • A Zoom account

Course schedule

Meet your instructor

Umut Eldem is a composer, pianist, and researcher. His musical works and research focus on the exploration of synaesthesia as an artistic medium. He has given lectures on his research of synaesthesia, and had his audiovisual works and installations combining sound and colours presented in Belgium, Turkey, Romania, Russia, and Luxembourg. Umut Eldem is currently a PhD researcher at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, and musical director of the theatre collective Mixed & United. He gives lessons and workshops on music history, musical analysis, and audiovisual design. He is also the keyboardist of the bands Starblind = Earthbound and Transport Aerian. His current PhD research entitled ‘The Hearing Glass: Synaesthetic Correspondences in The Musical Practice’ intends to take the results of his previous research and develop them into an inter-sensory theory of audiovisual art.

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Chris
Chris
6 months ago

You should have mp3 clips embedded in your site so visitors can sample what your music is like. How do I know I’m interested if I don’t even know what this music sounds like.

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Jean-Baptiste Thiebaut
Jean-Baptiste Thiebaut
Admin
Reply to  Chris
6 months ago

Hey Chris, thanks for the feedback! I’ve added a video of one of Umut’s tutorial video to give you an example.

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