https://github.com/paulbatchelor/gestvm

A gesture synthesizer for sndkit, controlled via the Uxn Virtual Machine
https://github.com/paulbatchelor/gestvm

Last synced: 11 days ago
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A gesture synthesizer for sndkit, controlled via the Uxn Virtual Machine

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/paulbatchelor/gestvm
• Owner: PaulBatchelor
• License: mit
• Created: 2022-02-17T23:11:19.000Z (almost 3 years ago)
• Default Branch: main
• Last Pushed: 2022-08-14T18:48:32.000Z (over 2 years ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-01-18T12:15:00.879Z (12 days ago)
• Language: C
• Size: 62.5 KB
• Stars: 5
• Watchers: 3
• Forks: 0
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • License: LICENSE

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README

        
# GestVM

## Introduction

GestVM implements a so-called "gesture synthesizer",

sequenced and controlled via the Uxn Virtual machine.

A Gesture Synthesizer is an audio-rate control signal

generator whose timing is managed by another audio-rate

control signal generator, called a conductor.

Conceptually, a Gesture can be thought of as something

between an automation curve and breakpoint line generator.

## Overview of System

An instance of an Uxn VM is created inside of

sndkit, and a ROM is loaded. One more signal generators,

called nodes, are then created, which can concurrently

evaluate the Uxn VM with different starting memory

positions. Each node implements a gesture synthesizer, whose

state can be controlled via an Uxn virtual output device.

For input, a node takes in a "conductor" signal, which is

periodic rising ramp signal commonly referred as a phasor.

The synthesized gesture signal produced by nodes can then

be used to modulate parameters in other sndkit nodes. A

common parameter is the pitch of an oscillator.

## Compilation

To use GestVM, first compile and install sndkit.

Sndkit can be found on [github](https://github.com/paulbatchelor/sndkit)

or [sourcehut](https://git.sr.ht/~pbatch/sndkit).

Running `make` will build the `gestvm` binary (the sndkit

LIL interpreter with added gestvm words), as well

as a modified version of the `uxnasm` utility used to

assemble Uxn ROMs.

## Running Examples

Examples can be found in the "examples" folder. Running

the script `./render.sh` will compile the Uxn

programs and then render sndkit program which

loads the ROM and generates the WAV files.

Each example comes with a Uxn program (".tal" extension)

and a sndkit patch (".lil" extension). From these

a ROM file (".rom") and WAV audio file (".wav") are

generated.

`sequence` is a program which produces a sequence that

gets proportionally faster every time it repeats. It

starts with eigth notes, then triplets, then sixteenths,

etc. Eventually it will hit a limit and start slowing

down again.

`skew` is a program which tests out a concept called

*temporal skewing*, a process which allows tempo to be

locally warped without adding or subtracting time overall.

This example has a phrase which uses an exponential

temporal skewing curve to perform an accelerando over

9 beats.

`weight` is a program which tests out a concept called

*temporal weight*, a process which gives the notes themselves

to warp global tempo. This program produces a lyrical

melody that uses weight to programatically

shape the phrasing.