A max/msp patch that generates squared images from level values of an audio samples. The patch takes into account the following 3 values:
- Length, in minutes
- BPM
- Signal's amplitude
Signal's amplitude values are converted on a range going from 0 to 255. Each value generates a square, which appearence goes from black (0) to white (255). Width and height of the image are chosen to be identical, the density of suqares filling the area is calculated by multiplying the audio file's length, by the BPM of the file. Needless to say, the audio source has to have a BPM to be able to follow this rule. Alternatively the BPM value can be used to set the density in an arbitrary way, for example if the file is 3-minute long and BPM is set to 3, width and length will host 9 (3 * 3) squares each, for a total of 81 printed values in the area (Area = 9 * 9). The 81 values are selected by dividing the track in 81 parts and sampling the first value of each piece. Similarly, if a 130BPM track is 3 minutes long, the image will display (3 * 130)^2 = 152,100 values.
The following images have been generated using 3 popular music songs. In some cases, like Modugno's Vecchio Frak you'll be able to see very few white suqares. While this song is very quiet, it doesn't mean that it's mostly silent, simply most of the values are very low and generate a very dark output that we perceive as black.
[ABOVE] Rihanna, Kanye West, Paul McCartney, FourFiveSecond | Tempo: 100BPM | Length: 3:08
[ABOVE] Domenico Modugno, Vecchio Frak | Tempo: 120BPM | Length: 3:58
[ABOVE] The Chemical Brothers, It Began In Afrika | Tempo: 135BPM | Length: 6:16
To use the patch follow this instructions:
- 1: Indicate track's BPM (have fun with this)
- 2: Load track to generate image from.
- 3: Print image from track.
Options:
- Lo-Res / Hi-Res: Change resolution to plrint a small (500 * 500px) or a big (2500 * 2500px) image.
- Contrast: increases the value assigned to each square. While this allows to see more "invisible" elements, it also fakes the captired values.
