Random music composition tools. Better music means more polished games. Random generators are fantastic for inspiration, even to hardcore composers. Compiled with the help of Zeik and ChainedLupine in the LD chatroom.
These are all free except Easy Music Composer, and ACS which is shareware and in my opinion is amazingly useful even without a pro license. For me at least, ACS has an almost 1:1 ratio of success; it prompts immediate inspiration. I’ve personally found Wolframtones to produce quite meaningful ideas as well
http://codeminion.com/blogs/maciek/2008/05/cgmusic-computers-create-music/
Kindly suggested by AdventureIslands in the comments below. This is quite mind-blowing in fact.
Wolframtones <- algorithmic, very interesting pattern. Has preset genres like jazz, world, rock, etc.
http://www.soundhelix.com/ <- Sound Helix cool pattern-based compositions
( http://www.soundhelix.com/audio-examples )
Circuli http://www.earslap.com/projectslab/circuli <- ambient generator
Easy Music Composer http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~mcs/emc.html
http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA014815/music/English/autocomp.html< very very useful musical ideas. This is a must
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Greasemonkey’s Autotracker-Bu <- Run “python autotracker.py”, you will get an .it file, then use your favorite tracker ( like http://schismtracker.org/wiki/Schism%20Tracker ) to export it to .wav or .mp3. ( link and description provided by jarnik )
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http://www.bemmu.com/music/index.html <- music driven by a simple math formula. interesting convoluted results
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http://www.earslap.com/projectslab/otomata <- freeware online version, paid iOS app
Please signal boost this post and if possible get it on the official site. What is a community without communal spirit!
Also be sure to suggest more of these
Tags: #LD48 #LD25, music, resources, tools
If you’ve never tried Figure you’re missing out. It’s an app that can take literally minutes to create an original sounding computer game style electro/ synth track up to 8 bars long by just randomly hitting nobs until it sounds good. And I can’t imagine what you could do with it if you knew what you were doing :). It’s by Propellorhead, who make the ultra professional ‘Reason’. When you’re done you can export your track to iTunes and go from there.
BrothersT Figure doesn’t count as an automated composer, so let’s not put it up with the rest. Thanks for the heads up
It’s close enough to being automated, seriously. The only difference between these and the rest is that you input random notes rather than random settings. You should try it!
cgMusic could also be added to the list, my LD game Mad Princess’ music has been made with it
http://codeminion.com/blogs/maciek/2008/05/cgmusic-computers-create-music/
not only could, but should! I’m adding right away, thank you AdventureIslands!
I found a backup of Greasemonkey’s Autotracker-Bu: https://github.com/Nehmulos/cocos2d-base-application/blob/master/autotracker.py
Makes great chiptune music!
Run “python autotracker.py”, you will get an .it file, then use your favorite tracker ( like http://schismtracker.org/wiki/Schism%20Tracker ) to export it to .wav or .mp3.
you’re the best, thanks! Putting it up there
Does anyone know of any good guides to begin learning music composition? I’d like to see how far I can get into that over next year.
SoundHelix can be used for any music based on patterns, not just “techno”. Check out the SoundHelix applet http://www.soundhelix.com/applet/SoundHelix-applet.jnlp for a simple example.
you’re very right! I edited the description. Thank you for the example!
Thanks for the post! And I loved the JEM image! Blast to the past!
Oh, one very important thing about Wolfram Tunes:
http://www.wolfram.com/legal/terms/wolfram-tones.html
They claim copyright to all content generated by their tools. Even if that doesn’t make any sense, I would avoid using tools made by such crazy people
(And it might be against LD rules anyway)
SoundHelix 0.6 has been released. Visit http://www.soundhelix.com
SoundHelix 0.7 has been released. Visit http://www.soundhelix.com
SoundHelix 0.7.1 has been released. Visit http://www.soundhelix.com