Live-Coding and text-based composition.
https://charlieroberts.github.io/annotationsAndVisualizations/
What is live coding? the history and scene
keep live coding live? why should it be an exclusively live improvised act opposed to a compositional method.
I attempted to create my own very simple live-coding environment in max to try to get an understanding on what works and doesn’t.
I found the most that the most important element is creating a solid foundation to build on top off. My attempt, focusing on generating simple rhythms kind of works as a euclidian sequencer instead building polyrhythms. A you can see/hear it’s very janky, but as a test it worked. I tried to keep the language simple to make it more accessible.
Next I experimented with a melodic element. Inspired by https://typatone.com, I tried to create a similar thing. As you can see below it’s very simple, it takes the value of each character (a = 1 b= 2 c=3) and assigns a midi note in this linear fashion. It’s not set to any scale, but this allows for some fun experimentation. The next stage for this would be to implement a scaling system, as well as maybe something that changes the rate each notes output as it currently only at the rate of the red number (500 ms in this case).
This could also be further explored with a focus on written language. Written poems that create sound, could work well with written devices such as repetition, as well as an interesting reversal by applying elements like randomness to the written language such as word shuffling.
for example ….
shuffle [“I”, “woke”, “up”, “at”, “noon”] > “noon at woke up at”
“I went out on” randsel (1:1:1) [“Monday”, “Tuesday”, “Wednesday”]
I suppose the problem at this point is that it starts to become code, and might un-enthuse those who feel alienated by such things.
What makes coding inaccessible? How can this be fixed?
understanding the language? the concept of maths and number?
I’m would like to attempt to make a ‘live coding environment’ without the code to explore making the process for accessible, perhaps similar to orca but maybe more accessible (https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esoteric_programming_language
only symbols, shape, colour and movement. not using language might help, like playstation controllers shape controls.
visually reactive elements make something more organic and understandable than the concept of compiling and executing.
current initiatives to use AI to create code from normal language. this will make coding more accessible for people but is likely limiting the language to English.