Constellation

During the holidays I had the idea to make a generative composition that was based on constellations. This worked by dispersing 32 stars randomly across a grid each with an X and Y position. When the user click on a star it draws to the next nearest on either axis (this needs fixing it doesn’t go to the complete nearest as intended). The coordinate of the blue star is then output from -1 to 1 and can be used to modulate sound. X changes waveshape, Y changes frequency what is then scaled to a pentatonic major scale. With the bloom effect on the blue dot doesn’t leave behind a trail as intended (think snake)

Looking back at the patch, my approach was very inefficient and thanks to having a better understanding of matrixes in jitter I would like to recreate it but next time in a 3d space adding another dimension and allowing the user to interact more than just initialising the scene.

I like creating interactive and generative work such as this but I need to form a more critical view as in its current form it exists more as a novelty. Once Ive made it it hard not to think ” Right. That’s done. What’s the point?”

I suppose I could try to create an accurate star map and use it as an educational resource with an emphasise on the tradition of constellations and stories, I was fond of such things as a young child.