Jazzman Remainder Machine

Arithmetic beats

It's a drum box that makes interesting jazzy rythmns using just arithmetic. The drums sounds are samples. In this beefed up version 0.2 you get extra shuffle control and better effects. This is what it looks like.

jazzman screenshot

Download the patch here. puredata file .pd

Hear some beats it makes. audio .mp3

How does it work?

Quantisation by rounding is what makes this work. Dividing by an integer counter by a floating point value rescales them onto (mostly) non integer points. Using the rounding properties of [int] and [change] we get a new control of clustering that gives a "busyness" factor. This then creates short runs of slightly random patterns at the master frequency starting on the polyrythmic trigger points.

The beats are good but the samples suck

Load new samples by replacing all the ones in the sounds direcory. :)

Interface

The speed and volume controls are obvious. The "busy" parameter sets the divider ratio which is compared to a randomly fluctuating value and triggers a series or "run" of either hihat, snare, or kick drum beats.

DSP

Three samples are loaded into tables and played. There is a resonant vcf on the sum of them which can be varied with an lfo to get nice waxing and waning tones.

What can I do with this?

Use it to create some beats to jam to. Or take it apart and see how it works. Try and break it or improve it in various ways. A sample loader would be a nice addition, and settings save/load maybe.

Links

"Polyrythmns" - my notes Polyrythmns