Thomas Mitchell

Convergence synthesis of dynamic frequency modulation tones using an evolution strategy

This paper reports on steps that have been taken to enhance previously presented evolutionary sound matching work. In doing so, the convergence characteristics are shown to provide a synthesis method that produces interesting sounds. The method implements an Evolution Strategy to optimise a set of real-valued Frequency Modulation parameters. The development of the evolution is synthesised as optimisation takes place, and the corresponding dynamic sound can be observed developing from initial disorder, into a stable, static tone.

Evolutionary Sound Matching: A Test Methodology and Comparative Study

With the ever-increasing complexity of sound synthesisers, there is a growing demand for automated parameter estimation and sound space navigation techniques. Recent research in this domain has focused on the application of general-purpose evolutionary algorithms to match specific types of target sounds. However, it is difficult to establish whether success or failure of a particular match is due to the inefficiency of the optimisation engine, or the limitations of the matching synthesiser. In this paper the distinction between optimiser inefficiency and synthesiser limitations is elucidated with a contrived target test methodology that enables the performance of different optimisation techniques to be measured and compared. The methodology is applied to a Frequency Modulation synthesiser, in order to compare the performance of different Evolution Strategy-based algorithms. The algorithm producing the best results with contrived targets is then used to match a non-contrived acoustic instrument tone.

danceroom Spectroscopy: At the Frontiers of Physics, Performance, Interactive Art and Technology

ABSTRACT danceroom Spectroscopy is an interactive audiovisual art installation and performance system driven by rigorous algorithms commonly used to simulate and analyze nanoscale atomic dynamics. danceroom Spectroscopy interprets humans as “energy landscapes,” resulting in an interactive system in which human energy fields are embedded within a simulation of thousands of atoms. Users are able to sculpt the atomic dynamics using their movements and experience their interactions visually and sonically in real time. danceroom Spectroscopy has so far been deployed as both an interactive sci-art installation and as the platform for a dance performance called Hidden Fields.

Evolving Atomic Aesthetics and Dynamics

The depiction of atoms and molecules in scientific literature owes as much to the creative imagination of scientists as it does to scientific theory and experimentation. danceroom Spectroscopy dS is an interactive art/science project that explores this aesthetic dimension of scientific imagery, presenting a rigorous atomic simulation as an immersive and interactive installation. This paper introduces new methods based on interactive evolutionary computation which allow users - both individually and collaboratively - to explore the design space of dS and construct aesthetically engaging visual states. Pilot studies are presented in which the feasibility of this evolutionary approach is discussed and compared with the standard interface to the dS system. Still images of the resulting visual states are also included.

Tangible Interfaces for Interactive Evolutionary Computation

Interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) is a powerful human-machine optimisation procedure for evolving solutions to complex design problems. In this paper we introduce the novel concept of Tangible Interactive Evolutionary Computation (TIEC), leveraging the benefits of tangible user interfaces to enhance the IEC process and experience to alleviate user fatigue. An example TIEC system is presented and used to evolve biomorph images, with a recreation of the canonical IEC application: The Blind Watchmaker program. An expanded version of the system is also used to design visual states for an atomic visualisation platform called danceroom Spectroscopy, that allows participants to explore quantum phenomena through movement and dance. Initial findings from an informal observational test are presented along with the results from a pilot study to evaluate the potential for TIEC.