Granular Flocks is a granular audio synthesis tool driven by and controlled by lots of particles. These particles are called boids. Their movement is based on a simulation of swarm-behaviour. The tool enables interaction with the particles. Influencing their movements changes the parameters of the granular synthesis, as each particle delivers all necessary control data for the parameters of a single grain. Additionally, the tool provides direct control over common granular synthesis and global synthesis parameters.
A two-dimensional visual representation of the boids and the virtual space they live in functions as an interface and displays the boids movements. Two interactable virtual microphones can be positioned, oriented and their polar patterns can be adjusted. The tool has a pair of virtual microphones intended to be routed to a stereo output.
virtual boid space with virtual microphones
The project is implemented in Max MSP and works standalone, providing recording and export of files. I additionally created a Max4Live device to make it easily accessible from within Ableton as well. The plugin has a MIDI function that lets you control the grains with any MIDI device or through the Ableton in-built piano roll. The video below demonstrates how sounds can be shaped in real time using Granular Flocks.
