MuseWave

The MuseWave generates audible tones via an experimental 8-bit sound synthesis technique. The circuitry is based on discrete logic elements (i.e. no microcontroller, CPU, or code is involved).

The various timbres are the result of an algorithmic process, but the sequences are more or less random.

I am still considering the user interface.

phase distortion synthesis method example

pseudometallic resonance

glitch texture

musewave twin raga

Here’s a photo of the system with the “Rev B” voice module installed in the lower left corner:

Here’s a photo of the system with the newer “Rev C” voice module, incorporating wavetables, ca. 2006. Since then I have abandoned breadboards altogether in favor of protoboard (a.k.a. vectorboard, veroboard) construction techniques. I’ll get back to this project when the time is right.

The MuseWave also produces unusual graphics. The audio waveforms can be slowed down and viewed as 2D vector illustrations. Check out a gallery of some of this stuff here.

The Geometric Oscillator is a vector art synthesizer based on the MuseWave pattern-generating circuit.