RANDOM MUSIC JS

A web-based music generator that creates coherent and randomized musical pieces using the Web Audio API. This project explores algorithmic composition, generating dynamic drum patterns, basslines, chords, and melodies within a chosen scale.

Live Demo

• Discover it online: https://random-music.anthony-charretier.fr/
• YouTube Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw6gSLhoE0g

Features

• Algorithmic Composition: Generates unique and coherent musical sequences for drums, bass, chords, and melodies.
• Two Generators:
  • EightBits: Focuses on retro-inspired drum sounds and dynamic musical structures, including intros, breaks, and "riddims."
  • Sine Wave: Utilizes sine and other basic waveforms with various effects (delay, distortion, reverb, filtering) to create evolving electronic soundscapes.
• Web Audio API: Leverages browser capabilities for real-time audio synthesis and processing.
• Dynamic Scale Changes: The EightBits generator randomly selects root notes and minor modes for varied harmonic content.
• Interactive Controls: Play, pause, stop, and select between different music generators.
• Visual Feedback: (Implied by startDraw, stopDraw and updateDisplay functions) The UI updates to show current musical parameters.

How it Works

The project consists of two main music generation modules: eightBits.js and sine.js, along with a central main.js to manage playback and UI.

Core Concepts

• Timer.js: A custom timer utility for precise, Web Audio API-synchronized scheduling of musical events.
• Mode.js: (Used in eightBits.js) Manages musical scales, generating frequencies based on a root note and a chosen minor mode.
• Buffers & Samples: Drum sounds are loaded as audio buffers.
• Oscillators: Sine, sawtooth, and square wave oscillators are used for synthesizing melodic and harmonic content.
• Web Audio Nodes: Extensive use of GainNode, BiquadFilterNode (lowpass, highpass), DelayNode, ConvolverNode (reverb), WaveShaperNode (distortion), StereoPannerNode, and AnalyserNode for rich sound design and effects.

EightBits Generator (eightBits.js)

This generator focuses on creating dynamic and structured tracks.

1. Drum Kits: Loads various 8-bit inspired drum samples (kicks, snares, hats, claps, cymbals).
2. Scales and Modes: Randomly picks a root note and a minor mode (chromaticScale, minorModes) to define the harmonic context for the entire song.
3. Sequence Generation: Functions like generateRandomBass, generateRandomNoteSequence, generateRandomChordSequence, and generateRandomMelody create musical phrases based on the current scale.
4. Song Structure: Implements "intro," "break," and "riddim" sections by dynamically changing drum patterns and musical phrases at specific song durations.
5. Filtering: Applies lowpass filters with dynamic frequency sweeps to bass, notes, chords, and melodies, adding expressive movement.

Sine Wave Generator (sine.js)

This generator creates a more ambient, evolving electronic soundscape, primarily using synthesized waveforms and a robust effects chain.

1. Drum Samples: Loads a different set of drum samples for percussion.
2. Fixed Scale: Uses a fixed A minor scale (frequencies array) for all melodic and harmonic content.
3. Complex FX Chain:
   • LFO: A low-frequency oscillator modulates filter cutoff frequencies for movement.
   • Distortion (WaveShaperNode): Adds harmonic richness and grit.
   • Delay (DelayNode): Creates echoes with feedback.
   • Filters (BiquadFilterNode): Highpass and lowpass filters shape the sound.
   • Reverb (ConvolverNode): A short impulse response reverb adds space.
   • Analyzer (AnalyserNode): (Potentially for visualizers in draw.js).
4. Synth Voices: bassSynth, tbSynth, sqSynth, fundamentalSynth, thirdSynth, fifthSynth, and melodySynth define distinct timbres for different musical roles using various oscillator types and ADSR-like gain envelopes.
5. Dynamic Sections: Generates new melody, chord, and bass sequences at different measures to introduce variations.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) that supports the Web Audio API.

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/innermost47/random-music-js.git
   cd random-music-js

2. Serve the project: You need a local web server to run this project, as it loads audio files via XHR. You can use:
   • Live Server VS Code Extension: If you use VS Code, install the "Live Server" extension and open the project folder. Right-click index.html and select "Open with Live Server".
   • Node.js http-server:

     npm install -g http-server
     http-server .

     Then open http://localhost:8080 (or whatever port http-server tells you) in your browser.
   • Python's built-in server:

     python -m http.server

     Then open http://localhost:8000 in your browser.

Usage

1. Open the index.html file in your web browser through a local web server.
2. Select a Song Type: Use the "Select Wave" dropdown to choose between "8-Bits" (EightBits generator) and "Sine Wave" (Sine Wave generator).
3. Play: Click the "Play" button to start the music generation.
4. Pause/Resume: Click the "Play/Pause" button again to pause or resume playback.
5. Stop: Click the "Stop" button to stop the music and reset the generator.
6. Help: Click the "Help" button to re-open the welcome modal (if implemented).

Technologies Used

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JavaScript (ES Modules)
• Web Audio API
• Bootstrap (for UI components)

License

MIT