The team at the Rhythmic Computation Lab of NeverEngine Labs have developed an advanced morphing rhythmic computer that brings much needed feel and groove to Euclidean and non-Euclidean beat computation. The Classes and Sounds for Kyma 7 are based on pioneering work concerning the geometry and mathematics of rhythm phrasing and groove by acclaimed Swiss Jazz pianist Malcolm Braff.
Malcolm and NeverEngineer Gustav Scholda co-developed a custom Class and visualiser tool exclusively for Kyma 7 which is now available to all subscribers of the RC Lab, as well as a number of examples.
I still can't attach a screenshot to my uploads at the Q&A - hopefully SSC will fix that soon! But here you can see the VCS of a 4 voice drum computer that uses four Professor Braff RC v1.7 to compute the groove and phrasing of four percussive samples.
I designed a VCS with lots of colour, and alongside the Braff Visualiser tool, there's a strong personality emerging from this machine. The morph fader and its related smoothing (in beats) allows you to move smoothly betweem the top and the bottom sequence of durations - they represent warped durations in beats, of a phrase that adjusts itself continuosly to the variables of the phrase sequence. Its a brand new approach, similar but far from conventional step sequencing - the best way to get a feel for how to program this machine is to work with the visualiser tool open, and see the beat geometry transforming.
The Sound is also special because it pioneers an amazing approach that Gustav came up with exploring the mysterious 'MultiplexableSoundToGlobalController' in the Kyma 7 prototypes. Using this technique, one set of widgets controls all four sequencers. The selector switches at the top will 'flip pages' - it's really the first I have ever seen such an easy to use GUI for multiple sequencers in Kyma.
Not forgeting to mention the amazing beats coming out (click here to hear)!
Also, completely unique - I have never heard such morphing, grooving rhythms from any software or hardware. Once again, many thanks to Malcolm Braff and our very own master NeverEngineer Gustav Scholda for bringing the freshest beat machines exclusively to Kyma 7.
.
.