After having a representative data set in a format and size that complied with the means and limits of Max/MSP, it was time to produce a reading system that interpolated data over a defined period or rate.
Where there is an oscillating variable, there are sonic opportunities. As such, the first goal within the Max/MSP domain was to have a discrete set of variables flowing over time, maintaining their representative interpolation. A Max/MSP patch for the data reading purposes of this project was envisioned to have the following capabilities:
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- Allow the upload of single text files and hold memory, respectively;
- Provide some data flow over time;
- Disaggregate and isolate variables into individual domains;
- Provide control over the data flow rate;
- Provide navigation across the interpolation of the uploaded data set;
- Define a loop over the reading of the uploaded file;
- Display monitoring visualisation;
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Thanks to Dr Tom Mudd’s creative coding resources, provided in the academic year of 2021/2022, a Max patch was already available and up for use. This patch covered the first five topics described above. This patch surrounds a coll system that, when messaged “next”, outputs the aggregate data of an individual line (point) of the uploaded text over its integral order (in this case, z-axis top to bottom); in other words, reads the text file line by line. The triggering of “next” messaging can be rated through a metronome, that provides a simple and rather easy control over reading-rate. This coll object is also aware of line count, both inputting this data for navigation purposes and outputting it monitoring and with little work to trigger a loop back to the first line after reaching the 100.000th and last line (number of points in the file). The aggregate line data is then unfolded into individual domains with an “unpack” object, providing the desired variable isolation to proceed with their respective sonification.
Below presented are the mentioned “Coll” patch and the respective csv. reader.
The following post on Sonification will cover the granulation synthesis approach of the project and how samples are triggered and played back using this data set, the first method of Sonification.
If you’re reading this in order, please proceed to the next post: ‘Integrated Sound Triggering System #1 The function and structure of MAX’.
