Juliacon 2024

Real Time ODEs for Sound Synthesis and Parameter Exploration
07-10, 16:30–17:00 (Europe/Amsterdam), If (1.1)

In this talk we will present a simple library for rendering audible in real time (audification) the
numerical solutions of systems of ordinary equations (continuous dynamical systems). This
library can be used as a pedagogical tool for gaining insight on the different kinds of
bifurcations in dynamical systems and also as a resource for creating new sound synthesizers or
the simulation of musical instruments.


The qualitative description of continuous dynamical systems relies mainly on the study of the
topological changes in the organization of the flux in the phase space formed by the variables of
the system. Here we present a tool that complements the more common visual representation
taking the variables as a multichannel audio output, after proper time scaling, rendering audible
the behavior of the system. This is done by streaming the solutions obtained by the
DifferentialEquations.jl package through a wrapper of the PortAudio library. We will
present some prototypical examples of dynamical systems and show how their audification can
be used to unveil in a fast way the role played by their control parameters. We will end showing
an example of a saxophone model that can be played in real time through a Pluto interface.

See also:

Creator of the LAPSo (Laboratorio de Acustica y Percepcion Sonora) at Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (Argentina). Researcher at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET Argentina). Contact me me@lapso.org