sonic-pi-drum-rnn-gui

A GUI that uses Magenta Drum RNN to create and generate drum patterns to send to Sonic Pi via OSC.

This project was created as a way to incorporate machine learning into a live coding performative context. It aims to make the collaborative process between musician and machine learning model happen in real time in an ongoing feedback cycle where the machine makes output based on the human and then the human can in turn react to the model output, creating an ongoing interactive loop that takes place within the context of a performance.

The control is always in the human’s hand. There is the ability to alter and edit the machine output. There is also the ability to take the machine output and channel it back into input, creating a ML feedback loop but this is always at the discretion of the human in charge.

There is also the option to move from the interface to the Sonic PI IDE and add additional sounds and instruments. The user also has the option to change and add different samples into Sonic Pi to change the sounds being played.

All sounds and timing are handled in Sonic Pi. The graphic user interface is a mix of HTML, CSS and NexusUI. The GUI is meant to provide a more accessible way to engage with Machine learning as a tool for performance without needing to know the technical aspects. The GUI provides visual representations of the Model output.

What you need

This project uses the p5js-OSC library and modified code examples by Gene Kogan to handle the OSC messaging between the GUI and Sonic Pi. Go to this link for info on how to download and install: https://github.com/genekogan/p5js-osc

You will also need to download Sonic Pi. This code is for Sonic Pi v3.2.0 Go to this link for info on how to download and install: https://sonic-pi.net/

Getting Started

1. Start p5js-osc in terminal

2. Create local server

3. Open GUI project in browser.

4. Paste Sonic Pi code into an empty buffer in the Sonic Pi IDE and get it running
   Note: You will not hear any sounds until you have chosen a drum kit and have sent at least one beat from the GUI.

5. Set up GUI and Sonic Pi in split screen.

6. Select drum kit using drop down menu.

7. Enter drum beat in Original Drum Pattern Grid then press send beat

See this video for how to use all features in this project: https://youtu.be/9GHz_-xZPQs