Date: Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 at 11:00h in room 55.410 (Tanger Building, UPF Communication Campus)

Title: Connecting Time and Timbre: Computational Methods for Generative Rhythmic Loops in Symbolic and Signal Domains

Supervisor: Dr. Sergi Jordà

Jury:  President: Dr. Diemo Schwarz (IRCAM), Secretary: Dr. Frederic Font (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Vocal: Dr. Jordi Janer (Voctro Labs).

Abstract: This dissertation explores computational methods for generating and varying the rhythmic activity that is so pivotal in composing effective loops. We begin the journey in the symbolic domain, and draw upon a wealth of historical methods for algorithmic composition coupled with the state of the art in rhythmic similarity perception to build GenDrum, an intelligent drum machine using genetic algorithms. Modern approaches to composing electronic music are distinguished by the liberal use of sampling and appropriation of existing sounds as well as the design of purely synthesised new sounds. Concatenative synthesis applies high-level rules and criteria that seek to combine phrases of sounds together in a more intelligent and systematic manner. It is a content-based approach that uses music information retrieval research to work directly with audio and its latent encoding of multidimensional spectral and timbral character. In the second contribution of the thesis we examine the relevance and application of concatenative synthesis in the specific context of electronic dance music production.