2025-05-30

general

structural rules, design philosophy, and template logic that apply across all layers, domains, and forms.

  • all behavior is generated from a hierarchy of static, parametric forms
  • synthesis is strictly additive: no audio-domain post-processing, filtering, or effects
  • composition is driven by structure and triggers, not interaction, reaction, or signal-state

general principles

no post-processing

  • every signal is constructed to specification from the ground up
  • shaping occurs at the generative design level, not as an afterthought noise is permitted only as a primary generator*, not for distortion, modulation, or filtering

parametric purity

  • all behaviors arise from forms parameterized by exactly two values:

    • a, b ∈ [0,1]
    • internal remapping is used to map these values to physically or perceptually relevant control spaces

  • each form must:

    • produce stable and distinct results across its entire parameter space

    • encode a musically or perceptually meaningful subregion of its domain

    • not replicate or approximate another form under any reparameterization

expanded compositional scope

this system is designed to span not only structured musical idioms but also natural, non-repeating, and non-metrical sound structures. domains must therefore address both:

  • the musically regular (metrical, harmonic, cyclical)
  • the naturally irregular (stochastic, chaotic, drifting)

natural behaviors (e.g. rainfall, thunder, wind, birdcall, chaotic motion) are treated with equal structural rigor as musical forms - not as noise or exceptions. the inclusion of domains like field acknowledges that not all structure is metrical - but all structure can still be static, generative, and parametric.

hierarchical structure

  • high-level layers define broad categories of behavior:

    • timbre, onset, interplay, pitch, structure, spatial
  • each layer is subdivided into domains

  • each domain:

    • defines a perceptual or structural subspace within the layer is implemented through a finite set of forms*

    • must:

      • identify and document its governing perceptual/functional variables

      • span the full breadth of its target space through minimal, irreducible forms

      • ensure that no form can be approximated or derived from others

form requirements

each form must:

  • use exactly two parameters: a, b ∈ [0,1]
  • remap a, b internally to perceptual or physical control variables produce continuous, stable, and musically or structurally useful* output
  • define a perceptually distinct sub-region of the domain

  • not duplicate or degenerate another form operate through pure construction*: additive combination, deterministic mapping

    • no signal-domain filtering, conditional logic, or reactive modulation

domain validation criteria

to verify that a domain fully and minimally covers its space:

  • construct a perceptual/structural map of relevant behaviors
  • verify that each perceptual region is reachable by at least one form show that each form's output is unique and irreplaceable* across its parameter space
  • confirm that no two forms approximate one another
  • test sensitivity and edge behavior across full a, b range

static scheduling

  • all behavior is fully precomputed
  • all triggers, timing, and modulation structures are resolved before runtime
  • dynamic change emerges only through structured parameter variation - not side-effects, signal state, or feedback
  • this enables full transparency, repeatability, and compositional determinism

template-document format

text is written in markdown with the following formatting rules:

  • lowercase only
  • no font effects
  • no dividing lines
  • use nested lists in place of tables
  • one section per structural unit each domain follows this structure:

header

  • domain name
  • one-sentence summary of function in system

introduction

  • description of the domain's scope
  • explanation of its role within its parent layer

overview

  • list of all forms, each with:

    • index and name

    • behavior description

    • real-world analogies

    • notes on parameter behavior

parameter behavior summary

  • compact listing of what a and b control for each form

why these were chosen

  • justification of form set
  • explanation of irreducibility
  • musical, structural, or computational rationale

what is not included

  • explicitly excluded behaviors or structures
  • reasoning for their omission, or their approximation by included forms

conclusion

  • assert coverage and minimality
  • summarize expressivity, determinism, and extensibility guarantees

naming and enumeration standard

  • forms are indexed numerically (e.g. 0, 1, 2)
  • names are short and descriptive of perceptual role - not mechanics
  • ordering is fixed and consistent across documentation and code

interface philosophy

  • each layer produces complete control data from static, abstract inputs
  • control flows strictly downward
  • no feedback loops or circular dependencies
  • all decisions are explicit and parameterized - nothing arises from signal interaction

outcome

this architecture ensures that all generated sound and structure:

  • is fully determined by static, transparent inputs
  • spans both natural and musical perceptual spaces through compact, well-defined control
  • is reproducible, modular, and hierarchically traceable
  • supports both idiomatic expression and abstract exploration within the same system it is designed not to imitate what exists, but to construct what is possible.