How to use Kineme Particle tools/audio analysis question

DataFlow's picture

First post, first time digging into Quartz Composer. I stumbled across this site while doing some research to see if QC would be a viable option for some audio visual performance. I have been using PureData/GEM recently, and I have gotten some decent results, QC just seems more polished visually.

First off, I can't seem to get the particle tools to do anything other than make a shape. I have an emitter hooked up to a scene to the standard renderer. Nada. I can get the apple particle emitter to work but as far as I can tell it just makes squares and thats not really what I am looking for.

Secondly, anyone have experience with audio analysis in QC? there were great tools for detecting amplitude frequency and attacks in Pd. be as harsh as my inexperience deserves.

-Evan_

cwright's picture
Re: How to use Kineme Particle tools/audio analysis question

First, ParticleTools is ridiculously complicated and difficult to use. Look for example compositions for how to attach stuff. You'll need a minimum of 75 patches for anything interesting to happen (that's an exaggeration, but you will need ~5-10). Along with the Source is a folder of sample compositions (you might need to dig out an old version for the source release, not sure off the top of my head).

Second, Audio analysis is sorely lacking in QC. An update to AudioTools (which we're now able to release, come to think of it!) does 512-band FFT analysis (it's configurable, so you can do fewer, or more, should your circumstances differ). Look for that in a couple days if all goes well.

Otherwise, there's a built-in audio input patch that gives you 13 bands of frequency data (it says 16, but the top 3 are garbage, in my experience).

DataFlow's picture
iterations?

Thanks for the prompt reply. perhaps I will forego digging into particle systems. I have had luck making interesting structures via iteration before in PureData. How easy is it to get into that in QC? 512-band FFT would be great (although perhaps overkill in some instances). I will experiment with the built in audio patch. 13 bands plus OSC/midi input should give me plenty of options.

cybero's picture
Re: How to use Kineme Particle tools/audio analysis question

Quote:
Audio analysis is sorely lacking in QC. An update to AudioTools (which we're now able to release, come to think of it!) does 512-band FFT analysis (it's configurable, so you can do fewer, or more, should your circumstances differ)

Brilliant news, I'm looking forward to it.

Quote:

there's a built-in audio input patch that gives you 13 bands of frequency data (it says 16, but the top 3 are garbage, in my experience)

in your experience and everyone else's [ that hovered their mouse over the spectrum structure output] .

One further option is to use the Queue patch after smoothing the audio peak output and queue to say 30 bands.

Could also get into some Sample & Hold action too.