MagNular: Symbolic Control of an External Sound Engine Using an Animated Interface

This paper reports on work in progress on the creative project MagNular, part of a wider practical study of the potential collaborative compositional applications of game engine technologies. MagNular is a sound toy utilizing computer game and physics engine technologies to create an animated interface used in conjunction with an external sound engine developed within Max/MSP. The player controls virtual magnets that attract or repel numerous particle objects, moving them freely around the virtual space. Particle object collision data is mapped to control sound onsets and synthesis/DSP (Digital Signal Processing) parameters. The user “composes” by controlling and influencing the simulated physical behaviors of the particle objects within the animated interface.

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