SEGMENTATION: Detailed Information

by Archer Endrich

Key Features of the CDP SEGMENTATION programs

• multiple time-varying parameters
• spectral options to play with the order of analysis window
• the shuffle options provide original and powerful ways to create patterns in the segments
• the texture set is one of the most extensive and powerful sets in the CDP catalogue
• repetition and shuffling are also available in the wavecycle distortion set

Some possible musical results with EXTEND

• Segmentation of vocal sounds can create disjointed and humorous effects.
• Staccato or flowing, reverberant effects can be achieved.
• Surface texture can be made rough or smooth.
• The source can be slightly broken up, made completely unrecognisable, or anything inbetween.

Other forms of segmentation in CDP

CDP has a very large array of programs with which to segment sounds and manipulate the segments. They include:

• BRASSAGE – comprehensive granulation facilities
• GRAINMILL – graphic version of BRASSAGE with built-in breakpoint editor
• TEXTURE – build complex textures of many kinds
• EXTEND LOOP – move through a soundfile, with discrete or overlapping segments
• EXTEND SCRAMBLE – randomised segmentation
• EXTEND ZIGZAG – move through soundfile both forwards and backwards
• BLUR DRUNK – drunken walk through analysis windows
• BLUR SHUFFLE – set the order and number of repetitions of analysis windows
• DISTORT SHUFFLE – set the order and number of repetitions of wavecycles
• BLUR WEAVE – define a path forwards and backwards through analysis windows
• GRAIN – additional grain manipulation functions, such as reorder, create rhythms, transpose, reposition where grains are taken from the source.

General observations

• Extending sonic material is a basic task in compositional work.
• When composing with sounds, recognisability and qualitative differences in surface texture are important tools.
• Programs such as EXTEND DRUNK, GRAINMILL (BRASSAGE) and TEXTURE have multiple (time-varying) parameters which offer a huge range of possibilities.
• The variety of CDP's segmentation programs provide many different ways to approach extending material in this way.

Last updated: 4 December 2003