Using cellular automata as a music making tool?

[imminent_gloom]

I found old post:

@zebra

elcos.lua (4.5 KB)

Used it as a reference, then just plain used bits of it to get a 1D CA running on my norns, no sound, outputs first four rows to crow (maybe all to ansible, but have not tested).

Summary

-- 1D Cellular automata
-- v2? imminent gloom
--
--
-- adapted from elcos.lua
-- by zebra


g = grid.connect()

elca = require 'elca'

ca = elca.new()

local g_br = 4
local g_br_strong = 10

local rule_delay = 0
local name = 'rule'
local t_name = name

params:add_separator('1D CA')

params:add_control('rule', 'rule', controlspec.new(1, 256, 'lin', 1, 34, '', 1/256, true))
params:set_action('rule', function(x) ca.rule = x end)

params:add_control('offset', 'offset', controlspec.new(0, 119, 'lin', 1, 0, '', 1/120, false))
params:set_action('offset', function(x) ca.offset = x end)


-- creates and zeros 16x128 slot memory
function no_history()
    col = {}
    history = {}
    for y = 1, 128 do col[y] = 0 end
    for x = 1, 16 do history[x] = col end
end


-- clock function
function forever()
    while true do
        clock.sync (1/4)
        col = ca:window(128)
        table.insert(history, col)
        table.remove(history, 1)
        ca:update()
        -- Eurorack output modes:
        --crow_output_gate()
        crow_output_pulse()
        --crow_ansible_output()
        redraw_all()
    end
end


function init()
    c = clock.run(forever)
    no_history()
    ca.state[9] = 1
end


function g.key(x, y, z)
    y = params:get('offset') + y
    if z == 1 then
        if x == 16 then
            if ca.state[y] == 1 then ca.state[y] = 0 else ca.state[y] = 1 end
        elseif x > 4 then
            -- earlier rows - change the rule such that it would have produced a different value
            -- (and change the state too)
            local col = history[x-1]
            local l, r
            if y == 1 then l = col[128] else l = col[y-1] end
            if y == 128 then r = col[1] else r = col[y+1] end
            local c = col[y]
            local val
            if history[x][y] == 1  then val = 0 else val = 1 end
            history[x][y] = val
            ca.state[y] = c
            ca:set_rule_by_state(history[x][y], l, c, r)
            params:set('rule', ca.rule)
        end
    redraw_all()
    end
end


function key(n, z)
    if z == 1 then
        if n == 3 then
            ca:clear()
            no_history()
            redraw_all()
        end 
    end
end


function enc(n, d)
    if n == 1 then
        params:delta('clock_tempo', d)
        t_name = 'clock_tempo'
        name = 'bpm'
    end
    if n == 2 then
        params:delta('rule', d)
        t_name = 'rule'
        name = 'rule'
        end
    if n == 3 then
        params:delta('offset', d)
        t_name = 'offset'
        name = 'shift'
    end
    redraw_all()
end


function redraw()
    screen.clear()
    screen.font_face(10)
    screen.font_size(32)
    screen.move(1,56)
    screen.text(name .. ': ' .. params:get(t_name))
    if name ~= 'rule' then
        rule_delay = rule_delay + 1
    end
    if rule_delay == 10 then
        name = 'rule'
        t_name = name
        rule_delay = 0
    end
    screen.update()
end

function redraw_grid()
    local val
    for x = 1, 16 do
        if x == 16 then val = g_br_strong else val = g_br end
        local col = history[x]
        local z
        for y = 1, 8 do
            if col[y] == 1 then z = val else z = 0 end
            g:led(x, y, z)
        end
    end
    g:refresh()
end


function redraw_all()
    redraw()
    redraw_grid()
end


function crow_output_gate()
    for y = 1, 4 do 
        local col = history[16]
        local z
        if col[y] == 1 then z = 10 else z = 0 end
        crow.output[y].volts = z
    end
end


function crow_output_pulse()
    for y = 1, 4 do 
        local col = history[16]
        local z
        if col[y] == 1 then
            crow.output[y].action = "pulse(0.005)"
            crow.output[y]()
        end
    end
end


function ansible_crow_output()
    local col = history[16]
    local z
    for y = 1, 4 do 
        if col[y] == 1 then z = 1 else z = 0 end
        crow.ii.ansible.trigger(y, z)
    end
    for y = 5, 4 do 
        if col[y] == 1 then z = 10 else z = 0 end
        crow.ii.ansible.cv(y, z)
    end
end


function cleanup()
    
end

Hope it’s ok to resurrect.