Other aPatchofNettles
Reasonable Doubt [Disquiet Junto Project 0290: Text-to-Beat]

Having been on SoundCloud a while, many of my good friends are bots - and I don't want to cause any ruckus, but have observed them to be needy types - always clamouring for attention, yet once you sit 'em straight down to get to the point, they'll just start yammering gibberish ... maybe guesting on vox will cheer 'em up? Otherwise, I guess, just feed 'em some clicks&likes - I'm sure they mean well...

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Disquiet Junto Project 0290: Text-to-Beat
Use computer-generated speech as the rhythmic foundation for a track.

Step 1: This week we’re going to build a track around text-to-speech, the results of a computer-generated voice speaking. In past text-to-speech we’ve used pre-existing text as the source. In this case we’re going to build the text to order. Keep this in mind.

Step 2: Find a good text-to-speech system that you think you can work with musically. In MacOS, for example, there’s a built-in system shortcut: Just select the text you want to hear, highlight it (in a browser, or a text editor, wherever) and then hit the ESC button while holding down the OPT button. There are also other tools, including browser-based options, like the one here:

text-to-speech-demo.mybluemix.net

Step 3: Experiment with different combinations of words to produce a rhythm you want to work with.

Step 4: Record the rhythm you developed in Step 3.

Step 5: Produce a track using the rhythm in Step 4 as the foundation. (Level Up: Use more than one text-to-speech pattern to create cross-patterns, phasing, among other polyrhythmic events and effects.)

Five More Important Steps When Your Track Is Done:

Step 1: If your hosting platform allows for tags, be sure to include the project tag “disquiet0290” (no spaces) in the name of your track. If you’re posting on SoundCloud in particular, this is essential to my locating the tracks and creating a playlist of them.

Step 2: Upload your track. It is helpful but not essential that you use SoundCloud to host your track.

Step 3: In the following discussion thread at llllllll.co please consider posting your track:

llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-p...90-text-to-beat

Step 4: Annotate your track with a brief explanation of your approach and process.

Step 5: Then listen to and comment on tracks uploaded by your fellow Disquiet Junto participants.

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More on this 290th weekly Disquiet Junto project — Text-to-Beat: Use computer-generated speech as the rhythmic foundation for a track. — at:

disquiet.com/0290

More on the Disquiet Junto at:

disquiet.com/junto

Subscribe to project announcements here:

tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto

Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co:

llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-p...90-text-to-beat

There’s also on a Junto Slack. Send your email address to twitter.com/disquiet for Slack inclusion.