Each class property is defined with a list or a vector, by manually, or using 300 general-purpose musical and mathematical functions. The values are processed with Section Recycling Rules, which are shortly: - If there is less material defined for a zone than there are actual events, then the material is recycled.
- If there are less zones defined than there are zones, the zone pattern is recycled.
- If the material has no zones it goes through all the zones, and recycles if the section is longer than the material.
Recycling provides intuitive way to handle usual pattern-looping methods in many musical styles. Values can also be scaled to fit within given metric ranges.
Functions consist of convertors, neurons, libraries, tonalities, and generators and processors, which devide into sub-categories dealing with vector patterns and symbol patterns. A vector pattern consists of integers, reals or ratios, while symbol pattern consists of symbolic information. User can extend functionality by programming new ones in Lisp.
Processors include filter, shift, transpose, retrograde, mix, analyze, and morph. Generators include fractals and chaos, L-systems, programmable neurons, Fibonacci series, antenna theory, autocatalysis, Fourier analysis/synthesis, number theory, solar systems, and recursive structures. Generators can be used side by side with processors. The functions are documented internally by a hyperhelp system, which enables to obtain examples by double-clicking a function name. The easiest way to learn to use Symbolic Composer is to have an open mind and adopt a 'surfing attitude', pick up a function here another there from the almost unlimited resources, and listen what comes out.
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