Zounds!

Large version (recommended).

This here's my step into the wonderful world of sound visualizations! What you're seeing is basically the raw data of an .mp3 file. You've probably seen waveforms like this:

This is using the exact same type of data. Basically, each little "slice" of the waveform is a value between 1 and -1. That value is then amplified (if we didn't, the visualization would just look like a little cluster in the center of the screen) and then positioned based on the sin and cos of that value. Imagine a sound wave like the above, but curled around into a circle - that's what this is!

I'm also using the BitmapData object in Flash, which is a very nifty tool to check out. With it, many advanced effects can be created (such as the more detailed glow seen above). Anywho, hope you enjoy!

By the way, my song choice in this was something I dwelled on for a bit. Certain sounds show up much better in the visualization. Specifically, simple songs with long, constant tones, seem to show very cool geometric patterns. Louder, multi-layered songs tend to cause such complex waveforms that the visualization winds up looking like static. I'm particularly happy with the 6th song above ("Don't Let Us Get Sick" by Warren Zevon).

Twinkle

Large version. (note that this is the same size but it will load in its own window)

Nope, I don't really know what this is either. I've just been sorta "doodling" out little things in Flash lately. This was going to be a checkerboard style grid of blocks that would grow and shrink randomly. I finished that up, but felt I'd push it in a slightly...blurrier direction. Not that the first thing didn't look cool, but I think this result is more indicative of what the program wanted to be in the first place.

Also note that the colorization is random every time (though one checkerboard grid will always be a shade of blue - I'm not sure why I chose to do that, but I think it has something to do with wanting SOME standardization to it).

Enjoy!

Scraps

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Sometimes I randomly poke around on my external drives and find little scrap bits of projects I started and never finished. Or maybe they were just little bits that I didn't find interesting enough to post up on the blog. This was one of those measly little bits that caught my eye the other day. I spent a little time polishing it up - it's still nothing mind-shattering, but hey...it's something! It's GOOD to create!

Anywho, stick around and watch it - it will clear itself once the boxes reach the top. Oh, and if you're lucky, you may even be greeted by a special someone! OOH! Marvelous!

Ohhhhh...shiny and glowy!

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Mmm...delicious delicious Flint Particle System!

Quivering Lines

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Another end of break, random Flash doodle.

Enjoy!

Glowy!

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The blog lives yet! I suppose. Well, this does a whole lotta nuffin', but I think it looks pretty nifty.

Click anywhere in the .swf to swap out a new random set of glowing bars.

It's Alive!

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It's alive! The blog, that is. After a long absence from the blogosphere (Ooh, how Web 2.0 of me!), the urge to program a wonderful little "do nothing" has overcome me. So here you have the very earliest skeleton of a virtual ecosystem. It's not much yet; mainly just little digital Roombas sucking up bits of "food" in order to survive.

At this point, we've got some slight randomization of body size (which determines how fast energy depletes), random move speed and turn times, and random lines of sight. I'm really hoping this turns into a fun little thriving ecosystem with births, species shifting, and a rudimentary idea of how natural selection works. That little countdown on each green harvester is how much energy it has left. The food replenishes itself every couple of seconds and it provides a random amount of energy to the harvesters based on size. You can click the blue "Add Harvester" button to throw another random harvester into the mix.

Inspiration came from a few things, but foremost in my mind is Larry Marder's "Beanworld", with its simple yet charming circle of life. Well, here's hoping this little nugget turns into something fun to watch!