Particle Sim Visualiser

If there's any support or interest in the secret techniques behind this I may share the process and/or project file. Details follow:

Valleys & Oceans. - Frequency-guided generative visualisation for @zj_smiles’ latest mix on @hamsaladdd’s show on @area3000.radio

Done in @touchdesigner

While developing this piece, we would talk about the ‘games of love’ that seem to dictate our lives—an endless cycle, always taking on new shapes as the music shifts. This piece attempts to embody that feeling, alongside Jun’s sonic exploration.

technical junk:

Frequency- I used a 3-band EQ to pull frequency data in real-time, merging it with the position values of a particle simulation I built. I corresponded each frequency band to the XYZ planes and set unique numeric ranges to create various movements between & from each band. The outcome is a constantly shifting visual dictated by the different frequencies of the sound—ever-changing, a dance between sound and motion.

Movement- Particle sims often lack that kinetic energy I crave, so I drew inspiration from ‘temporal distortion’ techniques to disrupt the usual fluidity. I implemented a self-adjusting speed based on the density of the track and played with cached TIMA functionality in TD for a more purposeful stuttered delivery of sonic information. The result is a movement that feels more jumpy, unpredictable, and alive. Instead of the typical repeated flow, this has a directional pull that guides the eye and pulls the viewer deeper into the mix.

Style- This approach guided me to a style that resembles flickering ink on paper—minimal, raw, and analog in feel. I wanted something that forces the viewer to stop and engage, to see the music take shape in motion rather than get lost in flashy effects. I followed a path that resonated with the ideas previously discussed, leaning into a black-and-white palette, and at times allowing the white to layer chaotically often clouding the piece before returning to nothing.

This project started over a year ago during my early exploration of particle sims. @platform.presents recent event I revisited this project. It quickly became a favourite of mine and developed into this.

Thank u for listening to me yap, link in bio x

#audiovisual #touchdesigner #newmediaart #digitalart #creativecodeart #av #generative