Random automation

[aka]

Hi,

Is it please possible to make a random automation in Ardour ?

Thank

[GhostsonAcid]

I’m not sure, but I would guess not.

For what music/sound reason/purpose would you like to be able to do this?
-Or perhaps something like random midi automation to control lights or something?

I’m curious as to what prompted you to ask this question. : )

[Piergi]

For velocities, there is the x42 MIDI velocity randomisation [ x42 MIDI Filter Collection ]. I guess it could be doable also for other aspects.

[aka]

Hi,

The reason is that I would like to be able to put, in some effect, random values.

In Surge XT synth, by example, I have inside all what I need to work with random but it’s the only one sample I know that random have.

I way to put random in a plugin (which doesn’t have it) would be through automation, isn’t it ?

Or is it another mean ?

… I am sorry to answer so late …

[GenGen]

Ardour, afaik, has no such ability built in. For the creation of these kind of sounds, I use bespoke, vcvrack, axoloti or supercollider. I then either bounce the audio and import it into Ardour for editing, arranging and mixing or I route the audio output straight into Ardour, using pipewire/raysession.
There are also plugins, capable of creating procedural midi controller data.
Another method would be running something like nallely or midish and connect it to your instrument midi track input via raysession/alsa. You can then record the controller data into Ardour for further editing.

[Majik (Keith Milner)]

It might be possible with a LUA script

Cheers,

Keith

[GhostsonAcid]

@Majik

It might be possible with a LUA script

^ this, 100%.

You could have a script that, when executed, takes the selected track/bus and then displays all the available automation lanes of that track/bus in a window & drop-down menu. You would then select which automation lane you’d like to add random automation to, perhaps with additional options like setting the upper and lower limits of the randomized points, how often they should occur, when they should start and end, etc…

@aka

[A?] way to put random[ness?] in a plugin (which doesn’t have it) would be through automation, isn’t it ?

If I understand you correctly, then yes, I believe so.
@aka What version of Ardour are you using by the way? 8.12?

[Largos]

Following on from what Piergi said, you could use the x42 midi random velocity plugin, then follow it in the chain with x42 note to CC. This allows to convert velocity to a CC value of your choice. Then use the appropriate note in the midi editor as a trigger. So the track looks like this

You can then send the midi to a track with a synth. However, I can only get this to work when the synth has an built in midi learn to accept the CC. I can’t find a way to trigger Ardour’s midi learn feature from another track. Also, I don’t think the CC changes can be recorded either.

[aka]

@GhostsonAcid

@aka What version of Ardour are you using by the way? 8.12?

I am using Ardour 7.3.0~ds0, “Nerve Net”, (rev 7.3.0~ds0-1), Intel 64 bits; because I am on debian oldstable and wish to do a maximum through apt for install, upgrade.

[x42 (Robin Gareus)]

Do you want to randomize values of existing MIDI events (Note velocity, time, duation), Control Changes, or of parameter automation (Ardour Fader, Plugin Parameters)?

If this pertains to MIDI note events, you can use The Ardour Manual - Transforming MIDI—Mathematical Operations - the advantage here is that is randomization is directly applied to the timeline, and then there are no surprises in the final mix.

If you want it to be randomized every time you play, then you will have to use a plugin (which can also be a Lua script).