![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e9a11203-3b27-4585-bd61-a4cb1afee4d4/322e2214-befb-433e-b590-8a230871da9b_rw_1920.jpeg?h=d8de61559dfd747d98f555170fcb9ede)
Performance at COMMEND NYC
Overview
BLOBS is a custom audio visualizer created for the live coding Algorave performance hosted by Parsons Algorave Studio at COMMEND NYC, a record store and performance space, in May 2019.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e9a11203-3b27-4585-bd61-a4cb1afee4d4/b05abc34-fd82-4331-859b-56a988172a8e_rw_1200.png?h=3086ffc8756903622a160ebe123e5b9c)
Concept Diagram
Design Decisions
I collaborated with Ray LC from the live coding studio for this project. Ray is responsible for programming the music in Sonic Pi, a live coding environment for music.
The design process of this audio visualizer started with some initial music setup Ray provided for inspiration. Based on the samples and musical directions, I assigned different types of sounds with visuals that can represent the salsa style that the music was going for.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e9a11203-3b27-4585-bd61-a4cb1afee4d4/46887e6b-18c5-41b2-8f3a-a4e8c9e6bffc_rw_3840.png?h=509f8cbcaa7ef6519c5b2ccf2025967c)
Application Visual Design
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e9a11203-3b27-4585-bd61-a4cb1afee4d4/f7010377-ec29-4247-ac59-fb4948f19beb_rw_3840.png?h=7177a8d7f1fe322ac55485b945bb845c)
Technical Diagram
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/e9a11203-3b27-4585-bd61-a4cb1afee4d4/fb60d1f2-4f67-499c-af3a-1a5b7e063109_rw_600.gif?h=5188b785c729ddb250380b8b3574886f)
Application Testing
Developing The Program
Blob shapes are used as the major visual element in this visualizer. To show the lively atmosphere of the music, I also used dynamic multi-window displays to add two other smaller windows moving across the screen. Ray’s music script consists of a list of “switches” for triggering sequences of melodies, drum patterns and rhythms, allowing the visual behaviors to be linked to the music according to those “switches”.
I used Processing to develop the visuals. Since the music is live coded and iterated in Sonic Pi, I connected the two programs via OSC, to have Sonic Pi events trigger visual changes in Processing.
Team Members
Yanwen Dong - audio responsive visuals
Ray LC - algorithmic music