Cellular Sequencer

Conway’s Game of Life as a sequencer. Living cells trigger notes as a sweeper moves across the grid, with different rows mapped to different pitches. The automaton evolves each generation, so the music shifts and mutates over time.

Turning this into something that didn’t just create a fully random buzz was really the fun challenge. This is the second time really I’ve ran into this, where the visuals are cool, the code is fun, but the music is just noise. The first being musical spirograph. My solution for this was the “sweep” mode, that layers different pitches across the larger set, and evolves the cells in a way that adds more depth to the sounds created.

• Canvas-rendered grid with glowing cell effects
• Multiple cellular automata rules: Conway, HighLife, Seeds, Day & Night
• Sweeper mode with a moving playhead across the grid
• Two PolySynths (main + bass) with reverb and panning
• Scales: pentatonic, major, minor, chromatic
• Swing timing for a more human feel
• Stamp patterns: block, blinker, toad, beacon, glider
• Wall barriers to contain growth

Changelog

• Initial release