Home : Tune Toys : Expresso 
  Expresso takes a simple musical expression (literally "X") and mutates it. In each generation, transformations are applied to components of the expression. This is a fractal technique known as an L-system. The more generations there are, the larger and more complex the expression gets (and the longer it can take to compute). The output varies wildly, from boring to fascinating. Press "Mutate" a few times till you get something that looks interesting, then click on the image to play it. See Composer's Quarry for examples of output.

Transformations:
Seed:
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Phrase for X:
# of Tracks:
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After 19 generations the expression "X" became this:
((transpose((((((X+transpose((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(X,-7) ) ,12) ) +((transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) |step(X,12) ) +transpose(((echo(X,4,6) +transpose((X+(X+X) ) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) +((X+transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) ) |shuffle((echo(X,4,6) +(transpose(X,-5) |(X+X) ) ) ) ) ) +transpose(transpose(((echo(shuffle(X) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ,12) ) +transpose(echo(arpeggio(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-7) ) ,4,6) ,12) ) ,-5) ,12) ) +transpose(shuffle((step(shuffle((((((X|X) +X) |((transpose(X,4) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) |arpeggio(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ) ) +transpose(X,4) ) ) ,12) |transpose(transpose(echo(transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +(X+X) ) ,-5) ,4,6) ,-5) ,4) ) ) ,12) ) ,-7) +transpose((echo(transpose(arpeggio(((echo(echo(arpeggio(X) ,4,6) ,4,6) |transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) ) +transpose(transpose(step(arpeggio((((X+X) +transpose(((X+X) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ) ,12) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ,-5) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose((arpeggio(step(transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-5) ,4) ,12) ) +transpose(((((transpose(X,-7) |X) +transpose(shuffle((X+((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ) ,7) ) +transpose((X+transpose((((shuffle(X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) +((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,-5) ) +transpose(transpose((transpose(arpeggio(transpose(transpose(transpose(shuffle(((step((step(arpeggio((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,12) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) +transpose(transpose((echo(X,4,6) |echo(step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ,4,6) ) ,4) ,12) ) |(((((X+X) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ,12) ) +(X+X) ) +transpose(((transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-7) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,7) ) |(((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(X,-5) ) +transpose(((X|X) |X) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,4) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ) ) ,-7) ,-5) ,4) ) ,-7) +transpose(step(echo((step((((shuffle(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ) +transpose(step(echo((arpeggio(X) +transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) ,4,6) ,12) ,7) ) +transpose((shuffle((transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) |((((X|X) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose((shuffle(X) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ) ) +transpose((((X+X) |((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(X,-7) ,4,6) ,12) ) +echo(transpose(X,4) ,4,6) ) ) +transpose((transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-7) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ,-5) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((((transpose((X+step(X,12) ) ,4) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(arpeggio((X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose((((X+((X+X) +transpose(X,4) ) ) |transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) |transpose(X,4) ) ,-5) ) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ,4) ,7) ) ,12) +transpose(((transpose((shuffle(arpeggio(((step(X,12) +transpose((echo(X,4,6) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,-7) ,-5) ,7) ) ) ) +((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) +step((arpeggio(X) +transpose(((((X|X) +X) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-7) ) ,12) ) ,12) ) ) ,-7) +transpose((arpeggio(transpose(transpose(arpeggio((((X+transpose(X,12) ) |X) +(transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,12) ) ) ) ,-5) ,-7) ) |transpose(((((X|X) |((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,12) ) |transpose(transpose((X+X) ,4) ,4) ) ,4) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(((arpeggio(shuffle(transpose(step(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ,12) ,4) ) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(shuffle((transpose(((transpose(X,4) +arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) ) |arpeggio((X+X) ) ) ,4) +transpose(transpose(transpose(((X|X) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) ,4) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ,4) ,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(transpose(transpose(transpose(arpeggio(transpose((step(X,12) +X) ,-7) ) ,4) ,4) ,4) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,4,6) ,12) ,12) ) ,-7) ,12) )
random seed used was 1 EXPR = transpose(shuffle(transpose((step((step((((transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) |transpose(X,-5) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose((step(X,12) +transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +(X|X) ) ,7) ) ,-7) ,-5) ,7) ) +transpose(((((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +(((X+transpose(X,7) ) |(X|X) ) |transpose(X,-5) ) ) |transpose((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ,-5) ) |(((X+transpose(X,12) ) |(step(X,12) +transpose(X,7) ) ) +echo(transpose(X,4) ,4,6) ) ) ,7) ) ,12) +echo(transpose(echo(transpose((((((X+X) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) +echo(X,4,6) ) +((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +X) +transpose(shuffle((X+X) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ,4,6) ,4) ,4,6) ) ,12) +transpose(transpose(((((transpose(transpose((X+transpose(transpose(X,4) ,12) ) ,-7) ,-7) +transpose(X,-7) ) |(((X|X) +transpose(X,12) ) |transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) ) ) +transpose(transpose(echo(transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) ,4) ,-7) ,-7) ,4,6) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio((transpose((X|X) ,-5) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,12) ) ,4) ) ,4)
random seed used was 0 EXPR = echo((arpeggio(((echo(echo((transpose(((transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ) |transpose(X,-7) ) ,-7) +(transpose((((transpose(((X+transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,12) ) ,-7) +transpose((((((X|(X+X) ) +transpose((transpose(X,4) |step(X,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X|step(X,12) ) ,7) ) +transpose(shuffle(((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) |echo((X|X) ,4,6) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((((((X|X) +transpose(X,7) ) |(transpose(X,-7) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,12) ) ) +transpose(step(((X+X) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose(((X|(X|X) ) |((X|X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((shuffle(shuffle(X) ) |(step(X,12) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) +transpose((((step(transpose(X,4) ,12) +shuffle((X+X) ) ) +((transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +(X+X) ) ,-7) |(X+X) ) +arpeggio((transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) +transpose(((X+X) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) ) ) ) +transpose(step(echo((X+X) ,4,6) ,12) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,-5) |((((shuffle(transpose(X,-5) ) +transpose(((X+X) |arpeggio(X) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((X+transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose((((X+transpose(X,-7) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) +step(transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-5) ,-7) ,4) ,-5) ,12) ) ) ) ,4,6) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose(((transpose(transpose((echo(transpose(X,-7) ,4,6) +transpose((arpeggio(step(X,12) ) +transpose((X+(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ) ,-7) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(echo((X|transpose(X,-7) ) ,4,6) ) ,4) ,7) ) +transpose(((shuffle(step((transpose(X,4) +echo(X,4,6) ) ,12) ) +transpose(shuffle(transpose(((step((X|X) ,12) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) |transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) ,7) ) +transpose((echo(X,4,6) +arpeggio((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) ,7) ) +transpose((((transpose(((shuffle(transpose(((X+transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) ,-7) ) +transpose(((arpeggio(((arpeggio((X+transpose(X,7) ) ) +(X+(X+X) ) ) +shuffle((step(X,12) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) ) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) +transpose(X,-7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((shuffle(X) |((X+X) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((echo((transpose((X+X) ,-5) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ,4,6) +arpeggio((step(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ,12) |((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,12) ) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,-7) +(transpose(transpose((((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) ) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) +X) ,4) ,-7) +transpose(echo(transpose(X,4) ,4,6) ,7) ) ) |transpose(shuffle(echo(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) ,4,6) ) ,-5) ) +transpose(transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) +transpose((((transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-7) +step(((X+transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,12) ) +transpose(((echo((X+X) ,4,6) |(X+X) ) +transpose(X,4) ) ,7) ) +transpose((echo(transpose((X|X) ,-7) ,4,6) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X+transpose(X,-5) ) ,12) ) ,4) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,-7) ,12) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose((shuffle(step(transpose(((transpose((((transpose((X+transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,-7) +transpose(step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ,12) ) +transpose((arpeggio((((X+X) +transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(echo(arpeggio(X) ,4,6) ,7) ) ,-5) +transpose((((X|X) +transpose(X,4) ) |(step(X,12) |(X+X) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(echo(transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ,4,6) ,-5) ,7) ) ,-5) ,12) ) +transpose(((((transpose(X,-7) +(((X+X) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose((X+X) ,-5) ,-5) ,12) ) ) +transpose(transpose((transpose(((X+X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,-7) +transpose((shuffle(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) +transpose(arpeggio((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,12) ) ,12) ) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(step((X+X) ,12) ,7) ) +transpose(((transpose(step((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) ,12) ,-5) +transpose(arpeggio((((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) +transpose(X,12) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(shuffle(X) ,-5) +((((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) +transpose(((X|X) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,-7) ) ,7) ) ) |transpose((transpose(transpose(step((arpeggio(shuffle(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) ) |(transpose(shuffle(transpose((transpose(X,4) +(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,4) ) ,-5) |(transpose(arpeggio(((((X+X) +transpose(X,12) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((X|X) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,-5) +echo(step(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ,4,6) ) ) ) ,12) ,4) ,-5) +transpose((((arpeggio(((shuffle((transpose(X,-5) +X) ) +transpose(((X|X) |transpose(X,4) ) ,12) ) +transpose(((shuffle(X) +transpose(X,-5) ) |(step(X,12) +arpeggio(step(X,12) ) ) ) ,12) ) ) |transpose(transpose(((((X+X) +X) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(X,-7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(step(shuffle((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) ) ,12) ,7) ) ,4) ,-5) ) |((transpose(((X+transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) |(X+transpose(shuffle((X+X) ) ,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(step((X|X) ,12) ,4) ,-5) ,-5) ,12) ) ) +transpose((((transpose(transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(echo(((X+transpose(X,12) ) |X) ,4,6) ,7) ) ,-5) ,-7) +transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +(transpose((X+X) ,-7) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-7) ,12) ) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(((step(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) +(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) +(X+X) ) ) +transpose(transpose((X|(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ,4) ,7) ) ,4) ,7) ) |echo(((((X|X) +(X+X) ) +(echo(transpose(X,4) ,4,6) +transpose(echo((X+X) ,4,6) ,12) ) ) +transpose(((transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ,-5) ,-7) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(((transpose(transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-7) ,-5) +transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,12) ) +shuffle(transpose(X,-5) ) ) ,12) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,4,6) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,-5) ) ,4,6)
random seed used was 0

NOTE: Generated phrase was too large ( 14245 ) , it has been truncated at 5000 notes. EXPR = ((transpose(step(transpose(step(arpeggio(echo(echo(((transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) ,-7) +transpose((transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) |transpose((X+transpose((X|transpose(X,-5) ) ,12) ) ,-7) ) ,12) ) +step(((X|(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) +transpose((shuffle(echo(X,4,6) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,4,6) ,4,6) ) ,12) ,-5) ,12) ,4) |transpose(shuffle(echo(step(transpose((((transpose(transpose((transpose((arpeggio(X) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,-5) +transpose((X+X) ,-5) ) ,4) ,-7) +transpose(((((((X+transpose((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) +echo(((X+X) |X) ,4,6) ) |((X+transpose(X,7) ) |(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ) +transpose(transpose((((X|X) |(X|(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,-7) ) +X) ,7) ) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) |transpose(X,4) ) ) ,7) ) +shuffle(transpose((X|X) ,4) ) ) ,12) ) +transpose((transpose((echo((((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,-7) ) +transpose((transpose(X,4) |X) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((X+X) ,4) ,7) ) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) ,-5) ) ,-7) |step(step((X+X) ,12) ,12) ) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose((arpeggio(transpose(shuffle(transpose(transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-5) ,4) ) ,4) ) +((echo(((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(step(transpose(step(X,12) ,-7) ,12) ,7) ) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose((X|X) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,4) ,12) ,4,6) ) ,4) ) +transpose((step((transpose((((((transpose(X,4) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((step(transpose((transpose(X,-5) |(X|X) ) ,-5) ,12) |shuffle(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) ) ,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((echo(shuffle((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,4,6) +echo(transpose(X,4) ,4,6) ) |transpose(X,-7) ) ,7) ) |(step(((transpose(X,-7) +transpose((X+((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,12) ) +(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ) ,12) |(shuffle(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ) +arpeggio(transpose(X,-7) ) ) ) ) +transpose(arpeggio(step(echo((X|transpose(X,-7) ) ,4,6) ,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose(step((((X+(X+X) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) +transpose((step(X,12) |(X+X) ) ,7) ) ,12) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(echo((X+X) ,4,6) ,-5) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,-5) |shuffle(((transpose((X|step(X,12) ) ,4) |transpose(arpeggio(transpose(X,-5) ) ,4) ) +transpose((((((((step(X,12) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) |echo(X,4,6) ) |(step((X+X) ,12) +transpose(X,-7) ) ) +echo((X|(X+X) ) ,4,6) ) +transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose((((shuffle(echo(echo(X,4,6) ,4,6) ) +transpose((X+transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((transpose(X,4) |X) ,-7) ) ,7) ) |(transpose(step((transpose(step(((transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) +transpose(shuffle((X|X) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((X+X) +transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) |step(X,12) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,12) ,-5) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) |arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) ,-5) +transpose(((echo(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ,4,6) |transpose(X,-5) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ,-5) ,-7) ,12) ) ,4) ) ) ,7) ) ) ) ,12) +echo(transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(((shuffle(step(X,12) ) +transpose((X+transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+(X+X) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,-7) ,-7) ,-7) ,4) ,4,6) ) ,12) )
random seed used was 0


The algorithm for Expresso is written in KeyKit, and here's the source code.