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:
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After 18 generations the expression "X" became this:
transpose(echo((((echo(arpeggio((transpose(step(transpose(X,4) ,12) ,4) +transpose(transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(X,7) ) +X) ,4) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ,4,6) +transpose((transpose(echo((((transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(X,12) ) ,4) +(X|transpose(X,-5) ) ) +transpose((X+transpose(step(X,12) ,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose((transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) +transpose(step(X,12) ,12) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,4,6) ,-7) +transpose(arpeggio(((transpose(X,4) +transpose((X+transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,12) ) +transpose((shuffle(X) |arpeggio(X) ) ,12) ) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ) +transpose(((echo((((((echo((echo((X|X) ,4,6) +transpose(step(shuffle((X|echo(X,4,6) ) ) ,12) ,12) ) ,4,6) +transpose(((((echo(X,4,6) +(transpose(X,-5) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ) +transpose(echo((X|X) ,4,6) ,7) ) +arpeggio((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,7) ) ) ) +(step(arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,7) ) |(X+X) ) ) ,12) +transpose((X+transpose(X,-5) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(echo((transpose(X,4) |transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-7) ,-5) ) ,4,6) ,7) ) +transpose((step((echo(step(transpose(X,4) ,12) ,4,6) |shuffle((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ) ,12) +transpose((transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose((X+X) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ,4) +step(transpose(shuffle(X) ,-5) ,12) ) ,4) ) ,7) ) +transpose((((transpose((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,12) ) +shuffle(transpose(X,4) ) ) ,-5) |((arpeggio((X+transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose(shuffle((step(X,12) +transpose(X,12) ) ) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose(step(shuffle(transpose(X,4) ) ,12) ,7) ) ) +(transpose(X,-7) |transpose(step(X,12) ,-7) ) ) +transpose(shuffle(echo(transpose(transpose(step(echo(X,4,6) ,12) ,-5) ,-7) ,4,6) ) ,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ,-5) ,-5) +((X|X) |((X+((X+X) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ) ) +transpose(transpose(echo(transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) ,4,6) ,4) ,12) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,4,6) |transpose((transpose(arpeggio((transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,-5) +transpose(((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(transpose((X+X) ,4) ,7) ) |(transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X|X) ,-5) ) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,-5) +transpose(shuffle(((step(X,12) +transpose((X+transpose((X+X) ,12) ) ,12) ) +((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ) ) ,12) ) ,-5) ) +transpose((((shuffle(transpose(arpeggio(transpose(X,-7) ) ,-7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ,-5) ,-7) ,-5) ,12) ) +transpose(shuffle((((transpose((((transpose((X+X) ,-5) |transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) ) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,-7) +transpose(transpose((transpose((((X+transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) |X) ,-7) +transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-7) ) |((X+X) +((X|X) +transpose(step(X,12) ,12) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(transpose((X|X) ,-5) ) ,7) ) +(step((((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose((X|X) ,12) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,-7) +shuffle(X) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,12) +transpose(((((step(X,12) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +X) ,12) ) |((echo(X,4,6) +arpeggio(X) ) |step(X,12) ) ) +transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((shuffle(X) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) +((transpose(X,4) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(((echo((arpeggio(shuffle(X) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) ,12) ) ,4,6) +transpose(arpeggio(((((((((X+X) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose((X+transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((X|X) ,4) ,7) ) +transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,4) ,-5) ) |(step(X,12) +echo((transpose(X,-5) |X) ,4,6) ) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(((transpose(step(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,12) ,4) +transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ,-5) ) +(((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) |transpose(step(arpeggio(X) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) |transpose(step((X|X) ,12) ,4) ) ,7) ) ) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ,-7) ,7) ) ,-5) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((((step(echo((transpose((X+X) ,-5) |transpose(transpose(((X+X) |echo(X,4,6) ) ,-7) ,4) ) ,4,6) ,12) +(transpose(transpose((((X+transpose(X,7) ) +shuffle(X) ) |(((X|X) +(X|X) ) |step(X,12) ) ) ,4) ,4) |transpose(((arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,12) ) |shuffle(X) ) ) +transpose(((((transpose(X,-5) |transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose((X|X) ,-7) ,4) ) +transpose(((((X|X) +shuffle(X) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(((X+X) +step(X,12) ) ,12) ) ,12) ) +(transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ,-7) +transpose(echo(((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,4) ) +transpose((echo(X,4,6) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,4,6) ,12) ) ) ,4) ) ) +transpose(transpose(echo(transpose((X+(((transpose(X,-5) |(X|X) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,7) ) +echo((((transpose(X,4) +transpose((X|X) ,4) ) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(X) ,4) ,12) ) ,4,6) ) ) ,-7) ,4,6) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(step((transpose(X,4) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,12) ) ,12) ,4) +transpose(((((shuffle((transpose(X,-5) |((shuffle(X) +(X|transpose(X,-5) ) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,-5) |(X+X) ) |arpeggio(transpose(X,4) ) ) ,7) ) ) ) |(transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) |(X+transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) |echo((transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ,-7) +(step(X,12) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(X) ,-5) ,7) ) ) ,4,6) ) ) +transpose(step((echo((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose((transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) ,4) +transpose(step(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ,12) ) ,-7) ,12) ) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose((((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,-5) ) +((transpose(X,4) +transpose((X+transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) |transpose(X,-5) ) ,7) ) ) +transpose(transpose(arpeggio(echo(X,4,6) ) ,-7) ,7) ) ,7) ) +echo(transpose((((((((X+X) +(X+X) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(X,-5) ,4,6) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ,12) ) +(((step((X+X) ,12) +transpose(arpeggio((X|X) ) ,12) ) +transpose((X+X) ,-7) ) |((arpeggio(X) +transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) ) +transpose((step((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,12) |((X|X) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) ) ) ,4) ,4,6) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ,7) ) ,4,6) ,-5)
random seed used was 71

NOTE: Generated phrase was too large ( 26775 ) , it has been truncated at 5000 notes. EXPR = ((transpose(step(echo(((transpose(((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) +transpose(step(X,12) ,-7) ) ,4) +step((transpose(arpeggio((transpose((transpose(X,4) +X) ,4) +transpose(step(X,12) ,7) ) ) ,-7) +transpose(transpose(((transpose(X,-7) +transpose((X+transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,12) ) ,12) ) +transpose((((X|X) +X) +(transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) +transpose((((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ) ,12) ) ,4) ,7) ) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose(step(echo(transpose(step(step(X,12) ,12) ,-7) ,4,6) ,12) ,-5) ,12) ) ,4,6) ,12) ,-7) |(step(((transpose(echo(transpose(transpose((shuffle(X) +transpose((transpose(X,4) +(((X|X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ) ,-5) ) ,4) ,4) ,4,6) ,-5) +transpose(step(transpose((((transpose(arpeggio((X+X) ) ,4) +transpose(arpeggio(((((X|X) +transpose(step(X,12) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) |(((X|X) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) ) ,7) ) +transpose((arpeggio(X) +step(step(transpose(X,4) ,12) ,12) ) ,12) ) +transpose((transpose(((((transpose(X,-7) +X) +step(X,12) ) +transpose((transpose(X,4) |X) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ,4) |step((((shuffle(X) +shuffle(X) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) ,-7) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(echo(echo(transpose((((X+X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-5) ,4,6) ,4,6) ,-7) ,-5) ,7) ) ,12) +transpose(step((transpose(step(transpose(transpose(transpose((transpose(X,4) +transpose((X|echo(X,4,6) ) ,12) ) ,4) ,-7) ,4) ,12) ,-5) +transpose(transpose((transpose(transpose((X|X) ,-5) ,-5) |((X+transpose(X,12) ) |((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ) ,-7) ,-7) ) ,12) ,7) ) ) +((((((transpose(shuffle((step((X+(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,12) |transpose(transpose(shuffle((X|X) ) ,-5) ,4) ) ) ,4) +transpose(transpose(((transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,-5) |transpose(((X|X) +transpose(X,12) ) ,-7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) ,-5) ,12) ) +(transpose(transpose(transpose((transpose(arpeggio(X) ,-7) +(X+X) ) ,-7) ,-5) ,-5) +echo(echo(step(transpose(((shuffle(arpeggio(X) ) +transpose(X,7) ) +step(transpose(X,-5) ,12) ) ,-7) ,12) ,4,6) ,4,6) ) ) +step(step(transpose((transpose(transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ,-7) ,4) +(step(transpose(X,4) ,12) |((arpeggio((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) +step((X+X) ,12) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ) ) ,-7) ,12) ,12) ) +((transpose(echo(transpose((step((shuffle((X|X) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,12) +transpose((step((arpeggio(X) |(X+transpose(X,12) ) ) ,12) |transpose((transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ,4) +(arpeggio(X) +transpose(X,4) ) ) ,-5) ) ,7) ) ,4) ,4,6) ,-5) +((echo(((((echo(transpose(echo((((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4,6) ,-5) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose(step((X|(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ,12) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(shuffle(echo(transpose(X,-7) ,4,6) ) ,7) ) +transpose((transpose(echo(((X|X) +transpose(X,12) ) ,4,6) ,4) |shuffle(((echo(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4,6) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,12) ) +arpeggio(X) ) ) ) ,12) ) +transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose(((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) +transpose((X|transpose(X,4) ) ,12) ) ,12) ) ,4,6) |(((step((step(((((X+X) +X) +(arpeggio(X) +transpose(X,12) ) ) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) ) ,12) +transpose(((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((shuffle(X) +(X+X) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) +transpose(step((echo((transpose(transpose(transpose((X|X) ,4) ,4) ,4) |transpose((arpeggio(X) |transpose(X,-5) ) ,-7) ) ,4,6) +transpose(shuffle(shuffle(((transpose(arpeggio(X) ,4) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,7) ) ) ) ,12) ) ,12) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose((step((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,12) ) ,12) +transpose(((step(X,12) +transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,7) ) ,-7) ) ,-5) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(arpeggio((X+X) ) ,4) ,12) ) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose((((X+transpose((transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-5) |(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-5) +transpose(X,-5) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,-5) |transpose(X,-5) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,-5) ,-5) ,12) ) ,4) ,-5) ,-5) ) ) +transpose(arpeggio((transpose(((step(((X+X) |(((X+X) +transpose(((X+X) |transpose(X,-7) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) ,7) ) ) ,12) +(((arpeggio(arpeggio(X) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(echo(echo(X,4,6) ,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(X,12) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(((X|X) +echo(X,4,6) ) ,-7) ,4) ,7) ) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,-7) |step(shuffle(X) ,12) ) +echo((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,4,6) ) ,4) ) ,4) +transpose(transpose((transpose(((((arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) |((X+X) |((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ) +transpose(transpose(X,4) ,4) ) +transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose(transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ,4) ) +transpose(transpose(step(X,12) ,-5) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(((X+X) +transpose((transpose(X,4) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,7) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,4) +transpose(transpose(((echo(echo((transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) +transpose(shuffle(X) ,7) ) ,4,6) ,4,6) +(transpose(X,4) |(X+X) ) ) |((transpose(X,-7) +transpose(arpeggio(echo(arpeggio(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ) ,4,6) ) ,4) ) +transpose((shuffle(transpose(X,-5) ) +transpose(shuffle((transpose((X|X) ,-5) |(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,4) ,12) ) ) ,12) ) ) +transpose((transpose(((shuffle((transpose((transpose(X,-5) |transpose(X,-5) ) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-5) ) ) +transpose((((transpose((X|X) ,-5) +transpose(transpose(transpose((arpeggio(transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,-7) ) +transpose(X,4) ) ,-7) ,4) ,12) ) +arpeggio(shuffle((X|X) ) ) ) +transpose(((transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-7) +transpose((step(transpose((X|X) ,4) ,12) +((((X+transpose(X,12) ) |X) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(X) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((((((X|X) +X) +transpose(transpose(X,-5) ,4) ) +transpose(arpeggio(X) ,7) ) |((X|X) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,7) ) ) ,4) ) +transpose((transpose(X,-7) |transpose(transpose(shuffle(shuffle(X) ) ,-5) ,4) ) ,7) ) ,12) ) ,7) ) +transpose((echo(echo(transpose(X,4) ,4,6) ,4,6) +transpose((((echo((X+X) ,4,6) +((X+X) |X) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,4) +transpose((transpose(X,-5) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) |((X|X) |arpeggio((X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ) ) ,12) ) |(X+(transpose(X,4) +transpose((X+X) ,7) ) ) ) ,12) ) ,-5) ) ,4) +transpose((transpose((shuffle(transpose((transpose(transpose(X,-7) ,-7) +arpeggio(step(X,12) ) ) ,-7) ) +transpose(((arpeggio(X) +transpose((((X+X) +transpose(echo(X,4,6) ,4) ) +transpose((X|X) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(((transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,-7) +((X|X) +transpose(X,12) ) ) +transpose((transpose(transpose(((X+transpose(X,4) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,4) ,-5) +(transpose((X+transpose(X,12) ) ,4) +transpose(step(X,12) ,12) ) ) ,7) ) ,4) ) ,7) ) ,4) +transpose(transpose((((echo(transpose(X,-5) ,4,6) |(step(X,12) +transpose(X,7) ) ) +transpose((arpeggio((X+transpose(X,12) ) ) |(X+transpose(X,7) ) ) ,7) ) +step(step(echo(transpose(arpeggio(transpose(X,4) ) ,-5) ,4,6) ,12) ,12) ) ,-5) ,-7) ) ,7) ) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose(transpose(transpose(echo(((transpose(shuffle(((echo(X,4,6) +transpose(transpose(shuffle(transpose(X,-5) ) ,-5) ,4) ) +transpose((X+transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ) ,-5) +transpose((((shuffle(transpose(X,-7) ) +transpose((shuffle(X) |X) ,7) ) +transpose(transpose((step(X,12) +transpose((X+X) ,12) ) ,-5) ,7) ) +transpose(echo(transpose(((((X+transpose(X,7) ) |transpose(transpose(X,4) ,-5) ) +transpose(((transpose(X,4) +transpose(X,12) ) +shuffle(X) ) ,4) ) +transpose(((X+transpose(X,12) ) +transpose(X,7) ) ,7) ) ,-5) ,4,6) ,7) ) ,-7) ) |shuffle((transpose(transpose(echo(transpose(step(shuffle(X) ,12) ,-7) ,4,6) ,4) ,4) +transpose((step(X,12) +transpose(transpose((transpose(X,-7) +((X+transpose(X,12) ) +X) ) ,-5) ,12) ) ,12) ) ) ) ,4,6) ,-5) ,4) ,-7) ,7) ) )
random seed used was 0

NOTE: Generated phrase was too large ( 5730 ) , it has been truncated at 5000 notes.


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