2 Reference

2.8 Pattern & sound atlas: parameter → pattern → sound → feeling

To learn which setting creates which pattern and which feeling, the atlas plays the instrument through a grid of settings: separation, alignment and cohesion each at 25 / 75 / 125 / 175 (the centres of 0–50, 50–100, 100–150, 150–200) — 64 settings, each settled for 20 s and measured for 20 s with two seeds, plus a 10 s video clip and a still of each. The beat layer stays off and is not in the clips: the radii don't decide the beat (speed, max force and the grid do), so the beat has its own atlas (2.9).

Separation 0–50 · 50–100 · 100–150 · 150–200

Separation 0–50

Alignment ↓
Cohesion →
0–50
50–100
100–150
150–200
Alignment 0–50
Separation 0–50, alignment 0–50, cohesion 0–50: scattered
Cohesion 0–50 scattered sparse, dark 8.1 flocks · largest 20% · −26.5 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 0–50, cohesion 50–100: many small flocks
Cohesion 50–100 many small flocks floating, dreamy 2.6 flocks · largest 66% · −17.6 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 0–50, cohesion 100–150: many small flocks
Cohesion 100–150 many small flocks busy, joyful 2.2 flocks · largest 85% · −16.5 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 0–50, cohesion 150–200: many small flocks
Cohesion 150–200 many small flocks floating, dreamy 2.0 flocks · largest 74% · −17.6 dB
Alignment 50–100
Separation 0–50, alignment 50–100, cohesion 0–50: one great flock
Cohesion 0–50 one great flock floating, warm 5.0 flocks · largest 57% · −20.0 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 50–100, cohesion 50–100: one great flock
Cohesion 50–100 one great flock busy, joyful 2.1 flocks · largest 64% · −17.7 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 50–100, cohesion 100–150: one great flock
Cohesion 100–150 one great flock busy, joyful 2.9 flocks · largest 65% · −18.5 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 50–100, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock busy, joyful 1.2 flocks · largest 95% · −16.9 dB
Alignment 100–150
Separation 0–50, alignment 100–150, cohesion 0–50: one great flock
Cohesion 0–50 one great flock busy, joyful 2.5 flocks · largest 73% · −16.9 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 100–150, cohesion 50–100: many small flocks
Cohesion 50–100 many small flocks busy, joyful 2.3 flocks · largest 61% · −18.0 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 100–150, cohesion 100–150: one great flock
Cohesion 100–150 one great flock busy, joyful 1.5 flocks · largest 83% · −17.0 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 100–150, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock busy, joyful 1.3 flocks · largest 95% · −15.6 dB
Alignment 150–200
Separation 0–50, alignment 150–200, cohesion 0–50: one great flock
Cohesion 0–50 one great flock busy, joyful 1.2 flocks · largest 91% · −15.6 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 150–200, cohesion 50–100: one great flock
Cohesion 50–100 one great flock busy, joyful 2.3 flocks · largest 73% · −17.2 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 150–200, cohesion 100–150: one great flock
Cohesion 100–150 one great flock busy, joyful 2.1 flocks · largest 84% · −16.4 dB
Separation 0–50, alignment 150–200, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock busy, joyful 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.5 dB

Separation 50–100

Alignment ↓
Cohesion →
0–50
50–100
100–150
150–200
Alignment 0–50
Separation 50–100, alignment 0–50, cohesion 0–50: scattered
Cohesion 0–50 scattered sparse, dark 0.0 flocks · largest 0% · −40.6 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 0–50, cohesion 50–100: scattered
Cohesion 50–100 scattered sparse, dark 9.7 flocks · largest 21% · −26.0 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 0–50, cohesion 100–150: many small flocks
Cohesion 100–150 many small flocks floating, dreamy 6.9 flocks · largest 32% · −22.8 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 0–50, cohesion 150–200: many small flocks
Cohesion 150–200 many small flocks floating, dreamy 5.6 flocks · largest 36% · −21.1 dB
Alignment 50–100
Separation 50–100, alignment 50–100, cohesion 0–50: scattered
Cohesion 0–50 scattered sparse, dark 1.7 flocks · largest 9% · −34.1 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 50–100, cohesion 50–100: scattered
Cohesion 50–100 scattered sparse, dark 2.0 flocks · largest 89% · −16.4 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 50–100, cohesion 100–150: many small flocks
Cohesion 100–150 many small flocks floating, dreamy 1.6 flocks · largest 89% · −15.9 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 50–100, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock sparse, dark 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −14.9 dB
Alignment 100–150
Separation 50–100, alignment 100–150, cohesion 0–50: one great flock
Cohesion 0–50 one great flock busy, joyful 1.0 flocks · largest 99% · −14.7 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 100–150, cohesion 50–100: one great flock
Cohesion 50–100 one great flock busy, joyful 2.5 flocks · largest 83% · −16.9 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 100–150, cohesion 100–150: one great flock
Cohesion 100–150 one great flock busy, joyful 1.7 flocks · largest 86% · −16.6 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 100–150, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock busy, joyful 1.5 flocks · largest 91% · −16.1 dB
Alignment 150–200
Separation 50–100, alignment 150–200, cohesion 0–50: one great flock
Cohesion 0–50 one great flock busy, joyful 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −14.6 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 150–200, cohesion 50–100: one great flock
Cohesion 50–100 one great flock busy, joyful 1.2 flocks · largest 98% · −14.5 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 150–200, cohesion 100–150: one great flock
Cohesion 100–150 one great flock busy, joyful 1.3 flocks · largest 93% · −16.3 dB
Separation 50–100, alignment 150–200, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock busy, joyful 1.4 flocks · largest 87% · −16.1 dB

Separation 100–150

Alignment ↓
Cohesion →
0–50
50–100
100–150
150–200
Alignment 0–50
Separation 100–150, alignment 0–50, cohesion 0–50: scattered
Cohesion 0–50 scattered sparse, dark 0.0 flocks · largest 0% · −38.7 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 0–50, cohesion 50–100: scattered
Cohesion 50–100 scattered sparse, dark 0.0 flocks · largest 0% · −38.6 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 0–50, cohesion 100–150: scattered
Cohesion 100–150 scattered sparse, dark 2.8 flocks · largest 73% · −17.5 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 0–50, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock floating, dreamy 1.1 flocks · largest 94% · −16.6 dB
Alignment 50–100
Separation 100–150, alignment 50–100, cohesion 0–50: scattered
Cohesion 0–50 scattered sparse, dark 1.3 flocks · largest 6% · −34.4 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 50–100, cohesion 50–100: scattered
Cohesion 50–100 scattered sparse, dark 4.3 flocks · largest 11% · −32.4 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 50–100, cohesion 100–150: scattered
Cohesion 100–150 scattered sparse, dark 2.0 flocks · largest 83% · −17.1 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 50–100, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock sparse, dark 1.2 flocks · largest 97% · −16.5 dB
Alignment 100–150
Separation 100–150, alignment 100–150, cohesion 0–50: scattered
Cohesion 0–50 scattered sparse, dark 1.4 flocks · largest 70% · −18.6 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 100–150, cohesion 50–100: scattered
Cohesion 50–100 scattered sparse, dark 2.0 flocks · largest 73% · −17.9 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 100–150, cohesion 100–150: scattered
Cohesion 100–150 scattered sparse, dark 1.7 flocks · largest 92% · −15.5 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 100–150, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock sparse, dark 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −14.5 dB
Alignment 150–200
Separation 100–150, alignment 150–200, cohesion 0–50: one great flock
Cohesion 0–50 one great flock busy, joyful 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.9 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 150–200, cohesion 50–100: one great flock
Cohesion 50–100 one great flock busy, joyful 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.5 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 150–200, cohesion 100–150: one great flock
Cohesion 100–150 one great flock busy, joyful 1.1 flocks · largest 99% · −15.3 dB
Separation 100–150, alignment 150–200, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock busy, joyful 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.6 dB

Separation 150–200

Alignment ↓
Cohesion →
0–50
50–100
100–150
150–200
Alignment 0–50
Separation 150–200, alignment 0–50, cohesion 0–50: scattered
Cohesion 0–50 scattered still 0.0 flocks · largest 0% · −40.0 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 0–50, cohesion 50–100: scattered
Cohesion 50–100 scattered sparse, dark 0.0 flocks · largest 0% · −39.7 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 0–50, cohesion 100–150: many small flocks
Cohesion 100–150 many small flocks floating, dreamy 8.3 flocks · largest 19% · −28.0 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 0–50, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock floating, dreamy 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.7 dB
Alignment 50–100
Separation 150–200, alignment 50–100, cohesion 0–50: scattered
Cohesion 0–50 scattered still 0.0 flocks · largest 0% · −35.0 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 50–100, cohesion 50–100: scattered
Cohesion 50–100 scattered sparse, dark 0.0 flocks · largest 0% · −33.3 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 50–100, cohesion 100–150: many small flocks
Cohesion 100–150 many small flocks floating, dreamy 3.2 flocks · largest 45% · −22.6 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 50–100, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock floating, dreamy 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.7 dB
Alignment 100–150
Separation 150–200, alignment 100–150, cohesion 0–50: many small flocks
Cohesion 0–50 many small flocks floating, dreamy 6.0 flocks · largest 33% · −24.1 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 100–150, cohesion 50–100: many small flocks
Cohesion 50–100 many small flocks busy, joyful 5.3 flocks · largest 39% · −22.9 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 100–150, cohesion 100–150: many small flocks
Cohesion 100–150 many small flocks floating, dreamy 2.3 flocks · largest 80% · −17.2 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 100–150, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock busy, tense 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.3 dB
Alignment 150–200
Separation 150–200, alignment 150–200, cohesion 0–50: one great flock
Cohesion 0–50 one great flock busy, joyful 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.7 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 150–200, cohesion 50–100: one great flock
Cohesion 50–100 one great flock floating, dreamy 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.7 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 150–200, cohesion 100–150: one great flock
Cohesion 100–150 one great flock floating, dreamy 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.7 dB
Separation 150–200, alignment 150–200, cohesion 150–200: one great flock
Cohesion 150–200 one great flock busy, joyful 1.0 flocks · largest 100% · −15.8 dB

2.8.1 Each parameter on its own

One parameter at one range, averaged over all settings of the other two (computed from atlas.csv):

Parameter Range Flocks Largest Loudness dB Notes/s Harmonicity
separation 0 – 50 2.5 74% -17.7 9.2 0.99
50 – 100 2.5 70% -19.9 11.9 0.84
100 – 150 1.4 69% -21.3 15.7 0.83
150 – 200 2.0 57% -23.3 13.7 0.74
alignment 0 – 50 3.1 39% -26.5 19.8 0.48
50 – 100 1.9 57% -22.6 17.3 0.84
100 – 150 2.2 79% -17.4 8.2 0.99
150 – 200 1.2 95% -15.7 5.3 0.99
cohesion 0 – 50 1.9 47% -25.3 9.7 0.99
50 – 100 2.4 55% -22.5 11.7 0.92
100 – 150 2.7 76% -18.1 14.5 0.79
150 – 200 1.5 92% -16.2 14.7 0.77

2.8.2 What each parameter does

Parameter Role Low → high
alignment harmony — the strongest mood control bell-like and quiet → one big ordered flock, a clean chord, loud
cohesion gathering: how many voices with low alignment, 75–125 splits the swarm into many small flocks (up to 12) = 4 voices at once; high pulls everything into one mass
separation encounter notes and spacing the larger the radius, the more boids meet at its edge: about 9 notes/s at 0–50, 14 – 16 at 100–200. At 150–200 the stage gets crowded (about 131 px per boid), the swarm jams and trembles, and the trembling crackles (2.4.3)

Interactions matter: cohesion 175 gives a bright chord with high alignment, but a dissonant mass with low alignment. The per-parameter table is a rough guide; the 64-setting table in the atlas is the real map.

2.8.3 Seven sound recipes

Recipe sep / ali / coh Pattern Sound
1 · Crackle 150–200 / ≤ 75 / ≤ 75 jammed, trembling in place a quiet crackle with scattered notes (about −40 to −33 dB)
2 · Rain 25–75 / 25 / 25 scattered only encounter notes, 20–24/s, no drone, quiet
3 · Bell polyphony 25 / 25 / 75–125 ~10 – 12 small flocks 4 bell-like voices + dense rain, lively
4 · Still chord 25–125 / 125–175 / 25 one aligned flock pure consonant chord, almost no notes
5 · Full chord + rain 25 / 125–175 / 125–175 one big flock loudest, consonant, dense notes: climax
6 · Turbulence 175 / 125 / 25–75 flocks form and break (~4/s) voices jump in pitch: nervous, unstable
7 · Dissonant mass 125–175 / 25–75 / 175 spread out, yet one flock one loud, bell-like, unresolved drone

My own example, 25–50–90 (“many small flocks, vivid, dynamic, high tone”), falls in recipe 3: the measurements agree with the ear.