What is nGen?

nGen is a multi-platform computer-music application that creates computer music event lists. The current version (1.0.0) makes Csound event lists ("score" files) and standard MIDI files. Version 1.0.0 is available for the following platforms: PC (Windows/DOS), Macintosh (GUI for OS 8.5-9.1), Macintosh OS X, IRIX (pre and post IRIX 6.2), and Linux (Intel). nGen is similar to two other note-list preprocessors: Aleck Brinkman's Score11 (available from the Eastman Computer Music Center) and Andre Bartetzki's CMASK. Currently the sources are not available. If you are interested in getting a version for a platform that is not currently supported, please email ngen@mustec.bgsu.edu.

Why use nGen?

nGen will allow you to do several things with ease that are either difficult or not possible using Csound and/or MIDI sequencing programs; nGen is a powerful front-end for creating Csound score files and basic standard MIDI files. Some of the basic strengths of nGen are:
  • Event-based granular textures can be generated quickly.
  • Huge streams of values can be generated with specific random-number distributions (e.g., Gaussian, flat, beta, exponential, etc.).
  • Note-names and rhythms can be entered in intuitive formats (e.g., pitches: C4, Df3; rhythms: 4, 8, 16, 32).
  • "Chords" can be specified as a single unit (e.g., C4:Df:E:Fs).
Additionally, nGen supplies a host of conversion routines that allow p-field data to be converted to different formats in the resulting Csound score file (e.g., octave.pitch-class can be formatted to Hz values, etc.). A variety of formatting routines are also supplied (such as the ability to output floating-point numbers with a certain precision width).

How does nGen work?

nGen is a UNIX style command-line program. It parses data in an ASCII text file and converts it into a Csound "score" file or a Standard MIDI file. (The Macintosh OS8.5 - 9.1 version uses a GUI written by Michael Thompson.)

I hope you will find this tool useful! If you do (or you have specific suggestions or bug reports), please email ngen@mustec.bgsu.edu with your comments.

Mikel Kuehn (the author)

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