Batuhan Bozkurt, a sound artist, computer programmer and performer from Turkey, has recently created a audio toy that is entirely addictive. Otomata is a generative sequencer that uses cellular automation to produce beautiful echoing music. By placing cells onto the grid in different patterns and hitting play a huge spectrum of rhythms can be created. When the moving cells encounter a wall they produce a sound event (with tones determined by its xy location) and reverse direction. When two cells encounter each other things get really interesting as they rotate direction 90 degrees clockwise. Repeating patterns can be created, but add in the element of these cellular collisions and often a pattern will take on a random life of it’s own.
