Project dynamic

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Project dynamic was a multimedia interface (circa 1996/1997, released early 1999) for GNU compiled computers (tested on Linux). This interface linked an early (2x) computer CD reader to a computer sound card, through the CPU.

The features which Project Dynamic introduced to the world were:

   * Musical speed/pitch cueing for regular computers with CDROM drives - 
     the speeding up and slowing down of CD audio music, similar process 
     to that which works for vinyl turntables.
   * Capacity to play audio compact disks in the following manner:
         o Forwards (normal sound)
         o Backwards (reverse sound)
   * Strangely, owing to its block processing algorithm it could also play :
         o Forwards but backwards (reverse sounding song which plays from beginning to end)
         o Backwards but forwards (forward sounding song which plays from the end to the beginning)

The aim of the project was to only use to CPU to pipe music data. All music was read from the CDROM directly to the sound card, no CPU processing (beyond data routing). Musical speed and pitch changes would occur using the Digital-to-analog converter. This made the process of speed/pitch change to audio CD music extremely cheap and real time. The reason for this is that it operated like a tap (valve). Pressure makes tap water continue, even during partial valve restriction. Well, time is to project dynamic's audio stream, what pressure is to the tap's water stream. Consequently project dynamic controlled the multimedia through manipulating time scale (sample rate).

Project dynamic is an example of granular synthesis.

Project dynamic was a postcursor to Project Jumbled.

Project dynamic in its many forms has now been merged into different time-code, time scale modification and GUI library interfaces freely available under GNU General Public License style licenses.

LSM entry for Project Dynamic from back in the day