M.E.A.T. Butcher
Goals
To control a MIDI / OSC capable device, using a lightweight real-time audio signal processing.
Structure
I planned for Butcher to be a real time analysis tool. This revolves around running a FFT function on a live audio signal as well as some other fancy math functions and then classifying the signal as best we can to conform to one of our classifications (Kick, Snare or Hi-Hat).
How it works
Using FFT we can extract a lot of information out of an audio signal, the Butcher will focus on the following:
- Musical notes being played (This is obtained by normalizing the frequencies and assigning a note value to it)
- Bass hits (This can be obtained by checking a specific frequency range)
- Snare hits (This can be obtained by checking a specific frequency range)
- Hi hats (This can be obtained by checking a specific frequency range)
Update: 2025-10-17
Execution
After many meats (M.E.A.T. meetings) The group and I have decided to go full on with the real time aspect of butcher for our first debut at our biggest event so far, which is being held at the Goat Farm where the rising duo ATOTAL is flying in from France to play a music set while our system interacts with the entire venue!
Notice the “WITH SPECIAL GUEST M.E.A.T.”!!!
Update: 2025-12-08
So after multiple iterations, I’ve created a TUI for butcher because the previous iterations were pretty hard to work with. This is how it looks like so far!
As we approach the date for the show, I have learned so many things about DSP and I want to rewrite the entire thing, AGAIN, for the 18th time, but I just need to stay focused for the performance tomorrow and rework the little things that are bothering me in a later iteration.
Update: 2025-12-09 SHOW NIGHT
The turn out was insane!!! We executed everything perfectly and I did not have to spend 20 minutes debugging why one of the laptops was not receiving any OSC at all. It was super fun over all and we have so many ideas for the things we can add to improve the system as a whole.
