The pool in question is the surface of the computer screen. Sounds are taken from a number of different sources: On-board compact discs, microphone inputs, internet queries. These sounds are then placed in a self-sequencing structure which defines attributes associated to the sound such as tempo, frequency, volume, pitch, samplerate, panning e.t.c. The captured sounds are then played according to the programs internal schedule, which itself is constantly modified.

As the sequence runs sounds will become old and be removed from the queue just as new sounds can be continuously integrated.

Each sound is represented on screen as a droplet, impacting on the pools surface, each impact creates a pattern of waves across the surface which will then interact and interfere with previous or adjacent waves, as in a real fluid environment. The resulting image has an almost canvas-like quality with the simulated water surface creating an artificial and self-reflexive plane that builds upon itself in a cacophany and then subsides into periods of silence.

The system can incorporate degrees of audio feedback to enable user participation in the peice or it can simply react to the ambient sounds around it. It is also capable of producing sequences with different parameters of musical structure; tonal ranges, tempo changes, slides and distortions. Download
A beta version of this software is available.
AudioPoolb.zip (2.6M)
(Please note: this software is still in development)

Requirements
Platform:
Win 95/98/2000
NT may work but is unsupported

DirectX version 7 or above must be installed
Visit http://www.microsoft.com/directx/
Or just get any PC mag with DXinstall on the cover disk

Audiopool at evolution festival

Notes
Run "launcher.exe" to launch AudioPool, The help menu can be launched by pressing F1. this panel allows you to specify different setup details. The internet soundsource option is currently disabled. When running from a soundcapture device (cd/microphone e.t.c.), you must specify a quality rate, the application will then use the default input device (see control panel->multimedia) to record samples. The recording window will create a buffer of approximately 4 samples before launching Audiopool.

I have noticed some momentary freezes on some machines when reading new audio files. This may be something to do with the application running in exclusive mode. The next version will have the option to run in a window. I anticipate there will be some issues with directx compatibility on different graphics card setups. I have had success with Riva TNT and ATI Rage series cards so far.