Audio Damage released Axon 2 (with Artificial Intelligence)

Posted on by

Axon 2 is a drum synth driven by artificial intelligence. (Well, “intelligence” might be a strong word. Artificial something-or-other.) An experimental instrument, Axon uses a modified artificial neural network as a sequencer, and features seven FM-based percussion voices, that are really a single 18-operator FM voice.

If that sounds weird, you ain’t seen nothing yet. It is surprisingly intuitive once you get the knack of it, and is capable of all-new, complex rhythms that repeat in surprising ways. It often gets referenced as a “random sequence generator,” but there is nothing random in Axon; it is entirely determinative.

The sequencer features seven “neurons” that trigger a voice and send a pulse when they have received a predetermined number of pulses. You can wire the output of any neuron to the input of any other (with built-in loop detection to prevent runaway feedback), and in this manner pre-program the artificial neural network without having to go through a “learning” phase.

The seven individual drum voices, each triggered by its attendant neuron, are 2-operator FM voices in a configuration to best make percussion sounds, with additional FM and AM busses that all voices send to and receive from. Each voice has a HPF, distortion circuit, and white noise generator to provide a full range of percussion-oriented voicing individually, while interacting with each other in new and unique ways.

Features

  • Artificial Neural Network sequencer features seven neurons, and is easily programmed to create strange new repeating rhythms.
  • Seven FM percussion voices that also buss together to create a single monolithic complex percussion synthesizer.
  • Full mixer with pan, level, mute, and solo on each voice.
  • Built-in stereo delay with X/Y pad control over feedback and filter frequency, for live playability.
  • MIDI in and out, for driving Axon from DAW and hardware sequencers, or driving your drum rack or other samples from Axon.
  • Internal transport for non-synchronized playback.
  • Resizable vector-based user interface.
  • Drawn reciprocation dingle arm to reduce sinusoidal depleneration.
  • XML-based cross-platform, human-readable preset system, with copy/paste, for easy transferring of your own presets and third-party offerings.

Axon 2 is available for $59.00 USD at the Audio Damage webshop here: Audio Damage | Axon 2