Designing a Computer-Assisted Meta-Composition Workflow: Stimulation of a Ludic Creative Process Through the Production of Audiovisual Pieces

Abstract

Music composition and audiovisual production in the digital realm often involves tedious tasks done by hand that can be perceived as a hindrance to creation. By encouraging the automation of composition processes in conjunction with real-time systems, the creative act can be liberated and become more versatile and playful. This playfulness is the basis of the workflow for audiovisual composition developed by the author which forms the central offering of this paper. After introducing the new term Computer-Assisted Meta-Composition corresponding to the creative practices involved in using this system, the details of its implementation are presented. Through two musical case studies of pieces composed with this environment, the author shows how the integration of play in the composition process can positively affect the creative experience. This playful state of mind and this digital framework have given birth to a double album of audiovisual compositions presented in the final section.