The “Bird Box†outputs a seemingly random sequence of triggers intended for use with a drum machine. In fact the sequence it produces is not random at all just extremely long – and filled “suggestive self-similarity and evolving motifs”. Eric Archer, the box’s creator, explains more –
One of my favorite digital logic constructs is the linear feedback shift register (LFSR). Traditionally they find use in cryptography for generating encryption keys, and in digital spread-spectrum communications. LFSRs are also used fairly commonly as white noise generators (MM5837N for example). In both of these applications, the patterns they produce are valued for their near-random properties. However, the patterns are not random at all, and repeat on predictably long cycles. How long are the cycles? That depends on several things, but in general, the maximum pattern length for an LFSR that is n-bits long, is (2^n-1).
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The Bird Box’s maximum tap length is 32… so in theory, it could make a drum loop that repeats after about 17 years. I havent bothered cranking it up that high yet!
All that with a little binary-speaking bird on top. – “Bird Box” sequencer
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