Conceptors are a recent development in the field of reservoir computing; they can be used to influence the dynamics of recurrent neural networks (RNNs), enabling generation of arbitrary patterns based on training data. Conceptors allow interpolation and extrapolation between patterns, and also provide a system of boolean logic for combining patterns together. Generation and manipulation of arbitrary patterns using conceptors has significant potential as a sound synthesis method for applications in computer music and procedural audio but has yet to be explored.
Two novel methods of sound synthesis based on conceptors are introduced. Conceptular Synthesis is based on granular synthesis; sets of conceptors are trained to recall varying patterns from a single RNN, then a runtime mechanism switches between them, generating short patterns which are recombined into a longer sound. Conceptillators are trainable, pitch-controlled oscillators for harmonically rich waveforms, commonly used in a variety of sound synthesis applications. Both systems can exploit conceptor pattern morphing, boolean logic and manipulation of RNN dynamics, enabling new creative sonic possibilities. Experiments reveal how RNN runtime parameters can be used for pitch-independent timestretching and for precise frequency control of cyclic waveforms. They show how these techniques can create highly malleable sound synthesis models, trainable using short sound samples. Limitations are revealed with regards to reproduction quality, and pragmatic limitations are also shown, where exponential rises in computation and memory requirements preclude the use of these models for training with longer sound samples.
The techniques presented here represent an initial exploration of the sound synthesis potential of conceptors; future possibilities and research questions are outlined, including possibilities in generative sound.
Peer Review #1 of "Sample-level sound synthesis with recurrent neural networks and conceptors (v0.1)"