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RESERVOIR: Echo State Composer

RESERVOIR is a real-time polyphonic MIDI composition engine that generates, perforates, and shapes musical texture through a pipeline of mathematically-grounded algorithms. Where most generative tools produce monophonic sequences or rely on randomness alone, RESERVOIR operates as a 12-layer polyphonic orchestrator — generating up to 12 simultaneous voices of rhythmically independent, pitch-coherent MIDI, with each layer’s output shaped by a distinct combination of rhythm generation, perforation filtering, pitch logic, and expression control.

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The Compositional Pipeline

Every note RESERVOIR produces passes through four stages:
  1. Rhythm Engine — Determines when notes occur, using 18 rhythm generation techniques drawn from Schillinger’s resultant rhythms, Xenakis’ stochastic processes, Euclidean distribution, Fibonacci sequences, L-system rewriting, and user-captured performance models.
  2. Perforation Engine — Determines which notes are removed, creating gaps and texture through 7 mathematical filtering methods including prime sieves, cellular automata, golden ratio lattices, and corpus-learned density curves. Any method can be morphed against a captured MIDI performance.
  3. Pitch Logic — Determines what notes play, selecting from 100+ scales using 12 pitch selection algorithms rooted in serial technique, Markov chains, spectral interference, combinatorial permutation, harmonic gravity, and captured pitch models.
  4. Expression Control — Determines how notes are articulated, with velocity shaping, 5 articulation styles, 10 continuous CC controllers, micro-timing humanization (including user groove capture), and phrase structure.

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Why RESERVOIR Exists

Algorithmic composition has a deep lineage — from Schillinger’s systematization of musical elements in the 1940s, through Xenakis’ stochastic music and Hiller’s computer-generated string quartets in the 1950s, to the spectral techniques of Grisey and Murail. These ideas have remained largely confined to academic software and offline rendering. RESERVOIR brings this tradition into a real-time DAW-integrated plugin. Every algorithm runs in streaming mode with sub-10ms latency, synchronized to DAW transport via PPQ-based timing. The output is standard MIDI — route it to any instrument.

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Key Capabilities

  • 12 independent layers with 5 inter-layer coordination modes
  • 18 rhythm techniques, 7 perforation methods, 12 pitch patterns — any of which can be morphed by a captured MIDI performance via MIR Capture
  • 100+ scales spanning Western modes, Japanese koto tunings, Indian ragas, synthetic formations from the mid-20th-century jazz-modal tradition, and microtonal systems
  • 8 color visualization modes including Scriabin synesthetic mapping, Schillinger color system, and Rimsky-Korsakov orchestral colors
  • MIR Capture — capture a MIDI performance and seed all engines with your playing style (rhythm, pitch, perforation, groove, expression)
  • Codex — an in-plugin glossary that explains the math, lineage, and intent of each active engine, with live parameter annotations
  • MIDI Learn — right-click any parameter to bind it to an incoming CC; bindings persist with the host project
  • Preset morphing with automatable crossfade between any two presets
  • Audio gating mode for applying perforation patterns to live audio
  • MIDI export for capturing generated output
  • VST3 and Audio Unit formats on macOS (Apple Silicon + Intel universal)