F_GALAXY

F_GALAXY — Generative Starfield Audio Synthesizer

Overview:
F_GALAXY is an animated generative synthesizer that transforms a virtual starfield into sound. Each star acts as an FM modulator, grouped into oscillator clusters with spatialized stereo output, delay, and reverb. Ideal for ambient textures, sci-fi soundscapes, and evolving environments.

Visual Controls:
The canvas displays moving and twinkling stars. Star brightness influences sound and visual size. Hovering over a star highlights it. A comet occasionally passes, with its own sound.

Audio Output:
Stereo output derived from grouped stars, with optional built-in delay and reverb processing.

Star & Oscillator Controls:
starKnob – Base number of stars in the field (up to ~1000).
oscKnob – Number of oscillator groups (e.g. 1–16). Each group mixes a subset of stars.
starMod (IN[0]) – Modulation of star count, added to starKnob.
oscMod (IN[1]) – Modulation of oscillator count, added to oscKnob.

Motion & Twinkle:
twinkleSpeed – Controls brightness oscillation rate (visual and audio).
moveSpeed – Controls star movement speed across the canvas.
twinkleMod (IN[2]) – Modulation of twinkleSpeed.
moveMod (IN[3]) – Modulation of moveSpeed.

Reverb & Delay:
reverbMix – Amount of internal reverb applied to output.
delayMix – Amount of delay applied to output.
reverbMod (IN[4]) – Modulation of reverb mix.
delayMod (IN[5]) – Modulation of delay mix.

Frequency & Amplitude Factors:
frequencyFactorKnob – Multiplies each star's frequency based on vertical position.
amplitudeFactorKnob – Controls gain modulation of stars based on position (usually louder toward the bottom).
freqMod (IN[6]) – Modulation of frequency factor.
ampMod (IN[7]) – Modulation of amplitude factor.

Output Volume:
level – Master output level.
levelMod (IN[8]) – Modulation input for master output level.

Utility:
refreshButton – Re-randomizes all stars while keeping control settings intact. Useful for finding new sonic galaxies without changing knob positions.

Sound Engine Notes:
• Stars are grouped cyclically over the number of oscillators.
• Each star is an FM modulator whose frequency and amplitude are affected by brightness (which is animated).
• Movement across the canvas wraps around edges; stars that stall are replaced with fading-in new ones.
• A comet may randomly sweep across the screen, producing a swooshing stereo effect.

Tips:
• For gentle motion, use slow twinkle and low move speed.
• Modulate oscillator count for rhythmic cluster changes.
• Use external delay/reverb for more spacious effects, or combine with the internal ones.