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Doctoral study

You can contact me if you're interested in doctoral study; you can find more about current and past research students here

Publications

The full list is below. I include links to the papers/music/code where they are available on this site, and to the conferences or publishers where links are extant. The papers are typically in PDF format. The journal articles will only be made available where the publisher isn't retaining copyright. Under review items will only be referenced once they have a proper home. E-mail me if you're interested in anything you suspect is behind the scenes. There are implementations and artworks related to much of this work as well (see, for instance, the music pages)

Books

(2016) [PDF] Nilson, C. Collected Rewritings: Live Coding Thoughts, 1968-2015. Burntwood: Verbose

(2013) Collins, N., Schedel, M., and Wilson, S. Electronic Music. (Introductions to Music series) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

(2011) Wilson, S., Cottle, D., and Collins, N. (eds.) The SuperCollider Book. Cambridge MA: MIT Press

(2009) Introduction to Computer Music. Chichester: Wiley

(2007, second edition 2017) Collins, N. and d'Escrivan, J. (eds.) The Cambridge Companion to Electronic Music. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

PhD

Book Chapters

(2022) [HTML] "Jack Code's Rebellion" pp. 64-65 in Alan F. Blackwell, Emma Cocker, Geoff Cox, Alex McLean, and Thor Magnusson (eds.), Live Coding: A User's Manual. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press

(2021) Shelly Knotts and Nick Collins "AI-lectronica: Music AI in Clubs and Studio Production" pp. 849-871 in Eduardo Miranda (ed.), Handbook of Artificial Intelligence for Music. Cham, Switzerland: Springer

(2020) "The Future of Rhythm" Book chapter in Russell Hartenberger and Ryan McClelland (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Rhythm. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

(2018) [HTML] "Origins of Algorithmic Thinking in Music" Book chapter in Alex McLean and Roger Dean (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Algorithmic Music. New York: Oxford University Press

(2014) "Virtual musicians and machine learning: Towards musical familiars and touring AIs" Book chapter in Karen Collins, Bill Kapralos and Holly Tessler (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Interactive Audio. New York: Oxford University Press

(2013) [HTML] "Noise Music Information Retrieval" pp. 79-98 in Cassidy, Aaron and Einbond, Aaron (eds.) Noise in and as music. University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield. ISBN 978-1-86218-118-2

(2011) "Machine Listening in SuperCollider". Book chapter in Wilson, S., Cottle, D., and Collins, N. (eds.) The SuperCollider Book. Cambridge MA: MIT Press

(2009) "Electronica". Book chapter in Roger Dean (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Computer Music. New York: Oxford University Press, pp.334-353

(2007) "Musical Robots and Listening Machines". Book chapter in Collins, N. and d'Escrivan, J. (eds.) The Cambridge Companion to Electronic Music. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

(2007) Amy Alexander and Nick Collins "Live Audiovisuals". Book chapter in Collins, N. and d'Escrivan, J. (eds.) The Cambridge Companion to Electronic Music. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Articles

(2024) [HTML] "The Rarity of Musical Audio Signals Within the Space of Possible Audio Generation" arXiv:2405.15103

(2024) Nick Collins and Mick Grierson [HTML] "Avoiding an AI-imposed Taylor's Version of all music history" arXiv:2402.14589. Also, to be presented at The First International Conference in AI Music Studies, Stockholm

(2023) Click Nilson [HTML] "Con-ceptual" eContact! 21.2

(2022) [HTML] "OK Computer Analysis: An Audio Corpus Study of Radiohead" arXiv:2211.15834

(2021) Adinda van 't Klooster and Nick Collins [HTML] "Virtual Reality and Audiovisual Experience in the AudioVirtualizer" EAI Endorsed Transactions on Creative Technologies

(2020) [PDF] "Composition in the Age of AI" Ideas Sonicas 23

(2018) [HTML] " '...there is no reason why it should ever stop': Large-scale algorithmic composition" Journal of Creative Music Systems 3(1)

(2018) Nick Collins, Peter Manning and Simone Tarsitani [HTML] "A New Curated Corpus of Historical Electronic Music: Collation, Data and Research Findings" Transactions of the International Society for Music Information Retrieval 1(1): 34-43

(2017) [HTML] "Corposing a History of Electronic Music" Leonardo Music Journal 27: 47-48

(2017) Adinda van 't Klooster and Nick Collins "An Emotion-aware Interactive Concert System: A Case Study in Realtime Physiological Sensor Analysis" Journal of New Music Research 46(3): 261-269

(2016) [HTML] "A funny thing happened on the way to the formula: Algorithmic composition for musical theatre" Computer Music Journal 40(3): 41-57

(2016) [HTML] "Towards Machine Musicians Who Have Listened to More Music Than Us: Audio Database led Algorithmic Criticism for Automatic Composition and Live Concert Systems" Computers in Entertainment 14(3): 1-14 (Musical Metacreation Special Issue Part 2)

(2016) [HTML] "Live Coding and Teaching SuperCollider" Journal of Music, Technology and Education 9(1): 5-16

(2015) [PDF] "The Ubuweb Electronic Music Corpus: An MIR investigation of a historical database" Organised Sound 20(1): 122-134

(2014) [HTML] "Live and Non-Realtime Source Separation Effects for Electroacoustic Music" eContact! 16.3

(2012) [PDF] "Automatic Composition of Electroacoustic Art Music Utilizing Machine Listening", Computer Music Journal 36(3): 8-23. Copyright © MIT Press 2012 [LINK]

(2011) [HMTL] "Musicians' Attitudes to Musical Influence", Empirical Musicology Review 6(2): 103-124

(2011) [PDF] "Trading Faures: Virtual Musicians and Machine Ethics", Leonardo Music Journal 21: 35-39. Copyright © MIT Press 2011 [LINK]

(2011) [PDF] "Live Coding of Consequence", Leonardo 44(3): 207-211

(2011) d'Escrivan, J. and Collins, N. "Musical Goals, Graphical Lure and Narrative Drive: VisualAudio in Games", Journal of Visual Culture 10: 238-246

(2009) "Form and Algorithmic Composition", Contemporary Music Review 28(1): 103-114

(2008) [PDF] "The Analysis of Generative Music Programs", Organised Sound 13(3): 237-248. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

(2006) [PDF] "Composing to Subvert Content Retrieval Engines" ARRAY, ICMA online journal (my contribution was actually written May 2005)

(2006) [HMTL] Nick Collins and Fredrik Olofsson. "klipp av: Live Algorithmic Splicing and Audiovisual Event Capture", Computer Music Journal 30(2): pp 8-18

(2006) "BBCut2: Incorporating Beat Tracking and On-the-fly Event Analysis", Journal of New Music Research 35(1); pp 63-70

(2004) [HMTL] "An Algorithm for the Direct Generation of Set Class Representatives in Any Pitch Class Space", Music Theory Online 10(3)

(2003) "Generative Music and Laptop Performance", Contemporary Music Review 22(4): pp 67-79

(2003) [PDF] Collins, N., McLean, A., Rohrhuber, J. & Ward, A. "Live Coding Techniques for Laptop Performance", Organised Sound 8(3): pp 321-30. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

(2003) "Recursive Audio Cutting", Leonardo Music Journal 13: pp23-9

(2003) [PDF] "Algorithmic Composition Methods for Breakbeat Science" (Revised with a new foreword and mp3 examples). ARiADA 3.

(2002) [PDF] "Impossible Music", NoiseGate 10. ISSN1367613X.

(2002) [PDF] "Experiments With a New Customisable Interactive Evolution Framework", Organised Sound 7(3): pp 263-273. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

Conference Papers and Presentations

(2020) Nick Collins, Vit Ruzicka and Mick Grierson. [PDF] [sound examples and code] "Remixing AIs: mind swaps, hybrainity, and splicing musical models". Proceedings of the 1st Joint Conference on AI Music Creativity. Stockholm, Sweden

(2020) Shelly Knotts and Nick Collins [PDF] "A survey on the uptake of Music AI Software". Proceedings of NIME2020, Birmingham

(2019) [PDF] "LIVEDOG, INC.: Hard Science and A History of Mathematics". Algorave performance description for the International Conference on Auditory Display, Newcastle

(2019) [PDF] "Sonification of the Riemann Zeta Function". Proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory Display, Newcastle

(2019) Nick Collins and Shelly Knotts [PDF] "A Javascript Musical Machine Listening Library". Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, New York

(2017) "The Corposition of MusAIc: from MIRsic to CritAIcs" Presentation at York University music department

(2015) [HTML] "Live coding and machine listening". Proceedings of live code conference 2015, Leeds

(2014) [PDF] Bob Sturm and Nick Collins "The Kiki-Bouba Challenge: Algorithmic Composition for Content-Based MIR Research and Development". Proceedings of ISMIR 2014, Taipei, Taiwan

(2014) [PDF] Nick Collins and Alex McLean "Algorave: live performance of algorithmic electronic dance music". Proceedings of NIME 2014, London

(2014) Adinda van 't Klooster and Nick Collins "In A State: Live Emotion Detection and Visualisation for Music Performance". Proceedings of NIME 2014, London

(2014) [PDF of slides] Presentation on "Origins of Live Coding" at the launch day of the Live Coding Network

(2013) Presentation on "Live and Non-Realtime Source Separation Effects for Electroacoustic Music" at Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium

(2013) Presentation on "Markov Pools for Music Prediction" at Society for Music Perception and Cognition conference, Toronto

(2013) Presentation on "Chronological Similarity Matrices and Other Applications of Music Information Retrieval for Analyzing the Evolution of Popular Music" at Popular Music Analysis Conference (PopMAC), Liverpool.

(2013) Presentation on "Educating Artificial Composers And Critics" at From Tape to Typedef conference, Sheffield

(2012) [PDF] "Influence in Early Electronic Dance Music: An Audio Content Analysis Investigation" International Society for Music Information Retrieval conference (ISMIR), Porto.

(2012) [PDF] [sound examples and code] "Even More Errant Sound Synthesis" Sound and Music Computing, Copenhagen.

(2012) [PDF] "Enumeration of Chord Sequences" Sound and Music Computing, Copenhagen.

(2012) [PDF] [sound examples and code] "Time maps, multiple convergence points, and computer analysis of Nancarrow". Presentation at Nancarrow in the 21st Century, Southbank Centre, London

(2011) [PDF] "Cross-modal mappings and audiovisual feedback". Presentation at Seeing Sound 2, Bath

(2011) [PDF] "SCMIR: A SuperCollider Music Information Retrieval Library". Proceedings of ICMC2011, International Computer Music Conference, Huddersfield

(2011) [PDF (9 MB)] [sound examples and code] "Sound Cross-synthesis and Morphing Using Dictionary-based Methods". Nick Collins and Bob Sturm. Proceedings of ICMC2011, International Computer Music Conference, Huddersfield

(2011) [PDF] "Implementing stochastic synthesis for SuperCollider and iPhone". Proceedings of Xenakis International Symposium

(2010) [PDF] "Computational Analysis of Musical Influence: A Musicological Case Study Using MIR Tools". International Society for Music Information Retrieval conference (ISMIR), Utrecht.

(2010) [PDF] "Contrary Motion: An Oppositional Interactive Music System". Proceedings of NIME 2010, Sydney

(2010) [PDF] Nick Collins, Chris Kiefer, Zeeshan Patoli and Martin White. "Musical Exoskeletons: Experiments with a Motion Capture Suit". Proceedings of NIME 2010, Sydney

(2008) [PDF] "Reinforcement Learning for Live Musical Agents". Proceedings of ICMC2008, International Computer Music Conference, Belfast.

(2008) [PDF] "Errant Sound Synthesis". Proceedings of ICMC2008, International Computer Music Conference, Belfast.

(2008) [PDF] [CODE and DEMOES] "Infno: Generating Synth Pop and Electronic Dance Music On Demand". Proceedings of ICMC2008, International Computer Music Conference, Belfast.

(2008) [PDF] "The Potential of Reinforcement Learning for Live Musical Agents". Proceedings of MML2008, ICML, Helsinki.

(2007) [PDF] "Audiovisual Concatenative Synthesis". Proceedings of ICMC2007, International Computer Music Conference, Copenhagen.

(2007) [HTML] "The Analysis of Generative Music" Presentation at EMS07- Electroacoustic Studies Network

(2007) [PDF] "Matching Parts: Inner Voice Led Control for Symbolic and Audio Accompaniment". Proceedings of NIME

(2007) [PDF] "Live Coding Practice". Proceedings of NIME

(2006) [PDF] "Towards a Style-Specific Basis for Computational Beat Tracking". Proceedings of ICMPC2006. International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition, Bologna

(2006) [PDF] "Investigating Computational Models of Perceptual Attack Time". Proceedings of ICMPC2006. International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition, Bologna

(2005) [PDF] "A Change Discrimination Onset Detector with Peak Scoring Peak Picker and Time Domain Correction". Music Information Retrieval Exchange MIREX2005

(2005) [PDF] "Using a Pitch Detector for Onset Detection". International Conference on Music Information Retrieval ISMIR2005

(2005) [HMTL] Nick Collins and Ian Cross. "Beat Tracking and Reaction Time". Rhythm Perception and Performance Workshop RPPW10

(2005) [PDF] "An Automated Event Analysis System with Compositional Applications". Proceedings of ICMC2005, International Computer Music Conference, Barcelona.

(2005) [PDF] "DrumTrack: Beat Induction from an Acoustic Drum Kit with Synchronised Scheduling". Proceedings of ICMC2005, International Computer Music Conference, Barcelona.

(2005) [PDF] Alan Blackwell and Nick Collins. "The Programming Language as a Musical Instrument". Proceedings of PPIG05 (Psychology of Programming Interest Group).

(2005) [PDF] "A Comparison of Sound Onset Detection Algorithms with Emphasis on Psychoacoustically Motivated Detection Functions". Proceedings of AES118 Convention

(2004) [PDF] "On Onsets On-the-fly: Real-time Event Segmentation and Categorisation as a Compositional Effect". Proceedings of SMC04 ,Sound and Music Computing, IRCAM, Paris, Oct 20-22.

(2004) [PDF] Ward et al. "Live Algorithm Programming and a Temporary Organisation for its Promotion". Proceedings of the README software art conference, Aarhus, Denmark.

(2003) [PDF] "Microtonal Tempo Canons After Nancarrow/Jaffe". Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, Singapore.

(2003) [PDF] Nick Collins and Fredrik Olofsson. "A Protocol for Audiovisual Cutting". Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, Singapore.

(2002) [PDF] "The BBCut Library". Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, Goteborg, Sweden, September 16-21, 2002.

(2002) [PDF] "Interactive Evolution of Breakbeat Cut Sequences". Proceedings of Cybersonica, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, June 5-7, 2002.

(2002) [PDF] "Infinite Length Pieces: A User's Guide". Proceedings of MAXIS, Sheffield Hallam University, April 12-14, 2002.

(2002) [PDF] "Relating Superhuman Virtuosity to Human Performance". Proceedings of MAXIS, Sheffield Hallam University, April 12-14, 2002.

(2001) [PDF] "Further Automatic Breakbeat Cutting Methods". Proceedings of Generative Art 2001. Milan.

(2001) [PDF] "Algorithmic Composition Methods for Breakbeat Science". Proceedings of Music Without Walls, De Montfort University, June 21-23, 2001, ISBN 1857213319, CD-ROM.

(2000) [PDF] "Caring for the Instrumentalist in Automatic Orchestration". Proceedings for Acoustics and Music: Theory and Applications (AMTA 2000), Montego Bay, Jamaica, December 20-22, 2000, ISBN 960-8052-23-8, pp 32-38.

(2000) [PDF] "An Investigation into the Existence of Z Chords". Proceedings for Acoustics and Music: Theory and Applications (AMTA 2000), Montego Bay, Jamaica, December 20-22, 2000, ISBN 960-8052-23-8, pp 26-31.

(1999) [PDF] "Uniqueness of Pitch Class Spaces, Minimal Bases and Z Partners". Proceedings of the Diderot Forum on Mathematics and Music, Vienna, ISBN 3-85403-133-5, pp 63-77.

(1999) [PDF] "SplineSynth: An Interface to Low-Level Digital Audio". Proceedings of the Diderot Forum on Mathematics and Music, Vienna, ISBN 3-85403-133-5, pp 49-61.

Reviews and Curation

(2018) Review of Simon Emmerson and Leigh Landy (eds.) (2016) Expanding the Horizon of Electroacoustic Music Analysis. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) Music & Letters, forthcoming

(2016) [HTML] Review of Curtis Roads (2015) Composing Electronic Music. (New York: Oxford University Press) Music & Letters 97(4): 675-677

(2014) [HTML] Alex McLean, Julian Rohrhuber and Nick Collins. Guest co-editor for special issue on live coding, Computer Music Journal 38(1)

(2011) [PDF] Alex McLean, Thor Magnusson and Nick Collins. Curator's statement for Computer Music Journal 35(4):119-137 DVD live coding compilation

(2009) Review of Jamie Sexton (ed.) Music, Sound and Multimedia: From the Live to the Virtual (Edinburgh University Press). Organised Sound 14(1): 111-112

(2008) Leonardo Music Journal 18 Audio CD

(2008) Review of Understanding the Art of Sound Organization + La musique des sons/The Music of Sounds by Leigh Landy (MIT Press and Sorbonne). Organised Sound 13(3): 273-276

(2008) [HTML] Karlheinz Stockhausen: Cosmic Pulses (review). Computer Music Journal 32(1): 88-91

(2007) [HTML] Review of Radiohead's digital release "In Rainbows" DIFFUSION 25:10:07, Sonic Arts Network. an accompanying generative remix program and example outputs are also available there.

(2004) [HTML] Review of Radiohead Kid A/Amnesiac/Hail to the Thief. Computer Music Journal 28(1): 73-7

(2003) Review of Hyperimprovisation by Roger Dean (A-R Editions). Organised Sound 8(3): 336-7

Unpublished Reports

(2014) [text file] Rewrite me

(2011) [PDF] "LL: Listening and Learning in an Interactive Improvisation System", Research report

(2002) [PDF] "How to be a True Recording Artist". This is an unpublished sonic art joke I wrote in 2002 that I found on my hard drive.

(2001, revised 2002) [PDF] "Transposition Invariance and Parsimonius Relation of Z Sets". Includes a self transposing Z sets classification theorem, and a table of the density of Z related set classes in universes Z₈ through Z₂₄. Revised after review and subsequently favorably received by music theory mathematics researchers including David Lewin.

(2000) [PDF] "SplineSynth2: Interpolating Break-Point Sets To Obtain Sound Transformations Distinct From a Cross-Fade". Research report on the SplineSynth2 software.

Journalism

(2005) An Interview with Matt Black (Coldcut). Computer Music. November 2005.

(2002) Practical Laptop Use. Future Music, October 2002, FM127.

Patent

Digital Image Processing (a technique from complex analysis applied to whether a point is inside or outside an arbitrary curve) US6519370, GB2340006, JP2000057360, 11th February 2003. Patent owned by Sony.

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