Zen Space Radio

Project Essence

You can use external media players, use links will work with:
SSL 128k mp3 https://zenspaceradio.com:8443/live.mp3
non SSL 128k mp3 http://zenspaceradio.com:8000/live.mp3

Zen Space Radio was born from a basic need to create music and experiment with sound. Initially, it was a simple idea for an internet radio that would generate its content. Instead of traditionally playing recorded tracks, the idea emerged to create a system that would continuously create new music.

The project evolved naturally – from a simple sound generator to a more complex system. A key moment was the introduction of external data as a stimulus for generating music. Space data emerged as an ideal candidate – it’s constantly changing while maintaining its mathematical logic.

Currently, Zen Space Radio is an experimental internet radio that continuously creates music in real time. It combines technological minimalism (old Raspberry Pi) with the ambition to create something new and unique. Ambient and drone music proved to be a natural direction for this type of generative experiment.

The project continues to evolve, maintaining its original essence: creating music that lives its own life, evolves, and changes over time, responding to external stimuli. It’s a space for sound experiments where technology meets creativity, and hardware limitations become part of artistic expression.

Artistic Vision

While experimenting with the project, I tested various mathematical approaches to sound generation. Initially, I tried to implement more complex systems based on Fibonacci sequences and the golden ratio, but it quickly became apparent that the Raspberry Pi 1B had too limited computational capabilities for such complicated real-time operations.

Instead, I focused on simpler but equally interesting mathematical relationships. I use basic number operations to create rhythmic and harmonic patterns. The randomness of input data itself creates interesting mathematical structures that influence the generated sound.

It’s fascinating to observe how simple mathematical relationships between frequencies and amplitudes can create complex, evolving sound structures. Despite technical limitations, basic mathematical principles still find their place in the project – whether in the form of frequency ratios or in the way rhythmic patterns are generated.

Technical Heart

At the centre of the project is a modest, ten-year-old Raspberry Pi 1B, which, despite its limitations, perfectly serves as an experimental music generator. The system works in a simple but effective way: a Python script fetches data from the API, which is then transformed into musical parameters by SuperCollider.

The audio signal is streamed through an Icecast server running on VPS:

The Icecast server provides stable audio streaming
Transmission format: mp3 for optimal quality
Multiple simultaneous connections capability
Low transmission latency
Automatic quality adjustment to the listener’s bandwidth

Musical Characteristics

Minimalistic approach to sound creation
Contemplative atmosphere
Subtle and organic changes in composition
Combination of generative music with visualizations

Challenges and Solutions

One of the project’s main challenges is optimizing performance on older hardware. Despite its limitations, the Raspberry Pi 1B was chosen deliberately – it shows that creating contemporary generative art doesn’t require the latest technology.

Main Challenges

Performance optimization
Stable streaming
The balance between complexity and efficiency
Integration of different systems

Development and Future

The project is in continuous development.

Current Priorities

SSL player integration (done)
Visual layer development (done)
Experimenting with new data sources
Sound algorithm optimization (partly done)

Future Vision

The future of Zen Space Radio unfolds as an open space for experiments and development. We plan:

Maintaining minimalistic character
Exploring new technical possibilities
Community development
Creating new forms of sound interaction
Development of voluntary community support (Patreon, PayPal donations)

Zen Space Radio is an evolving experimental space, open to new ideas and collaboration. You’re invited to listen, support, and co-create this unique sound space.

Source:

Mateusz Beźnic

Zen Space Radio

Project Essence

Artistic Vision