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Xenos

Xenos is a virtual instrument plug-in that implements and extends the Dynamic Stochastic Synthesis (DSS) algorithm invented by Iannis Xenakis. Programmed in C++ with the JUCE framework, Xenos is open-source, cross-platform, and can be built in a number of plug-in formats.

Key features include:

  • Authentic DSS engine
  • Xenharmonic pitch quantizer
  • Custom scale import in the Scala format
  • Ten stochastic distributions with up to two parameters each
  • First- and second-order random walks
  • Variable number of segments per wave cycle
  • Variable amplitude envelope
  • Polyphonic (128 voices by default)
  • MIDI implementation (notes, sustain, pitch bend)
  • External MIDI controller assignment
  • Parameter automation
  • Simple and streamlined interface
  • Free and open source

Xenos was first presented to the Meta–Xenakis Global Symposium, and is the subject of a master’s degree from the Media Arts and Technology (MAT) program at UC Santa Barbara.

Quick Start Video

Watch the Quick Start video on YouTube.

Installation Notes

Xenos has been tested on macOS 10.14.6 and Windows 10 (64-bit).

Build from Source (Mac or Windows)

  1. Download JUCE
  2. Clone or download Xenos
  3. Open Xenos.jucer in the Projucer
  4. Export the project for your IDE and platform, e.g., Xcode (macOS) or Visual Studio 2019 (Windows); see here for more information
  5. Compile Xenos using your IDE
  6. Move the plug-in binary, e.g., Xenos.component or Xenos.vst3, to the proper location according to your platform, host software, and plug-in format
    • e.g., /Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components (MacOS)
    • e.g., C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 (Windows)
  7. Open a suitable plug-in host application and add Xenos on a software instrument track

Build from Source (Linux)

  1. Install JUCE dependencies: 
    sudo apt install libasound2-dev libjack-jackd2-dev ladspa-sdk \
    libcurl4-openssl-dev libfreetype6-dev libx11-dev \
    libxcomposite-dev libxcursor-dev libxext-dev libxinerama-dev \
    libxrandr-dev libxrender-dev libwebkit2gtk-4.0-dev
  2. Clone Xenos: git clone https://github.com/raphaelradna/xenos.git
  3. Navigate into the Xenos folder: cd xenos
  4. Clone JUCE: git clone https://github.com/juce-framework/JUCE.git
  5. Configure the build: mkdir -p build/Release && cd build/Release && cmake -D CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -G "Unix Makefiles" ../..
  6. Build Xenos: cmake --build ./ --config Release

Once built, Xenos VST3 and LV2 plugins will be in xenos/build/Release/Xenos_artefacts/Release. However, they should have already been automatically copied to the default location for such plugins on your computer (probably ~/.vst3 and ~/.lv2).

Pre-Built Binaries

  1. Download the latest Xenos release for your platform from GitHub
  2. Extract the plug-in binary, i.e., Xenos.component or Xenos.vst3, and move it to the proper location according to your platform, host software, and plug-in format
    • e.g., /Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components (MacOS)
    • e.g., C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 (Windows)
    • e.g., ~/.vst3 (Linux)
  3. Open a suitable plug-in host application and add Xenos on a software instrument track