The realisation of Di Scipio's Audible Ecosystemics n.2: strengths and challenges in the interpretation and notation of machine-independent computer music

This work presents a practical investigation of Audible Ecosystemics n.2 (Feedback Study) by Agostino Di Scipio (2003), reimplemented within the open-source programming environment Faust (Functional Audio Stream). The work—originally realised in the proprietary Symbolic Sound’s Kyma system—explores self-regulating feedback processes between computer, performer, and acoustic space. Feedback tones generated through the interaction of microphones, loudspeakers, and the room’s acoustics are analysed and transformed in real time, giving rise to an adaptive sonic behaviour that reflects the structural coupling between system and environment. This work addresses both the conceptual and technical challenges encountered when translating the score and the original Kyma patch into an open-source, transparent DSP framework. It highlights how small differences in the interpretation of Kyma objects can significantly alter the emergent dynamics of the system, potentially compromising the integrity of the compositional idea if not carefully considered. Beyond the technical reconstruction, this project situates Audible Ecosystemics n.2 within a broader reflection on the sustainability and transmission of machine-independent live electronic music. Particular attention goes to consistent implementation of complex musical algorithms via rigorous testing routines, so as to guarantee a suitable technical baseline, which is mandatory for non-trivial, recursive systems.