This app creates music based on objects in a given image.

With Buddha Orchestra, you can use pictures to create music. It generates music pieces which you can play via MIDI and/or OSC.

Based on images, the software generates melodies and allows a performer to play them using different instruments. It is not just a format converter which always produces the same result. It is designed to be an instrument for a performing artist. At the same time, it is an orchestra as it has many instruments. The performing artist acts as a conductor.

Technically, the melodies are sent to MIDI devices and/or OSC-capable software like SuperCollider.

The application allows performance in collaborative mode. The same image is 'played' on multiple computers. Commands of each performer are distributed to peers. In addition, the release of July 2013 includes a control application called BOC. It doesn't generate MIDI and music OSC. It sends commands to control the main BO application remotely. Thus user interface controls don't appear on the main screen which is important for live performance.

The application supports Scala files, see http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/scl_format.html to generate microtonal music.

Advanced users can also connect external hardware via a serial port (which usually means USB-serial adapter). This is an example of Arduino-controlled accordion:

This release introduces a new separate control application