You Are Games returns with a musical challenge this week. Introducing Nudge, a simple to use musical composition webtoy that gives everyone the ability to create pleasant sounding melodies. And we want to hear what you can do with it.
We're not talking full length symphonies here. Nudge creates only short pieces consisting of 16 steps each (about 4 beats). The palette of 8 sounds available range from drums and bass to organs and harps. Just click on one of the sound matrices along the right side to select an instrument. Then click (and drag if you wish) anywhere to add notes. It's just that easy.
For each instrument you can also change the volume, panning left or right, and you can even turn the instrument off completely. This is particularly useful for when you want to make fine tuning adjustments to your composition as it can get somewhat distracting working on one instrument if you have all the others going at the same time.
A tempo control allows you to change the tempo of the entire composition. The default is 120 (beats per minute), and the range is 60 to 180.
When you are finished and satisfied with your composition, follow these instructions:- Click on the get + share button in the top right of the Nudge widget
- Click on the chain link you see on the left
- Click copy to copy a link to your piece
- Then paste it into your comment here on this review page along with a description or something that inspired you about it.
Also, please comment on the pieces of others, and if there is a consensus about a clear winner (or two), we may even offer up a prize.
I have included a sample composition that Dr. Mikey created as an example only. Please don't use it to begin your own. Start off with a blank canvas by going to the Nudge site.
Let loose your inner musician!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/uxs
I was just looking for something booty shaking
http://inudge.net/inudge#/v4n
Something complex enough to justify not-writing papers all night.
This is my first attempt at mucking around with things. It's a little new age/background music-esque. I might try something more ambitious later. I just wanted something with a slower beat. It sounds a little like "exploring the jungle" in a video game. Too bad I don't have a game to go along with that for CDGC6!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/4l5
http://inudge.net/inudge#/1dqm
just having fun. What a great music toy :]
http://inudge.net/inudge#/17jy
Nothing fancy, but it's fun to mess with.
Just thought it might make good boss fight music
http://inudge.net/inudge#/dvsb
Just a try
It's good to offset some sets to make them stand out, and I didn't use all as it can become to cluttered.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/nc7
http://inudge.net/inudge#/7wj
I started out just trying to see if I could do "Here Comes the Bride." But it was going pretty quickly, and it developed its own beat, and then the harp melody arrived, and suddenly... this! Very cool stuff!
Think mine sounded better when tempo slowed down.
Default tempo a little fast.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/97h
http://inudge.net/inudge#/rhw
I was just trying to use all the instruments. I'm always amazed at how composers can write music for entire orchestras. This was probably as close as I'm gonna get.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/fox
^_^; I kinda just made it sound good. The only inspiration comes from my head.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/17sn
Very simple, but kind of catchy, I think.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/aak
Fun stuff
I was aiming for that bouncy theme in Kill Bill during the second half of her fight against the Crazy 88, where it's all "doot - de-doot-doot, doot - de-doot-doot", but it only works exactly that far in. I now realize why the real version varies it up right after the 4th beat: looping causes its structure to break down almost immediately. Hence:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/55w
quickly begins to sound different the longer you listen to it (and quickly stabilizes - it's like what happens when you suddenly put a different force on a sewing wheel [the loop's first restart being the different force]: the wheel starts spinning in the opposite direction).
But the program is definitely fun! Here's a quick, HORRIBLE one I made the minute I got my hands on it:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/11b5
(also, my first one sounds almost nothing like the theme I'm talking about :p )
((...because I suck, not because Nudge sucks))
Hastily knocked off, but sort of pleasant:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/q06
Also, I really liked MF's. Very nice.
I'm allowed to play too right? ;D
http://inudge.net/inudge#/kx67
Yep, this is a fun fun toy. Too bad you can't string multiple loops together.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/187a
Wow! Great little widget! Good enough to finally get this lazy bum to make an account to comment with. Done took long enough, been following this amazing site for months! Anyways, my little itty bitty pretty diddy:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/am00
I was shooting for mellow and melodic, what do you guys think?
i wanted to mess around with arpeggios and separating the bass sounds.
pretty simple, though charming
http://inudge.net/inudge#/gkp
That was fun!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/15wk
http://inudge.net/inudge#/49o
pretty relaxing i think.
i liked that mf's felt very different from the rest the way they used the drums there
I built this with ToneMatrix ages ago and decided to flesh it out with this. Hope it's good.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ilqx
I certainly cannot get any work done when there are fun web toys making me feel like a musician. http://inudge.net/inudge#/jhf
These are great! I think my favorite thus far is Jeremy's slower tempo one. I really like Kero's too, especially considering how simple it is. My only problem with that one is that it doesn't loop well. Mkelican's is good too... there's just too many to choose from!
Pah, homework forgotten, there's music to be made!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/m2t
Here's my two cents: http://inudge.net/inudge#/10c1
There's only so much you can do with, essentially, the black keys of a piano (or 7 pianos), though there's certainly something novel about scribbling all over the thing. It's an improvement over the old version, especially with the added drums, but I really wish they would let you alter the scale.
I'm a dork and can't remember my info to sign in.
Anyway, a silly variation of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
http://inudge.net/inudge#/1xvh
http://inudge.net/inudge#/660
This is awesome!! I really enjoyed this entry
http://inudge.net/inudge#/3uq
Impending... something not good (probably).
The sound of life (also known as the sound of growing up =) http://inudge.net/inudge#/kxp
More music madness!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/z4l
http://inudge.net/inudge#/19c8
I wondered what would happen if you tried to express music through more than one sense at once. I guess it dosen't sound too horrible.
First post ever ever - followed this site forever, but i truly felt compelled to register to share this one :)
http://inudge.net/inudge#/b6s
http://inudge.net/inudge#/18a6
I love these kinds of music toys.
Woot. That was fun. I tried to make mine sound as much like Animal Collective as possible.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/h50
http://inudge.net/inudge#/4vja
great toy!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/q5o
I just messed around. It usually comes out this way; I just click around randomly and out comes a beat.
Love this gadget! It's impossible to go wrong.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/5fpa
Loved this toy! It's impossible to sound bad!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/5fpa
http://inudge.net/inudge#/16fq
fun!!!
pinging the void
http://inudge.net/inudge#/uj9
nice :)
Oh man, I really love this thing.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/4jw
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ejzg
Will not get any work done today, that's for sure.
kinda random tune made in 5 minutes:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/hsc
I used the 7 times table and 9 times table 4 times in different directions.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/3th
The music of mathematics. Sounds good man.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/1cgb
generally a good idea, easily handable and fast results.
now what I thought while "composing" this piece? well initially not much, but I wanted to incorporate all the instruments which I think turned out quite good :)
http://inudge.net/inudge#/b349
I thought about the old adage 'less is more', but then I went with the 'kitchen sink' method.
First try :
http://inudge.net/inudge#/19kz
My first time:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ba1r
now to listen to the creations of others gamers :)
Haha this was great fun, here's my first go.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/19hm
Listened to all posted so far, and yup - you can't go worng with this little toy - they all sounded great! My faves are Makrona's, Kvikindi's, DMJ's and CapnHulk's, in no particular order...
Fabbo :)
Slow tempo muckabout before bed:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/abd
Pretty fun webtoy. In one minute I composed a loop that sounded better than anything Nitrome could ever dream up in a year. (Thank God for their music kill switch.)
http://inudge.net/inudge#/wvx
great toy, wasting lots of time playing with it;-)
I really had to fight the urge to just keep adding to it.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/1977
http://inudge.net/inudge#/5z4
this is mine. ENJOY!
This is Yukito, by the way. Somehow, I haven't been able to log in.
Anyway,
http://inudge.net/inudge#/86nt
http://inudge.net/inudge#/nla
Fun stuff!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/nla
Good fun!
fun rhythm http://inudge.net/inudge#/1aug
http://inudge.net/inudge#/s5f
Fun fun fun. :D
fun. here's my Kraftwerk intro:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/wpk
http://inudge.net/inudge#/mbv0
I did another one and took little more time
http://inudge.net/inudge#/12er
http://inudge.net/inudge#/7nv
I have crashed in a jungle on Neptune looking for the rest of my crew.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/q1c
http://inudge.net/inudge#/17xh
There's my creation. It's fun little music tool.
DRUM AND BASS TUNE!!!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/149h
sick
http://inudge.net/inudge#/19gj
Carl Sagan documentary soundtrack inspired.
Njoy
http://inudge.net/inudge#/48wl
http://inudge.net/inudge#/13b6
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ijs5
I spent quite a while on this, actually
I love these games, this one is just the effect of trial and error.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/irkz
Is there any chance anyone will hear ALL of these? Everyone's entries are so dang good! The key, like in Six Degrees of Separation, is to know when to "take the painting away."
I didn't take the painting away in time, there's too much on it, but lord this is fun.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/114m
http://inudge.net/inudge#/xac
Trippy theme
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ue1
Inspired by Final Fantasy's "To Zanarkand".
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ma4
What a fun webtoy! Anyway, just a little abstract ... thing... while I'm sucking down some coffee.
OK this is a little better...The drums are a basic rock beat, try mute them for a measure or two then return for nice bridge.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/2p1wu
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ue1
Inspired by Final Fantasy's "To Zanarkand".
http://inudge.net/inudge#/uap
it was allot of work but i think it wa worth it
hope you guys like it
http://inudge.net/inudge#/m7bk
Less is more
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ph5
http://inudge.net/inudge#/bn0g
Trying something using the slowest speed
jay is games rule
sounds like this
http://inudge.net/inudge#/lo1
http://inudge.net/inudge#/1lin
it sounded cool, sooo.............
can i submit more than one?
I don't really have a very large attention span with these, there's so much stuff I want to try it all out. So rather than having one 'masterpiece' I have several half-cooked ones.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/hre
Two ones that go up and down the scale, so I'm saying they're both part of the same piece:
Part 1
Part 2
And one that has a bit more of a bass line to it - but I think not enough is happening in it:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/cvf
My favourites of the other are Itt's and Molchanoff's.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/own
My temptation was to make something really busy, so I decided to do the opposite. Music is sound, but also the absence of sound.
Procrastination Incarnate.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/8dy
What a bunch of fun!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ej8a
http://inudge.net/inudge#/1998
It's groovy.
Actually, sorry for the double post, but disregard my last submission.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/19w
Slightly edited but groovier!
Ok, ok, finally found one I enjoy. It's got...it's got that Beverly Hills Cop feel to it. C'mon Axel, don't put the banana in the tailpipe.
This is ridin' around with Judge Reinhold music, having just figuring out who the bad guy is.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/dpow
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ya4
the first is different...
Well, I tried:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/h9c
^_^'
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ph6
I was aiming for something a bit spacey. Did I hit my mark?
http://inudge.net/inudge#/oqc
sweet toy.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/b61m
In three sentences,
A people-watching, daydreaming, and writer's block-curing tune.
It's a short catchy tune that can inspire you to do something when bored.
A tune with a "just go ahead and do it!" theme.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/lfvn
This is so much fun!
Once I realized there were many instruments, I let go and let loose. I love the descending pattern on Saturn.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ipx7
One more because it's fun. This one I went for more simplicity and used some effects. I love how you can just go with your feelings. I felt like I was using the force!!
Here's one that's thumb piano inspired...and from years of listening to Fela Kuti. Thanks for this awesome tool!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/hqpy
Hi everyone!
I've been visiting Jig for ages but this is my first comment. I was aiming for a fast paced hardcore techno tune but somehow ended up with this piece:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/84u
Long live Jay!
Cheers.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/16yq
Another simple one. I keep coming back to this. IT's AWESome.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/8r78
Sweet
http://inudge.net/inudge#/7fo7
The time table is too short, i could easily use dozens of it. Nice gadget anyway, really fun to handle.
Late 90's acid anyone?
http://inudge.net/inudge#/a3fm
I just was bored, so I made this out of imagination.
Wow this is fantastic for something so simple!
thank you for sharing it here. I enjoyed listening to the many short pieces from others.
Here's mine:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/o95
http://inudge.net/inudge#/6f56s
Warning! This one is catchy for sure! ;)
http://inudge.net/inudge#/dgsx
Kept listening to this for like a half hour... now i have a headache!
inudge is fun!
(although the sixteen beat cap is pretty limiting)
http://inudge.net/inudge#/3nn
this is one of my first efforts and it makes me happy so i'm sharing.
p!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/joji
am i late?
I made one!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ktuz
took me about 5 mins XD
http://inudge.net/inudge#/ir8e
Cool! I'm a composer! Who knew?
http://inudge.net/inudge#/enr2
http://inudge.net/inudge#/9chn
Very fun, like a more complex version of ToneMatrix.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/25qm
I could do this for hours.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/9dxg
This is really cool.
But everytime I click on a link for someone elses' melody in the comments section it takes me to the inudge site with a completely blank editor.
Is anyone else having this problem, or is it just me?
http://inudge.net/inudge#/917x
Having the same trouble as you Kevin. Any ideas anyone?
Here's mine.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/eic1
http://inudge.net/inudge#/xf2
Fun!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/z0i
mellow for late at night!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/665mc
sprinkly music? :)
Here is mine! =D
http://inudge.net/inudge#/f29v
http://inudge.net/inudge#/crgh
What I love about Nudge is that almost no matter what you do, you can always find some way to make it sound good
I made this and I think it sounds good!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/9l7i
Like it?
Being an actual musician, I tend to disagree with the idea that with tools like iNudge even non-musicians can create good sounding music. The majority of loops on their site and posted here sound rather random and unorganized. I think that though the simplicity of iNudge allows everyone to get started with it, its too limiting as far as being able to produce actual music.
With that said, I was able to coax a nice sounding techno loop out of it by writing a similar bassline in the Rhodes bass and the Avatar and then panning them to different sides: http://inudge.net/inudge#/hp0w
http://inudge.net/inudge#/efgi
I kind of agree with you, PF, about not everyone really being able to make "good" music with this thing. Most of these are pleasing to the ear, but that's probably mostly because of the pentatonic scale. But then again, "good" is a pretty subjective word.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/fmkt
Fun!
This program is amazing. I like this one http://inudge.net/inudge#/6l45
One I made in a few seconds.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/166e
http://inudge.net/inudge#/dtfv
I love when the site posts stuff like this. It's too much fun! XD
http://inudge.net/inudge#/bv6r
Kinda weird but I'm proud of it!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/6006
Makes me feel like I'm in Asia
http://inudge.net/inudge#/1w51
Here my critically ignored contribution.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/jr18
My Amazing Drum Beats :D
http://inudge.net/inudge#/51f3
I only managed to make a cool sounding drum beat...it's hard to get everything to synch up!
This one sounds nifty:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/54ft
http://inudge.net/inudge#/lgks
That was fun to do @ 3:16 in the morning :')
http://inudge.net/inudge#/2656
http://inudge.net/inudge#/h1fo
just a cute little thingy.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/5gv8
~Nightime
http://inudge.net/inudge#/i2p6
wow! that was fun! awesome!
This was an interesting little machine. Some of the compositions can sound start to sound really good when you mess around with it for a while.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/lw3l
Please help me! Whenever I click on a link, it just goes to a blank nudge!
This is what i got hope yall like it!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/lxff
good times.
http://inudge.net/inudge#/gmur
http://inudge.net/inudge#/hftx
just for fun
Here's mine: http://inudge.net/inudge#/920p5
chillout house!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/chjv
closest i got to Moony. cool stuff!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/fc51
http://inudge.net/inudge#/5c2x this is mine....
I got a music. Not much of a thing. Done before bedtime. Enjoy!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/dfr0
(If you want, you can change it. I don't mind.)
http://inudge.net/inudge#/2vey
now this program is fun!
http://inudge.net/inudge#/1gw49
http://inudge.net/inudge#/33io
a decent groove, but it seems a little repetetive... ha.
Remix of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!!! :D
soo catchy.... ^__^
http://inudge.net/inudge#/6zwh
Based on Daft Punk's Around the World:
http://inudge.net/inudge#/9rt2
I can't wait for the chromatic scale and longer matrices. This thing is so fun!
A few months late, but here's mine: http://inudge.net/#es88
I've seen a lot of people complain that it's only 4 measures, but you can increase it if you hit the "MORE" button at the bottom and then the + sign on the right side, which is what I did here for 8 measures.
Reminds me of Phase Toy. I've always been better at playing music that was already written than writing my own, but this is a lot of fun.
BEST GAME I'VE SEEN IN WEEKS!! (And I just played that Unnatural thing on this week's Link Dump!)
Now really. It's impossible to make anything that sounds bad with this!! Can't wait to show everyone I know & drive them totally nuts!! Also...I dunno if I should spoiler this, but I think I won't...
If you use the ToneMatrix right, & most of the music is in ToneMatrix, with subtle support from other parts, it sounds like a lullaby. ♪♫♫♪♪♪♫♫ No really, this is one of the very few games that truly IS PERFECT!!!!! Gotta go work on my first masterpiece ^-^
OK, I'm going to make a lot of different pieces (Browser crashed & killed my work). First, just a drum line, good for a catchy, upbeat sort of thing... http://inudge.net/#9yopj
Hope it works =) Now, to make other lines of short work!! Later pplz
A Short Trip Through Fairyland:
http://inudge.net/#fasx
Yep, that's the best title I can make...enjoy.
http://inudge.net/#k6uv Yea, it's the beginnings of a cool techno piece I've been working on :)
Firefox occasionally crashes while I work on iNudge, so I have a habit of either eMailing my links to myself, or now, posting them!! So, gah, yea. ADDICTED.
http://inudge.net/#1gg6e Mad Drumbeat 0wnd
http://inudge.net/#jf82 Supah-Dupah L337 H4xx0r Tachno Tune of 0wn4g3
Yay, my masterpiece is done. Now I am at rest...
- The Addict
http://inudge.net/#hag1 see what you think
http://inudge.net/#lwq5
did a lil work herrr
http://inudge.net/#ho1g
It was gonna be Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but... no. There weren't the right notes :(
It turned out pretty okay. It's four nudges long.
Wow, nice little toy.
http://inudge.net/#37ja0
I made a little something... and i didnt use hardly anything to do it.
http://inudge.net/#f6qo
-Molegrave, the anonymous commenter.
So here is what I came up with; I don't really know what it is, but I think it sounds pretty good (it does get a bit annoying after a while).
http://inudge.net/#m2k4
Yeah, this happened a long time ago, but I'm posting my attempt at music just because! :)
http://inudge.net/#8ycm
http://inudge.net/#gfie
Update