Hello World, This page is under active development in 2024, so think of everything you see here as an aspirational creative work in progress

I am using Chat GPT to help build the site using VS Code and GitHub Pages

My name is Rob McDonald, it's nice to meet you

I am creative and technical:

- I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

- I seek to create immersive experiences at the intersection of music, visual art, and technology

- My work combines electronic music production, real-time graphics, projection mapping, and AI-assisted development

- Through The Waveform Generation, I explore the creative possibilities of emerging technologies while honoring the roots of electronic music and digital art

- I aim to push boundaries in audiovisual design, blending traditional artistry with cutting-edge tools like TouchDesigner, machine learning, and quantum computing

The Waveform Generation

Creative Technology Portfolio - Exploring Digital Arts & Innovation

Welcome to a multifaceted exploration of digital creativity and technology. This portfolio showcases diverse works across multiple creative and technical disciplines, demonstrating the convergence of art, music, and cutting-edge technology.

• Electronic Music Production - From immersive ambient soundscapes to energetic Detroit electro and soulful melodic house
• Digital Video & Visual Arts - Pushing boundaries with real-time graphics, projection mapping, and innovative video mixing
• Software Development - Embracing modern web development with AI assistance and seamless cloud integration
• Creative Technology - Pioneering explorations in AI, quantum computing, and generative art systems
• Traditional Arts - Bridging classical and digital through painting, drawing, 3D modeling, and advanced print design

Electronic Music Studio

Digital Audio Production & Sound Design

Creating electronic music across multiple genres and styles

Explore our collection of electronic music productions, from ambient soundscapes to driving rhythms. Each track showcases different approaches to synthesis, sampling, and digital audio production, blending modern techniques with creative sound design.

Futuristic Detroit Electro

Machine Funk & Robotic Rhythms

Exploring the intersection of future funk and mechanical precision

Dive into our collection of Detroit-inspired electro tracks, where mechanical rhythms meet soulful synthlines. Each composition pays homage to the innovative spirit of Detroit's electronic music legacy while pushing forward into new sonic territories with modern production techniques.

Ambient Sound Design

Exploring Atmospheric Soundscapes

Immersive ambient compositions created using digital synthesis and sound design

Welcome to our ambient music collection, featuring atmospheric soundscapes and evolving textures. Each piece explores the subtle interplay between space, texture, and harmony, creating immersive sonic environments that blend organic and electronic elements.

Melodic House Music

Chicago-Style Soulful House

Crafting Deep & Emotional Dance Music

Experience our collection of Chicago-inspired house tracks, where warm analog synthesis meets deep emotional chord progressions. Each track celebrates the soulful heritage of Chicago house music while incorporating contemporary production elements and melodic arrangements that speak to the heart of dance music culture.

Breakbeat Innovation

From Motown Funk to Bristol Bass

Exploring the Evolution of Break-Driven Music

Journey through our collection of breakbeat-driven productions, from funk-infused Motown-style breaks to sophisticated Bristol-school drum & bass. Each track explores the art of break manipulation and rhythm design, bridging the gap between classic break sampling and modern production techniques while maintaining the essential funk and energy that drives the breakbeat sound.

Digital Video Innovation

Real-time Graphics & Visual Technology

Exploring the frontiers of digital video art and technology

Discover our digital video laboratory where real-time 3D graphics meet projection mapping and live video mixing. Each project pushes the boundaries of visual technology, combining generative art, real-time rendering, and innovative editing techniques to create immersive visual experiences that blend the digital and physical worlds.

Realtime Generative 3D Audio and Video

Creating real-time interactive 3D environments and generative audio-visual experiences using TouchDesigner and Unreal Engine

Real-time generative art and interactive environments represent the cutting edge of digital creativity. Using powerful engines like TouchDesigner and Unreal, we can create responsive 3D worlds and audio-visual experiences that react instantly to inputs and data. These tools enable seamless integration of procedural generation, dynamic lighting, particle systems, and real-time audio processing to craft immersive experiences.

From interactive installations and live performances to dynamic visualizations and virtual environments, real-time systems open up endless possibilities for creative expression and audience engagement. The ability to modify and manipulate content on the fly allows for truly dynamic and adaptable experiences that evolve with user interaction.

3D Projection Mapping

Digital Light on Physical Forms

Merging Real-time 3D with Custom-Printed Objects

Explore our projection mapping experiments where digital artistry meets physical sculpture. Using real-time generative 3D graphics created in TouchDesigner, we transform custom 3D-printed objects into dynamic visual canvases. Each project demonstrates the seamless integration of digital content with physical form, creating immersive experiences that blur the line between virtual and real.

Video Mixing

Mixing and blending video sources using a combination of Resolume software and outboard analog and digital video mixing equiptment

I have been exploring Video Mixing since the 90s at large events, in school and in my creative endeavours and have found immense satisfaction in mastering the art of video mixing. As a result, I've developed a solid understanding of the various techniques and tools available for creating captivating visuals and engaging content for various platforms.

Video mixing is a dynamic process that combines multiple video sources into a single output stream. Using professional mixing equipment and software, creators can seamlessly blend different camera feeds, graphics, and effects in real-time. This essential technique enables live switching between scenes, adding transitions, and creating engaging visual compositions that enhance the overall production quality. Whether for live events, broadcasts, or creative projects, video mixing forms the backbone of modern video production workflows.

Video Editing & Post Production

The Evolution of Video Editing: From Linear to Non-Linear, Analog to Digital

Video editing has undergone a remarkable transformation, from physical tape-based linear systems to today's sophisticated digital workflows. This evolution spans analog editing rooms with multiple decks and switchers, to modern non-linear editing suites where content can be manipulated instantly and non-destructively. Each era brings its own unique approach to crafting visual stories, from the precise timing required in live editing to the extensive creative possibilities in post-production.

Contemporary editing combines multiple disciplines: traditional cut-and-splice techniques, real-time live switching for immediate output, and comprehensive post-production including color grading, visual effects, and sound design. Working with industry-standard tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro, alongside specialized hardware for live production, enables the creation of compelling content across various formats and platforms. This versatility supports both immediate live production needs and meticulously crafted post-production pieces.

Creative Coding & Artificial Intelligence

Exploring Next-Generation Technologies: Python, Next.js, Gen AI, Cloud and Quantum Computing

At the intersection of creativity and computation, we explore cutting-edge technologies that shape the future of digital expression. From Python's versatile ecosystem for data manipulation and machine learning to Next.js's powerful web development framework, our creative coding journey embraces modern tools and methodologies. We delve into generative AI models, experimenting with neural networks and machine learning algorithms to create innovative digital experiences.

The frontier of quantum computing opens new possibilities for complex computations and algorithmic exploration. By combining these technologies with creative vision, we push the boundaries of what's possible in digital art, data visualization, and interactive experiences. Our approach integrates traditional programming paradigms with emerging technologies, creating a bridge between conventional development and future technological innovations.

Modern Web Development with AI Assistance

Leveraging Next-Gen Tools & AI Coding Partners

Exploring the future of web development through the synergy of human creativity and AI assistance. Our development workflow combines powerful AI coding partners like GitHub Copilot with Claude 3.5 Sonnet and TabNine with GPT-4o, enabling faster, more efficient coding while maintaining creative control and code quality.

We're pushing the boundaries of web interactivity with GSAP animations, building dynamic applications with Next.js, and creating Python-powered backend services. Our projects seamlessly integrate across platforms, embedding applications from various cloud services directly into GitHub Pages. This modern approach to web development combines the best of AI assistance, cloud computing, and cutting-edge frameworks to create engaging, responsive web experiences.

Modern Application Development

AI-Assisted Coding Across Multiple Platforms

Embracing the future of software development through AI-enhanced coding practices. Our development ecosystem leverages cutting-edge AI assistants like GitHub Copilot paired with Claude 3.5 Sonnet and TabNine with GPT-4o in Visual Studio Code, revolutionizing how we write and maintain code across multiple platforms and languages.

From building sophisticated web applications with Next.js to crafting robust backend services with Python and Ruby on Rails, our projects seamlessly deploy across leading cloud platforms including Vercel, Heroku, Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud. This multi-platform approach allows us to leverage the best features of each service while maintaining a unified presence through GitHub Pages integration.

AI-Powered Development & Creative Generation

Exploring the Frontiers of AI-Assisted Creation

Leveraging cutting-edge AI coding assistants to revolutionize development workflows. Our toolkit includes GitHub Copilot paired with Claude 3.5 Sonnet and TabNine with GPT-4o in Visual Studio Code, enabling intelligent code completion and generation across Next.js, Python, and Ruby on Rails projects. This AI-augmented development approach dramatically enhances productivity while maintaining code quality and creative control.

Venturing beyond coding assistance, we're exploring machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch to build custom generative models. Our research encompasses generative AI tools from OpenAI and Runway ML, pushing the boundaries of AI-driven content creation across text, data, images, video, and 3D modeling. This comprehensive approach combines development efficiency with creative exploration in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Cloud Computing & Quantum Technologies

From Cloud Platforms to Quantum Computing

Exploring the vast ecosystem of cloud computing platforms and services. Our infrastructure leverages multiple providers including Vercel for Next.js deployments, Azure for enterprise solutions, Paperspace for GPU computing, AWS for comprehensive services, Google Cloud for AI/ML workloads, and IBM Cloud for hybrid solutions. We're building and deploying applications using Next.js, Python, and Ruby on Rails across these platforms to create scalable, resilient solutions.

Venturing into quantum computing through cloud-accessible platforms, we're exploring revolutionary technologies like IBM's Granite and Q systems, Azure Quantum's diverse offerings, Amazon Braket's quantum services, and Google's Quantum AI platform. We're particularly excited about Canadian innovations in quantum computing, working with Xanadu's photonic quantum computers through PennyLane and D-Wave's quantum annealing systems via Leap.

Visual Art Gallery

Exploring Digital Art & Animation

Creative works generated using TouchDesigner and other digital tools

Welcome to our digital art gallery, showcasing a collection of generative art, 3D animations, and interactive visual experiments. Each piece demonstrates the fusion of technology and creativity, exploring new possibilities in digital expression.

The Art of Acrylic Painting

Exploring Color & Composition

Discovering the joy of acrylic painting through vibrant colors and dynamic compositions. Each canvas becomes a journey of expression, where color theory principles guide the creation of harmonious and striking visual narratives. The fluid nature of acrylics allows for both bold statements and subtle nuances, perfect for exploring various artistic styles and techniques.

Music from The Waveform Generation and other inspiring artists provides the perfect backdrop for these creative sessions, influencing the rhythm and flow of each brushstroke. The synthesis of audio and visual elements creates a meditative space where artistic exploration flourishes, resulting in pieces that capture both movement and emotion on canvas.

The Art of Drawing & Illustration

Visual Development Through Sketching

Exploring the foundational art of sketching and drawing as a means of visual development and creative expression. Each stroke and line builds upon the last, developing ideas from simple concepts into fully realized illustrations. Through various techniques and mediums - from pencil and charcoal to digital tablets - we capture the essence of form and movement.

The process of illustration begins with rough sketches, evolving through iterations of refinement and detail. This journey from initial concept to finished piece reveals the power of drawing as both a planning tool and an art form in itself. Whether quick gestural studies or detailed technical illustrations, each drawing represents a step in the visual development process.

Physical & Digital 3D Modelling

From Clay to Digital Creation

Exploring the art of three-dimensional creation through both traditional and digital mediums. Working with clay allows for organic, tactile expression while balsa wood provides precision in architectural and structural models. These physical modeling techniques inform and complement our digital 3D work, creating a bridge between traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.

In the digital realm, we utilize advanced 3D modeling software and 3D scanning hardware and software to create precise, detailed models ready for stereolithographic printing. This additive manufacturing process brings our digital designs into the physical world, enabling rapid prototyping and the creation of complex geometries impossible through traditional methods. The synthesis of physical and digital modeling techniques opens new possibilities in sculptural and functional design.

Print Design & 3D Manufacturing

From Traditional Print to Additive Manufacturing

Exploring the evolution of printing technology from traditional graphic design for paper-based media to modern digital printing processes. Our journey spans from creating compelling layouts and typography for lithographic printing to developing precision digital files for contemporary printing systems. This fusion of classic design principles with modern technology ensures optimal results across all print media.

Venturing into the third dimension, we embrace stereolithographic 3D printing technology, where digital designs materialize layer by layer. This additive manufacturing process represents the next evolution in printing, enabling the creation of complex three-dimensional objects with unprecedented precision. From prototype development to final production, 3D printing opens new possibilities in design and manufacturing.