Difference between revisions of "Creating Bluish Noise With Minimal Compute"
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The algorithm creates the blue noise characteristic +3 dB per octave power increase, and it works equally well with LFSR noise sources. | The algorithm creates the blue noise characteristic +3 dB per octave power increase, and it works equally well with LFSR noise sources. | ||
| − | The algorithm | + | The algorithm could be modified to produce bluer noise by adding more random values into the comparison. The algorithm as presented produces noise that is strikingly blue, as can be seen in the following Spectrum Analysis section, so additional random number steps are probably not worth the additional effort for most applications. |
== Spectrum Analysis == | == Spectrum Analysis == | ||
Revision as of 15:41, 23 May 2024
Often random numbers are referred to as "noise", and sometimes we attach colours to refer to the different characteristics of that noise. The colours reference power characteristics at at different frequencies, but those power characteristics are the ultimately the result of how the random values are distributed.
Blue noise is a type of noise with a power density that increases with frequency, giving it a high-pitched, hissy sound. Visually, it manifests as a pattern with minimal low-frequency components and a relatively even distribution of points, and is frequently used for dithering. Blue noise is often used for its aesthetically pleasing randomness, since numbers don't clump together as they would with truly random (white noise) sources.
The Algorithm
Blue noise is typically created by generating random values, and massaging them in various ways to not be as clumpy. This isn't a great approach for older platforms that don't have a lot of compute horsepower or ram.
An alternative approach, is to blue the noise by keeping track of recent values with an exponentially decaying running average, and ensuring that new random numbers aren't near the decaying average...
A=RAND ; any masking or range-reduction needs to be done here B=RAND ; or else it will introduce clumpiness again. if ABS(B-C) > ABS(A-C) then A=B C=(C+A)/2 ; exponentially decaying running average ; "A" is holding your next bluish noise value
The algorithm creates the blue noise characteristic +3 dB per octave power increase, and it works equally well with LFSR noise sources.
The algorithm could be modified to produce bluer noise by adding more random values into the comparison. The algorithm as presented produces noise that is strikingly blue, as can be seen in the following Spectrum Analysis section, so additional random number steps are probably not worth the additional effort for most applications.
Spectrum Analysis
Spectrum Analysis of a 16-bit LFSR with bluish processing.
Spectrum Analysis of a 16-bit LFSR without bluish processing.
Authorship
The novel Bluish Noise technique described here was created by Mike Saarna.
