PLACEB0_BUTT0N is an experimental ambient music project by John Beers (Luciftias). All pieces are created using a generative process beginning with text prompts being fed into Dream.ai. The resulting images are then resized and processed by the image2sound Python utility, which converts them to audio using the RGB values of each pixel. The red, green, and blue files are imported into Audacity, panned to broaden the stereo spectrum, and further enhanced with reverb, EQ, and fades. Finally, the volume is leveled to reach the final form.

So where does the name "placebo button" come from? Years ago, I saw a wonderful quote on the inside of a Type O Negative album: "Functionless Art Is Simply Tolerated Vandalism...We Are The Vandals". As generative / process music, one could argue that this project exists as an intellectual pursuit and is thus functionless art. Similarly, a placebo button is a push-button or other control that appears to have functionality but has no physical effect when pressed. (Wikipedia) So the button, much like the art, is functionless. However, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, sonic art is determined by the ear of the listener. Decide for yourself.

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Open source philosophy is at the core of this project. From the software used in its creation to the license used for the audio itself. Here are some of the ones I use:

• image2sound - Python utility to convert images to audio
• Fedora Silverblue - Immutable desktop Linux distribution
• Audacity - audio editing
• Inkscape - vector image editing
• GIMP - image editing
• OBS Studio - video capture
• Cavalier - audio visualizer
• Ear Tag - audio file tag editor
• Peertube - decentralized video sharing
• Mastodon - decentralized social network
• Funkwhale - decentralized music sharing

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