$12256 / $11500
I think some simple Instruments can be generated by using the following formula:
waveform(timescale(t)) * amplitude(t)
where:
waveform is one of sine, square, sawtooth or customfunction and
timescale and amplitude some simple function of t.
Here is a simple example of a percussive instrument (by the looks of it) I have just put together using a math tool:
waveform = sine
timescale(t) =(10-t)^3 // start with high frequency and decrease
amplitude(t) = (1+t^3 * 0.1)^-1 // fast decay
BTW does anybody know a simple lightweight lib to write .wav?
If you want really lightweight, there should be plenty of C/C++ files meant to be included into your project for writing WAVs. Out of the "proper" libraries, I'd give libsndfile, libao, and PortAudio a try - probably in that order.
PortAudio hasn't had a new stable release for a few years but allegedly comes with audio generation examples.
Depends on your language. In python, there is one really easy: http://docs.python.org/library/wave.html
Indeed libsndfile looks good, they even got a one-page example for generating and saving sound. Using scripting for this purpose is a good idea, too.
I think a parametric explosion would be great.