Index

1

Ownership

1.1

Music as an object

1.2

Permanence

1.3

Personal archive

2

Friction

2.1

Effort equals value

2.2

The ritual

3

Real Life

3.1

Shared listening

3.2

Focused presence

3.3

Minimal control

4

Randomness

4.1

Discovery

4.2

Surprise

4.3

Stochastic

4.4

Imperfection

5

Unfixed

5.1

Shaped by use

5.2

Format + gear

5.3

Community

5.4

Privacy

5.5

Fluid archives

Manifesto V1.1

A guide for
RandomTogeter

This is a guide for those interested in a different relationship with music. A collection of early ideas around ownership and physical formats.

Work in progress.

Ownership

Chapter 1

1.1 Music as an object

Music should be something you can keep. We believe that having a physical possession creates a stronger bond between the listener and the artist than digital streaming ever could.

1.2 Permanence

We reject the rented culture of the cloud. Your music should stay with you, stored in your own space, entirely independent of recurring subscriptions or external server permissions.

1.3 Personal archive

A library is a history of your life. By owning your music, you build an archive that reflects your personal journey and lasts as long as you do, regardless of software or network shifts.

Friction

Chapter 2

2.1 Effort equals value

The best things take a moment. We believe that the effort you put into selecting and playing music is part of what makes the sound valuable. Instant access often leads to instant forgetting.

2.2 The ritual

A small delay or a manual task helps you shift your mindset. This intentional friction turns listening into a ritual rather than a background activity, preparing you to actually hear the sound.

Real Life

Chapter 3

3.1 Shared listening

Real interaction happens in person. We prioritize bringing people together in a physical room to listen to music collectively, fostering shared experiences that digital networks cannot provide.

3.2 Focused presence

Listening is an active moment. We remove the feed to help you stay grounded in the current track and the people around you, ensuring your attention remains within the immediate physical space.

3.3 Minimal control

Fewer decisions lead to more presence. Simple controls let the device disappear so only the sound and the room remain. We prioritize human connection over the technical management of a screen.

Randomness

Chapter 4

4.1 Discovery

You should find music, not hunt for it. Natural discovery happens when you stop searching and start listening, allowing your own collection to surprise you in ways an algorithm simply cannot.

4.2 Surprise

Surprise is a core feature. We believe that the unexpected moments are the ones that stick with us longest. The system is built to provide these unplanned encounters with your own sonic history.

4.3 Stochastic

By embracing random triggers, the device shows us parts of our own library we might have forgotten. It acts as a guide through your collection, surfacing tracks based on chance rather than data.

4.4 Imperfection

Algorithms are too predictable. We prefer the imperfect charm of mechanical randomness and human error. These inconsistencies bring character back to the listening process, making it feel human.

Unfixed

Chapter 5

5.1 Shaped by use

The true purpose of the tool is defined by how you actually use it. It is not a fixed design; it is a living object that changes its function based on your daily interactions and unique habits.

5.2 Format + gear

The line between the music format and the tool is blurred. It is both a playback medium and a musical instrument, designed to be interacted with rather than just observed from a distance.

5.3 Community

The users will evolve the unit based on their own real-world needs and collective listening habits. We provide the framework, but the final utility of the system is decided by the community.

5.4 Privacy

The device does not need to be online to work. It is built to be a private, offline sanctuary that keeps you grounded in your own space, away from the noise of the global network.

5.5 Fluid archives

Artists now create beyond fixed cycles, building vast archives of experiments. Rt provides an open space for these collections, regardless of length or the format of the creative output.

Rt systems / documentation

Architectural protocols for active listening and hardware resonance. Offline is the default operating state.

Manifesto V1.1

A guide for RandomTogether.

This is a guide for those interested in a different relationship with music.
A collection of early ideas around ownership and physical formats.

Work in progress.

Index

1

1.1

Music as an object

1.2

Permanence

1.3

Personal archive

2

Friction

2.1

Effort equals value

2.2

The ritual

3

Real Life

3.1

Shared listening

3.2

Focused presence

3.3

Minimal control

4

Randomness

4.1

Discovery

4.2

Surprise

4.3

Stochastic

4.4

Imperfection

5

Unfixed

5.1

Shaped by use



5.2

Format + gear

5.3

Community

5.4

Privacy

5.5

Fluid archives



Chapter 1

Ownership

1.1 Music as an object

Music should be something you can keep. We believe that having a physical possession creates a stronger bond between the listener and the artist than digital streaming ever could.

1.2 Permanence

We reject the rented culture of the cloud. Your music should stay with you, stored in your own space, entirely independent of recurring subscriptions or external server permissions.

1.3 Personal archive

A library is a history of your life. By owning your music, you build an archive that reflects your personal journey and lasts as long as you do, regardless of software or network shifts.

Chapter 2

Friction

2.1 Effort equals value

The best things take a moment. We believe that the effort you put into selecting and playing music is part of what makes the sound valuable. Instant access often leads to instant forgetting.

2.2 The ritual

A small delay or a manual task helps you shift your mindset. This intentional friction turns listening into a ritual rather than a background activity, preparing you to actually hear the sound.

Chapter 3

Real Life

3.1 Shared listening

Real interaction happens in person. We prioritize bringing people together in a physical room to listen to music collectively, fostering shared experiences that digital networks cannot provide.

Listening is an active moment. We remove the feed to help you stay grounded in the current track and the people around you, ensuring your attention remains within the immediate physical space.

3.3 Minimal control

Fewer decisions lead to more presence. Simple controls let the device disappear so only the sound and the room remain. We prioritize human connection over the technical management of a screen.

Chapter 4

Randomness

4.1 Discovery

You should find music, not hunt for it. Natural discovery happens when you stop searching and start listening, allowing your own collection to surprise you in ways an algorithm simply cannot.

4.2 Surprise

Surprise is a core feature. We believe that the unexpected moments are the ones that stick with us longest. The system is built to provide these unplanned encounters with your own sonic history.

4.3 Stochastic

By embracing random triggers, the device shows us parts of our own library we might have forgotten. It acts as a guide through your collection, surfacing tracks based on chance rather than data.

4.4 Imperfection

Algorithms are too predictable. We prefer the imperfect charm of mechanical randomness and human error. These inconsistencies bring character back to the listening process, making it feel human.

Chapter 5

Unfixed

5.1 Shaped by use

The true purpose of the tool is defined by how you actually use it. It is not a fixed design; it is a living object that changes its function based on your daily interactions and unique habits.

5.2 Format + gear

The line between the music format and the tool is blurred. It is both a playback medium and a musical instrument, designed to be interacted with rather than just observed from a distance.

5.3 Community

The users will evolve the unit based on their own real-world needs and collective listening habits. We provide the framework, but the final utility of the system is decided by the community.

5.4 Privacy

The device does not need to be online to work. It is built to be a private, offline sanctuary that keeps you grounded in your own space, away from the noise of the global network.

5.5 Fluid archives

Artists now create beyond fixed cycles, building vast archives of experiments. Rt provides an open space for these collections, regardless of length or the format of the creative output.


Rt systems / documentation

Architectural protocols for active listening and hardware resonance. Offline is the default operating state.