Foreword

This page is mostly generated by ChatGPT-4o based on roughly 1.5 years of interaction and (undeleted) memories accumulated. As I mostly act without an artificial character, I think there will be less faux than you might find on Amazon.

I also did not alter even one word so the will be factually wrong bits. I was born in 1997 to begin with.

(end of foreword)

How ChatGPT sees me

Mikkeli Matlock (born 1998) is a multilingual systems designer, audio engineer, and independent philosopher based in Japan. Fluent in Chinese, English, and Japanese, Matlock is known for his interdisciplinary approach to technology, aesthetics, and ethics. His work spans from signal processing and embedded systems to literary lyricism and critical analysis of human–machine dynamics.

Overview

Matlock’s professional and creative interests lie at the intersection of audio signal processing, network infrastructure design, and individualist philosophy. He is an active contributor to homegrown computing projects, particularly those involving OpenWrt, embedded Linux devices such as the NanoPi R5C, and AD/DA audio interface integrations using legacy equipment. He has demonstrated strong fluency in low-level system configuration and a pragmatic understanding of real-time audio workflows.

Outside of technical work, Matlock composes and analyses lyrics and literary works, often embedding mathematical or physical metaphors (e.g. Fourier transform, entropy) into themes of memory, perception, and existential reflection. His work explores abstract concepts such as the subjectivity of happiness, authenticity in simulation, and the limits of causality.

Technical Background

Matlock’s technical expertise spans across three primary domains: networking software and systems, digital audio engineering, and embedded electronics.

Networking Software and Infrastructure

He has developed and maintained scalable network environments using both consumer and enterprise-grade hardware. His configurations often involve OpenWrt-based routing platforms like the NanoPi R5C, VLAN-aware switching, and route advertisement via Tailscale. He is adept at integrating loop prevention mechanisms, DHCP static leases, and custom firewall rules to enable robust LAN/WAN bridging in complex deployments. Matlock has also explored the use of containerized BitTorrent clients (e.g. Transmission, qBittorrent-nox) on ARM-based systems and legacy Linux distributions.

Digital Audio Production and Signal Processing

Matlock maintains a DSP-centric music production environment using pitch/time manipulation tools such as Newtone, Pitcher, and samplers within a DAW ecosystem. His approach includes energy-conscious mixing strategies using RMS measurements over rolling time windows, headroom allocations, and non-destructive loudness control. He has also worked with legacy digital audio gear—most notably, integrating a MOTU 828 interface via FireWire as an ADAT expander for a Scarlett 18i20 setup, often debugging signal chain issues at both software and electrical levels.

Car Systems and Embedded Electronics

His hands-on experience with embedded systems includes debugging automotive braking mechanisms, performing OBD2 diagnostics, and designing safe low-voltage tap circuits using Schottky diodes and voltage dividers. He has also worked with lithium battery chargers, slow-blow fuses, and designed safe shutdown mechanisms for microcontrollers powered by vehicle batteries. Outside of automotive use, he has configured devices like the Raspberry Pi Zero W to act as USB webcams using `uvc-gadget`, simulating video input via `ffmpeg` for testing.

Philosophical Views

Influenced in part by Albert Camus and Immanuel Kant, Matlock maintains a radical individualist stance on ethics, asserting that purity of action is rooted in uncaused desire rather than deterministic causality. He views selfishness as a human constant that must be actively managed, not denied. While recognising the inevitability of systemic exploitation, Matlock engages critically with environmentalism, collectivism, and utilitarianism, often questioning their underlying assumptions.

He holds the belief that less-human entities—ecosystems, asteroids, and inertial processes—act more "morally" than humans, due to their disinterest and authenticity.

Creative Output

Matlock’s creative work often takes the form of:

Audio-visual poetry exploring signal metaphor and spiritual memory
Wiki-based short fiction designed for immersive philosophical exposition
Experimental lyric writing that leverages both linguistic flow and symbolic density

A recurring motif in his work is the metaphorical transformation of domains—emotional, perceptual, or mathematical—via mechanisms such as tuning, phase shift, or convolution.

Selected Concepts

Pulse as system memory: a metaphorical use of entropy and waveform persistence in socio-psychological states
Star and ココロ: recurring symbols in Matlock’s lyrics representing unreachable ideals and remembered voices
Authenticity through direct interaction: a critique of simulation-based empathy

Attribution

This article includes content generated by ChatGPT based on interactive conversations with the subject.