Sources & Controls
Add one or more texts, upload files (local only), and choose which parts of speech each source contributes.
Big Block Output
Sentence Lines
What is this Verbasizer?
This is a modern, browser-based take on the classic Verbasizer cut-up technique popularized by David Bowie. Paste or upload text, route parts of speech per source (e.g., verbs from A, nouns from B), and instantly generate evocative lyric lines or a single big-block stream.
How to use the Verbasizer
1) Add sources (paste text or upload .txt/.md/etc.). 2) Choose which parts of speech each source contributes. 3) Set the number of lines, temperature, and seed. 4) Click Generate. Use the Copy buttons to export lines or the big block.
Key Features
- POS routing: nouns/verbs/adjectives/phrases per source
- Multi-source mixing with adjustable weights
- Lines and big-block output modes
- 100% client-side: fast, private, no account required
- Copy & export to .txt via your browser
Privacy-first
Everything runs locally in your browser. Files are read with FileReader and never uploaded. You can disconnect from the internet and it will still work.
FAQ
Is it private? Yes. No servers, no tracking — your text stays on your device.
What browsers are supported? Any modern browser with JavaScript and Clipboard API support. If clipboard access is blocked, use the Download buttons.
Can I force stricter grammar? You can lower temperature or I can add a stricter template mode on request.
What does Seed do? Seed lets you get repeatable results. Enter any word or number; the same seed will always produce the same cut-up output. Leave blank for random.
What does Temperature do? Temperature controls randomness. Lower values (0.5) make output more predictable; higher values (2.0) make it more surprising and varied.
About the Verbasizer
The Verbasizer is a creative text-generation tool inspired by the cut-up methods of writer William S. Burroughs and later used by musician David Bowie. It takes source text, splits it into parts of speech, and remixes the fragments into new sentences or blocks of text. This modern implementation runs entirely in the browser, with no ads or servers required.
Origins
- William S. Burroughs (1950s–60s): pioneered the cut-up technique by physically cutting and rearranging printed text.
- David Bowie (1990s): popularized a digital version of the process with programmer Ty Roberts, creating the first computer-based Verbasizer in 1994.
Features
- Multiple input sources (paste, upload)
- Parts-of-speech routing (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
- Output as lines or as big block text
- Copy and download options
- Runs locally in the browser
Why it matters
The Verbasizer is not meant to replace writing but to unlock creativity. By breaking apart and recombining language, it reveals surprising connections and sparks new ideas. Writers, musicians, and artists can use it as a playful tool to explore fresh directions.