Making Music With Sonic Pi

8/18/2019 Making Music With Sonic Pi

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1 Content

2 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................4

3 Te First !on".....................................................................................................................................#

4 Te Gra$ical %ser Inter&ace.............................................................................................................. 6

# 'usic Teory ( )ery sim$le...............................................................................................................*

#.1 +itc............................................................................................................................................*

#.2 ,en"t o& te Tone...................................................................................................................... -

#.3 'II..........................................................................................................................................10

6 Te !ynta/ o& !onic +i...................................................................................................................... 11

6.1 odin" Ty$es.............................................................................................................................11

6.1.1 omments..........................................................................................................................11

6.1.2 ommands.........................................................................................................................13

6.1.3 +arameters.........................................................................................................................14

A sim$le 'elody it di&&erent !ounds...........................................................................................14

* Te ode Editor............................................................................................................................... 1*

*.1 ,ine umers............................................................................................................................1*

*.2 a)i"ation.................................................................................................................................1-

*.3 5i"t 'ouse Button 'B57.......................................................................................................1-

*.4 o$y and +aste..........................................................................................................................21

- Error Handlin".................................................................................................................................. 22

10 5andom ontrol............................................................................................................................. 23

10.1 5andom umers...................................................................................................................23

10.2 !election.................................................................................................................................2#

10.3 5andom !on"..........................................................................................................................26

11 +arameter8 !ynt and !am$le........................................................................................................2*

11.1 En)elo$es................................................................................................................................2-

12 +ro"ram !tructures........................................................................................................................30

12.1 Treads...................................................................................................................................30

12.2 ue 9!ync8 Gi)e Inserts...........................................................................................................33

12.3 ,oo$s.......................................................................................................................................34


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12.4 :it onstruct8 Eco and oter E&&ects..................................................................................3#

12.4.1 istortion.........................................................................................................................3

12.4.2 Eco.................................................................................................................................3*

12.4.3 5e)er..............................................................................................................................3*

13 ;ariales and Aritmetic


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2 Introduction

'usic is one o& te truly "reat acie)ements o& mankind. And tere is no man on eart o does not

like music. !o&tare and com$uters are a recent acie)ement and many $rocesses and industries are

no reliant. !onic +i &orms $ike eteen music and so&tare.

E)ery cild can learn te asics o& $ro"rammin" it !onic +i. It is a lot o& &un doin" tis ile

learnin" a lot aout music.

Tis ook descries te &undamentals o& !onic +i e/$lained in suc a ay tat a cild can understand

it. Te ook is suitale as an accom$animent to teacin" as ell as &or sel&=learnin".

Ha)e &un


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3 The First Song

+ro"rammers kno te >Hello :orld> as te )ery &irst instance? i& tey learn a $ro"rammin"

lan"ua"e. Hoe)er? e make music ere? and are tere&ore $layin" te &irst son" see Fi"ure 17.

Figure 1. The Graphical User Interface of Sonic Pi with a simple example

Te son" consists o& 3 se$arate tones. To $er&orm tem? you can sim$ly co$y te &ramed lines elo

in a indo o& !onic +i and $ress te @5un utton. %ses &or te est te normal co$y and $aste

&unctions? or e)en easier? ut someat more ork8 Ty$in" te code in one o& te !onic +i code

indos.

Te First !on"

$lay 8c4

slee$ 1

$lay 8e4

slee$ 1

$lay 8"4

Code 1. The ver first example


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And ten ear 3 tones in succession. E)en i& you can easily understand at a$$ens ere? I ill

e/$lain it rie&ly? line y line.

!r. Sonic Pi command "xplanation1=1 Te First !on" omments are marked it a @. E)ery te/t ri"t on te

line? !onic +i ill not $lay. Tus? te &irst line is a comment.

1=2 $lay 8c4 !onic +i $lays te note c4. o not &or"et te colon.

1=3 slee$ 1 For a second? no ne note is $layed.

1=4 $lay 8e4 !onic +i $lays te note e4.Ta#le 1$ Simple commands for the first song in Sonic Pi

!onic +i orks te commands &rom te to$ donards. Te comment on te &irst line is i"nored.

:at sound on te $iano keyoard is

c4C

Tis is e/$lained in detail in a$ter #. Here only tis8 is te &irst note o& te maDor scale. And te

4 re$resents te 4t octa)e. e4 is ten 2 ole tones i"er? and "4 a"ain 2 tones i"er. >!lee$ 1>

re$resents a one=second $ause.

E)ery time $usin" te @5un utton? you ill ear te 3 ee$s. Is it $ossile to can"e te $itcC

es? surely. I& I re$lace te 4 y a #? te ole little tune starts a &ull octa)e i"er. I& I re$lace te >c4>

y a >d4>? te &irst done ill e eard as a .

4 The Graphical User Interface

Te "ra$ical user inter&ace G%I7 makes te introduction into !onic +i es$ecially sim$le Fi"ure 27.

Its all to"eter? at is needed &or a uick start. Te music can e started? sto$$ed? sa)ed and

recorded y $usin" te a$$ro$riate uttons.


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!r. Sonic Pi GUI

element

"xplanation

'usic ontrol

2=1 5un By clickin" tis utton? te code in te current orks$ace ill e $layed=

e)en i& yet anoter son" in tis or any oter orks$ace runs.

2=2 !to$ All current son"s sto$ it a click.

2=3 !a)e Te code o& a son" can e stored outside o& !onic +i. Ty$ically? te code

&or eac orks$ace is automatically sa)ed en you close te $ro"ram

and is te ne/t o$enin" a"ain a)ailale. Tats y tere are asically 2

reasons to sa)e te code e/ternally8 I a)e all e/istin" ork s$aces

occu$ied and need an em$ty one. !o I delete te code and a)e s$ace

&or a ne son".

2=4 5ec !tarts recordin" and te associated "eneration o& a >a)> &ile. Anoter

click sto$s te recordin". 5ecorded is at can e eard eteen te

to clicks. In case no son" is $layed ack? te recordin" is em$ty.

:indo

# ode Editor :rite your son" in te code editor. In &act? it is e)en te only $lace to

enter sometin" in !onic +i.

6 ,o" ;ieer !os in cronolo"ical order? ic as een $layed.

Hel$ Here you can searc &or el$. Te temes are undled? and te sim$ler

tin"s come &irst.

* Hel$ ;ieer !os at is selected in te Hel$ selection.Ta#le %. The elements of the Sonic Pi interface.

Figure %$ GUI elements of Sonic Pi

Y,.

ode Editor ,o" ;ieer

Hel$ ;ieerHel$ !election

:orks$ace Tas

'usic ontrol +re&erences


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,earned &or $ro"rammin"

r. Topic

1 :ene)er $ossile use a $ro"rammin" en)ironment &or codin"? called IE

Inte"rated &e)elo$ment "n)ironment7. To ad)anta"es you already kno8 1.

di&&erent $arts o& your code are dis$layed in di&&erent colors. 2. And o&ten a tooltat el$s you in te com$letion o& commands is inte"rated. Additional ene&its o&

an IE ill e descried &urter elo.

2 omments are im$ortant. Eac son" eac $ro"ram7 sould e $ro)ided at te

e"innin" it a comment at least? containin" te name etc..Ta#le '$ (earned for programming ) part 1.

5 Music Theory !ery si"ple

'usic teory is $era$s already said too muc at tis $oint. :e are talkin" aout te $itc and

tone len"t.

5#1 $itch

Te $itc is s$eci&ied as te &irst $arameter o& te >$lay> metod. Te >$lay> metod it te

$arameter c4 $lays a c o& te &ourt octa)e? see Fi"ure 3.

Figure '. The *pla+)method with the parameter *c,+

Te $resentation o& te notes on te $iano keyoard is son in Fi"ure 4. Tere are natural tones

te ite keys7 and # al& te lack keys7. Te =maDor scale starts it a . Tis is &olloed y ? E?

F? G? A and B. :en startin" it te tone A? it is uite easy to memoriJe te notes8 A? B? ? ? E? F? G?so Dust te &irst letters o& te al$aet.


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:it te sounds o& lack uttons is a it more com$licated. ,et us look &or te tone &or e/am$le. It

as a lack key to te ri"t and to te le&t. Te lack key ri"t &rom te $lays a semitone i"er?

called =sar$ in te &i"ure7. Te lack key le&t &rom te $lays a semitone loer? called =&lat in te &i"ure7.

• Te increase o& a al& tone is called >sar$> and is are)iated as >s> in !onic +i.

• Te reduction to a al& tone is called >&lat> and is are)iated it >&> in !onic +i.

!r. -odification "nglish Sonic Pi Sonic Pi

example

1 +itc increase sar$ s cs4

2 +itc decrease &lat & eTa#le ,. -odification of the pitch

5#2 %ength of the Tone

Te tone len"t is controlled in !onic +i it a ole set o& $arameters o& te >$lay> metod. Ho

lon" te note is eld? is set )ia te >5elease> $arameter. For e/am$le? it >+lay8 c#? 5elease8 1.3>? a

note is ke$t &or 1.3 seconds. Fi"ure # sos an e/am$le. First? te release $arameter is set to te

)alue 1? tat is 1 second? and terea&ter to te )alue 2.

Figure . Set the length of a tone using a *release+ parameter

Figure ,. /e#oard with natural and half tone 0es

E F G A B E

E

F

G

G

A

A

B

E


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Ho is te relation o& tese $arameters to te usual tone len"ts like a uarter or a al& noteC Is

tere any $ro)ision? o to con)ert one systems into te oterC Te anser is un&ortunately no? and

te reason &or tis is tat !onic +i uses an asolute system? ile te con)entional music descri$tion

o$erates it a relati)e system. Tis means tat a uarter note as not alays te same len"t inseconds. 5ater? it is so tat te com$oser sets te s$eed o& te $iece or $art o& a $iece? and ten

"i)e te note len"ts. But e)en tis de&inition is not asolute and te $er&ormer or conductor as a

certain clearance.

But &or a s$eci&ic? sin"le $iece o& music? an assi"nment can e made )ery ell. c#>. In !onic +i tere is indeed

anoter ay. :e can rite instead a sin"le numer? as son in Fi"ure 6.

Figure . Pitch as conventional 2c3 and -I&I 24%3 description

In &act? >c#> corres$onds to te numer 2. ou ill ear e/actly te same sound.

ou can try it sim$ly y co$yin" ode 2 in te !onic +i ode Editor and ten run it.

'II

$lay 8c#

slee$ 0.#

$lay 2

Code %. -idi example.

Te same sound ould e eard tice. >8c#> and >2> tus mean te same tin". Hoe)er? tere is a

little di&&erence. Te normal tone reuires a colon a&ter te >$lay>? te 'II numer does not. As a

numer o& tem? incidentally? son in lue? ile te note turns red. Altou" it is not so im$ortant

&or te o$eration o& !onic +i8 'II stands &or >'usical Instrument i"ital Inter&ace> i.e. >di"ital

inter&ace &or musical instruments>.


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:en do I use no ic kind o& descri$tionC Actually? tat does not matter.


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Figure 4. The comment in the first line starts with the hash

omments are a ser)ice &or oters and &or te coder. 'y use&ul tou"ts aout a $iece can e a

comment. I& I ant any in&ormation to $ass on? ten I use te comments. At least I can rite te son"

title? my name and te date o& ori"in as a comment in te &irst lines. In $rinci$le? oe)er? comments

are $ossile at any $oint. In te &olloin" e/am$le tere are 3 di&&erent ty$es o& comments8

1. A comment lock it "eneral in&ormation in te &irst lines? ic is additionally limited y a startand &inis line? see Fi"ure .

2. A sin"le comment line? indicatin" te e"innin" o& te &irst )oice

3. A comment eind a $iece o& code descriin" e/actly tis.

GB E/am$le 1 Bac tc

Hans Gruendel

1*.0.201#

;oice 1

id/1 L 0

inMtread do

4.times do

useMsynt 8&m

$lay 84? release8 1? am$81 9 id/1 Tat is te &irst sound

slee$ 2

endCode '. Comments

that should #e done that should #e left

:ritin" comments is asically "ood :rite

comments in En"lis as $ossile

:ritin" comments in En"lis ene)er $ossile :rite comments in German

E/$lain music and code it comment


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'#1#2 Co""ands

ommands a$$ear in !onic +i in lack color. In Fi"ure *? to commands can e seen8 >$lay> and

>slee$>.

Figure ;. Two commands in Sonic Pi$


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'#1#3 $ara"eters

In !onic +i )alues can e "i)en to commands. Tis is understandale look at te command >slee$>. At

least? you must de&ine o lon" sould te slee$ e. !onic +i inter$rets te )alue in seconds. >!lee$

2> tere&ore means tat ere 2 seconds notin" sould a$$en. A &ractions o& seconds can e

s$eci&ied as $ause len"ts? &or e/am$le? 2.# means a $ause o& 2 N seconds. Te numers as

$arameters are son in lue.

In addition to te numers as $arameters? tere are also strin"s as $arameters $ossile. As an

e/am$le? ere are te $itc o& te >$lay> command. >+lay8 c4> $lays te sound c te 4t octa)e.

Tese strin"s tat are not numers? are dis$layed in red. Fi"ure 10 sos te use o& commands.

Figure 1>. Parameters are given to the methods


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!on" 2

Hans Gruendel 1*.0*.201#

+art 1

$lay 8"#? release8 1

slee$ 1

$lay 8a#? release8 1

slee$ 1

$lay 8"#? release8 0.#slee$ 0.#

$lay 8? release8 0.2#

slee$ 0.2#

$lay 8e#? release8 0.#

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8? release8 0.#

slee$ 0.#

+art 2


slee$ 1$lay 8a#? release8 1

slee$ 1

$lay 8"#? release8 0.#

slee$ 0.#


slee$ 0.2#


slee$ 0.#

$lay 8? release8 0.#

slee$ 0.#

+art 3


slee$ 1


slee$ 1


slee$ 1

$lay 8#? release8 0.#

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8c6? release8 0.#

slee$ 0.#


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$lay 8#? release8 1

slee$ 1


slee$ 1


slee$ 2

Code ,. Song %

But at some $oint e)en te most eauti&ul ee$ as lost its a$$eal. Time to can"e te sound. In

!onic +i tat orks it te >useMsynt> command. synts>? see Fi"ure 12.

Figure 1%. 7ll snths from Sonic Pi

Incidentally? te set synt is )alid until te ne/t useMsynt command is e/ecuted. I& no more synt

commands are in tis son"? ten tis synt is used until te end o& te son".

And at a$$ens en you ould not use any >useMsynt> commandC Ouite sim$ly. Ten te

$reset synt >ee$> ill e used.

I& you tried some synts ten you ill certainly a)e noticed tat te &irst 6 notes are $layed tice.

Ho te code looks no? te lines 4=1# and 1*=2- are identical. Tis doule o& course te e&&ort en


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enterin" te code. It ould e nice i& you could say !onic +i tat some lines are to e $layed 2 or

more times. And indeed tere is suc a command8 >/. times do ... end >. In Fi"ure 13? te usa"e can

e seen? ic makes it $ossile to out$ut te sound "# and te one=second $ause tice.

Figure 1'. The repeat loop in Sonic Pi

Te loo$ command orks like tis8

1. Aead te $art to loo$ I rite >n.times do>? it >n> indicatin" te numer o& re$etitions.

2. Beind te $art to loo$ I rite >end>.

3. Te intermediate lines I indent. For tis I use 2 s$aces or eually te >Ta> key.

I can summariJe tere&ore +art 1 and +art 2? see ode #. Te 2 $oints at te e"innin" o& eac line

itin te re$eat loo$ indicates te indentation.

!on" 2

Hans Gruendel 1*.0*.201#

useMsynt 8ee$

+art 1P2

2.times do


slee$ 1


slee$ 1


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$lay 8"#? release8 0.#

slee$ 0.#


slee$ 0.2#


slee$ 0.# $lay 8? release8 0.#

slee$ 0.#

end

Code . Part 1 and % of Song % com#ined in a loop


o Teme

1 ode tat re$eats itsel& is to a)oid. Tis $rinci$le is later addressed se)eral times?

ecause it is really im$ortant. E)ery $ro"rammin" lan"ua"e as commands tat

allo Dust tat.

2 Indentin" is im$ortant to im$ro)e readaility. And !onic +i su$$orts us also. !im$ly

ty$e te A,T and ' key to"eter? and already e)erytin" is automatically indented

in tis indo. Tere are e)en $ro"rammin" lan"ua"es tat are committed to te

ri"t indentation? oterise te $ro"ram is not runnin".Ta#le 4$ (earned for programming ) %

that should #e done that should #e leftE)ery no and ten? you sould indent te code

automatically. Te A,T 9 ' sould e used

&reuently. ou can easily detect eter te

son" is structured $ro$erly.

It is a aste o& time to indent te code y and.

, The Code -ditor

,#1 %ine .u"/ers

!onic +i indicates te line numers. Tats "ood &or orientation in codin". But e)en more im$ortant

are te line numers i& an error messa"e a$$ears. Because eac messa"e also includes te line

numer? so you kno in ic line te error occurs? see a$ter -.


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,#2 .a!igation

As in any te/t editor? tere is a cursor tat tells you ere you can make can"es in te code.

In te code indo? you can na)i"ate it te arro keys o& your keyoard. ,ar"er Dum$s can

$er&ormed it te screen u$ and As in any te/t editor? tere is a cursor o& tells you ere you can

Dust make can"es in te code

In te code indo? you can na)i"ate it te arro keys o& your keyoard. ,ar"er Dum$s you can

$er&orm it te $a"e u$ and $a"e don keys? or usin" te mouse and scroll ars see Fi"ure 147.

Figure 1,. Code "ditor with scroll #ars

,#3 0ight Mouse utton M0

:it te ri"t mouse utton one can o&ten so commands tat &it te current situation. I& you click

it te ri"t mouse utton in te code editor? ten a menu it te entries and sortcuts ill

a$$ear see Fi"ure 1#7.


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Figure 1. "xtra -9@ commands

!r. Command /e#oard

Shortcuts

-eaning 7pplication

1 %ndo Alt 9Q %ndo te last

command

Ima"ine tat you)e

can"ed sometin" in

te code and ten

realiJe tat it as not a

"ood idea. ou could

no make te can"e

manually undone. 'uc

easier and sa&er to use

te >%ndo> command.

ou can do te

command multi$le times

consecuti)ely.

2 5edo Alt 9@!i&t9 Q 'akin" te undo

command yet

ou)e Dust undo a ole

series o& commands y

$ressin" Alt 9 Q? ten

realiJe? oe)er? tat it

as one too many.

Instead o& reconstructin"

te $ast no tedious?

you can restore it it

redo.

3 ut Alt 9 R ut out te marked

area

Tese 3 commands

elon" to"eter and

indeed $airs8 ut and

$aste or co$y and $aste.

For e/am$le? i& you a)e

a "ood drum track in a

4 o$y Alt 9 o$y te marked

area

# +aste Alt 9; Insert te cut or

co$ied ran"e at te


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$oint ere te

cursor is

son" and ant to use it

in anoter? ten you

co$ied &rom one editor

ta and inserted in

anoter.

6 elete elete te markedarea

ou can also sim$ly $resste >el> key on te

keyoard.

!elect All Alt 9 A !elect all on tis

ta

I& you e)er is to

cancel all or co$y all?

ten you can mark

e)erytin" e&oreandTa#le ;. -@9 commands

Te so called? conte/t menu o$ens en you $us te ri"t mouse utton. Te commands in tis

menu are customiJed to te situation. :ic is "ood? ecause you a)e a "ood o)er)ie o&

commands a)ailale and usale in tis moment.


Be&ore lon" searcin" in te main menu? Dust

look in te conte/t menu. Tere you ill &ind te

currently most im$ortant commands.

Try to memoriJe te commands tat are idden

eind te 'B5.

,#4 Copy and $aste

!ometin" to co$y and $aste to anoter location orks in many $ro"rams. Tis can e an ima"e or a

te/t or a tale. And it also orks it te code in te editor. Sust markin" te accordin" code it te

keyoard? and ten cut K co$y and $aste tem at oter locations.

As e/$lained ao)e? !onic +i su$$orts te ole tin" it keyoard sortcuts. +era$s you)e

noticed tat te >Alt> key is used in !onic +i. And maye youre used to it &rom many oter $ro"rams

to use te >trl> key. Te trl key orks in !onic +i actually.

And it "ets e)en etter. ou can also insert te code in oter $ro"rams? &or e/am$le? a di&&erent editor

or in an email. Because code are alays ordinary caracters? so letters and numers. Tis orks it

te code o& oter $ro"rammin" lan"ua"es? too. Tat is use&ul &or many acti)ities8

1. ou)e ritten sometin" in te code editor and ant it to mo)e to anoter location? ecause you

ant to can"e te order o& your code.

2. ou ant to sa)e your code outside o& !onic +i. Tus you can co$y it into anoter $ro"ram.

3. ou ant to send to someone your code as email. Tus you can Dust co$y it in an o$en e=mail.


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-rror andling

+ro"rammin" lan"ua"es are )ery accurate. Te use and te s$ellin" o& all instructions must e strictly

adered to. Tis is also in !onic +i.

!onic +i cecked only durin" $layack o& te son" i& it contains errors. I& tis is te case? ten sto$s

!onic +i at te &irst occurrin" error and dis$lays an error messa"e. Te error messa"e includes an

indication o& te numer o& ork s$ace and te line. Ten tere is a sort concise descri$tion o& te

&ault. And e)en etter8 !onic $i identi&ies te ro at te line e"innin" it a small arro. Fi"ure 16

sos an e/am$le.

Te metod

scale

e/$ected in te &olloin" rackets 2 ar"uments? namely &irst te key and ten te ty$e o& scale. Te

$ossile ty$es are $rede&ined in !onic +i. >de> is not a ty$e? and accordin"ly te error messa"e

occurs8

5untime Error8 orks$ace 0? line 10U %nknon scale name8 de

:at error messa"e is "i)en? i& only one ar"ument is $assedC Tats easy8

@untime "rror$ Awor0space >B line 1> Drong num#er of arguments 21 for %3

Figure 1. Incorrect code in line 1>.


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In &act? tats not a real coincidence. Furtermore? !onic +i $lay e)ery time te same note? i& e $ress

>5un>. Tis ea)ior is uite ty$ical &or $ro"rammin" lan"ua"es. Te numers created de$ends on a

start )alue. To can"e te )alue? e a)e to set tis start )alue y usin" te

useErandomEseed n

metod? erein n is an aritrary natural numer.

5andom control 2

Hans Gruendel

1*.0*.201#

useMrandomMseed 20$lay rrand#0? 07

Code 4. -ethod rrand for generating random num#ers with seed in advance.

E)ery time I no can"e te )alue o& n? ten te tone can"es. Incidentally? te tone remains

eteen #0 and 0? ecause tese 2 numers are "i)en en te metod en callin". Tey are te

loer and u$$er limit. Tale - lists te random metods on !onic +i.

!r. -ethod -eaning "xample

1 use_random_seed n InitialiJes te random

numer "enerator. From

initialiJation de$ends te

)alue tat is "enerated y

te &olloin" random

metods.

use_random_seed 5

2 rrandr1? r27 +roduces randomly a )alue

eteen 51 and 52?

e/clusi)e tose to limits.

In te e/am$le to te ri"t?

0.2 or 0.# is ne)er returned

slee$ rrand0.2? 0.#7

3 rand r2 reates a random numer

eteen 0 and 52? or i& no

$arameter is used only

eteen 0 and 1

slee$ rand

4 rrandMin1? n27 :orks like rrand? oe)er?

te random numer is

alays an inte"er

$lay rrandMi40? #07

# randMin1? n27 :orks like rand? oe)er?

te random numer is

alays an inte"er

$lay randMi#07

Ta#le =. -ethods for generating random num#ers


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16#2 Selection

Te com$letely &ree "eneration o& random numers is one tin". !li"tly restricti)e o$erates te

@coose metod. @coose randomly cooses &rom a list o& a )alue. Te code &or tis is son in

ode *

Qu&allssteuerun" 2

Hans Gruendel

1*.0*.201#

$lay coose60? 61? 62U7

Code ;. -ethod choose for the random selection

%sin" te already knon @times metod te ea)ior o& @coose can e etter understood. In te

lo" )ieer out$ut is son. @coose &irst selects te )alue 60? ten &ollo 61? 60? 61? 61? 62? 60? 62?

60? 60.

Figure 14. The choose method selects from the values >B 1B and 1


26/61

16#3 0ando" Song

>ormal> son"s include not really random elements and tere&ore o&ten sound uite static = suc as

canned. :e kno small random de)iations &rom li)e $er&ormances o& ands or indi)idual musicians.

E)eryone usin" !onic +i is aare o& te static caracter o& tis son"s.

5andom elements are introduced to a)oid tis.


27/61

end

end

de&ine 8armonics do Vnum? tonics? coL*0? resL0.1? am$L1V useMsynt 8&m

num.times do

$lay cordtonics.coose? 8m117.coose? res8 res? cuto&&8 rrandco = 40? co 9 207? am$8 0.# W am$?

attack8 0? release8 rrand0.#? 1.#7? $an8 rrand=0.? 0.7

slee$ 0.2#? 0.#? 0.#? 0.#? 1? 1U.coose

end

end

inMtreadname8 8loo$er17 do loo$ do

armonics6? 8&2? 8&3? 8&1? 8e2? 8e4? 8e3U7

end

end

inMtreadname8 8loo$er7 do

loo$ do

myMloo$ end

end


loo$ do

coir

end

end

de&ine 8sound1 do VnumV

useMsynt 8&m $lay num

useMsynt 8$rettyMell

$lay num

useMsynt 8sine

$lay num

useMsynt 8tri

$lay num

end


28/61


loo$ do

sound18c27

slee$ 1

sound18"27 slee$ 1

sound18&27

slee$ 1

sound18c27

slee$ 1

end

end

Code =. @andom song

I& you ant to &ind out ere random metods are used in tis son"? ten searc &or te strin"

>rand>.

11 $ara"eter7 Synth and Sa"ple

+arameters s$eci&y o a metod ould do it task. Tat sometin" needs to e done ill e

controlled y te metod call itsel&? ere its all aout te o. Te code 10 is a sim$le e/am$le o&

tis. ,ets look at te @$lay metod.

+arameter

Hans Gruendel

1*.0*.201#

useMsynt8darkMamience

$lay8"1? am$86? release82

Code 1>. Parameter of the pla method

In te code? a colon a&ter te ord >$lay> is &olloed immediately &rom te tone? ere "1. Tis is

&olloed y &urter $arameters? ic are se$arated y a comma. Te $arameter @am$ is set to te

)alue o& 6? te $arameter @release is set to te )alue o& 2.

Te metod @$lay e/$ect &irst o& all te )alue o& te $itc. Ten te &olloin" $arameters are not

tied to a $articular order. !onic +i detects te $arameters y te identi&ier ic is $ut in &ront o& te

colon.


29/61

A ty$o in te $arameter identi&ierse.". $lay8 "3? am$8 6? relaese8 27 creates no error messa"e in !onic

+i. 5ater? tis $arameter is i"nored. ot i"nored oe)er is te asence o& a comma or colon. Tere

is indeed an error messa"e "i)en. 'ore aout te error messa"es &rom !onic +i in a$ter -.

:ic $arameters are no a)ailale &or eac metod. Te $arameters commonly used can e

learned y eart )ery uickly. Basically? tere is a documentation o& all $arameters. For @$lay? te

$arameter descri$tions can e &ound in te el$ in @synts &or eac a)ailale syntesiJers? see .

Figure 1;. The parameter of the pla method and there meaning

11#1 -n!elopes

Te time seuence o& te )olume o& a sound is descried y its en)elo$e. Tis is not only &or !onic +i

te case? ut also &or oter electronic tone "enerators. Also e)ery natural instrument as at least7

one en)elo$e. An instrument or a sound can e lon" or sort? it can immediately e noisy or sloly

aloud? it can sin" or sudden end. And in !onic +i? some o& te $arameters o& te @$lay are used to

$roduce an en)elo$e. sos a "ra$ical re$resentation o& tis.


30/61

Figure 1=. "nvelope parameters of the pla method

Te sound is di)ided into 4 sections. @attack s$eci&ies o lon" te sound "ets louder and reaces

te @Attack ,e)el. Ten te sound )olume decreases as lon" as te @decay $arameter s$eci&ies.

Tis is &olloed y @sustain and @release. All time $arameters are s$eci&ied in seconds. Te sum o&

all time $arameter s$eci&ies te len"t o& te sound.


+arameters are so im$ortant. In !onic +i

$arameters are de&ined y te name.

12 $rogra" Structures

12#1 Threads

Treads are a)ailale in many oter lan"ua"es. Tey are used to $rocess multi$le tasks in $arallel. In

!onic +i tey ser)e to encode se)eral instruments se$arately. An e/am$le &or tis is son in ode

11. ou Dust a)e to tell !onic +i ere te $arallel $ortion e"ins inMtread do7 and ere it ends

end7. E)erytin" in eteen is $aralleled. Bot commands are son in old in te e/am$le.

treads

Hans Gruendel

20.0*.201#

inEthread do


31/61

slee$ 1

1#.times do

sam$le 8dMJome

slee$ 2

end

end

inEthread do

slee$ 16

4.times do

useMsynt 8&m

$lay 8a3? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8a4? attack8 0.01?release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8c#? attack8 0.01?release8 1

slee$ 0.# $lay 8e#? attack8 0.01?release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8"3? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#


slee$ 0.#

$lay 84? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8d#? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8e3? attack8 0.01? release8 1 slee$ 0.#


slee$ 0.#

$lay 8a4? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8e#? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8&3? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8&4? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.# $lay 8a4? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#

$lay 8c#? attack8 0.01? release8 1

slee$ 0.#

end

end

inEthread do

#.times do Vid/3V

itM&/ 8re)er do


32/61

useMsynt 8&m

$lay 8a3? attack8 0.01? release8 2? am$81= 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8a4? attack8 0.01?release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8c#? attack8 0.01?release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8e#? attack8 0.01?release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

slee$ 2 $lay 8"3? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8"4? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 84? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8d#? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

slee$ 2

$lay 8e3? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8"4? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8a4? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8e#? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

slee$ 1.2# $lay 8&3? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8&4? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8a4? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

$lay 8c#? release8 2? am$81 = 0.2Wid/3

slee$ 2.#

end

end

end

inEthread do slee$ -

#.times do

sam$le 8drumMassMard? rate80.#? am$8 1.3

slee$ 2


slee$ 2


slee$ 1.2#


slee$ 2.#

endend

Code 11.inEthreads command code


33/61

12#2 Cue 8Sync7 Gi!e Inserts

In a $iece o& music? te indi)idual $arts are alays related to eac oter. And sometimes tey are

$layed e)en simultaneously. Tis is &or e/am$le in te )arious instruments o& te son" o& te case.

And sometimes tey are attaced to eac oter. A ty$ical e/am$le is te can"e &rom )erse and

corus.

:it te commands >cue> and >sync> you can no enter in !onic +i inserts. >ue> "i)es te insert

and >sync> ill retrie)e it.

%sin" a $arameter &or te commands >cue> and >sync> let !onic +i knos at elon"s to"eter

res$ecti)ely. Te only $arameter is tere&ore te name o& te insert and may e aritrary. Te

&olloin" e/am$le uses te name >tickMdrum>.

Cue$ tic0Edrum

snc tic0Edrum

>ue> means in te music tat te insert is "i)en? &or e/am$le? y a conductor. >!ync> is te

are)iation &or >syncroniJe> and acce$ts te insert. Fi"ure 20 sos an e/am$le. ue "i)es te

insert to >tickMdrum>.

ode 12 uses tis e/am$le a"ain. In tat? you can reco"niJe o ue and !ync orks. At te

e"innin"? $lease $ut te comment si"n e&ore it8

cue8 tickMdrum

!8 tickMdrum

Figure %>. Cue and Snc


34/61

:ell? drumMea)yMkick ould e $layed tice? at 0.6 seconds and 1.6 seconds. otin" else ould

e e/$ected usin" aitin" $eriods o& 0.6 seconds slee$ 0.67 and o& 1 second slee$ 17. :itout

uncomment drumMea)yMkick is $layed at 3 seconds and 6 seconds e/actly en te ue call is

e/ecuted.

o? at a$$ens en te ue or te !ync call missin"C

a7 ue missin"8 It ill not e e/ecuted? at stands eind te associated !ync call.

7 !ync is missin"8 ue is i"nored and te code in te 2nd tread runs immediately.

Incidentally? te !ync command must e run alays &irst. :ould tis e e/ecuted a&ter te ue call?

ten te ue ill e i"nored.

ue and !ync 2

Hans Gruendel

20.0-.201#

inMtread do

2.times do

sam$le 8"uitMeMslide

slee$ 3

cue 8tickMdrum end

end

inMtread do

slee$ 0.6

sync 8tickMdrum

2. times do

sam$le 8drumMea)yMkick

slee$ 1

end

endCode 1%. Cue and Snc example

12#3 %oops

'usic is re$etition. Tere are almost no $ieces o& music in ic note seuences are not re$eated.

om$letely o)iously a$$ens tis in te $ercussion tracks o& $o$ music. Tey are e)en so dominant

tat 30 or more years a"o? te &irst drum macines a)e een used in ic te seuence o& sounds

as really uite ri"id.


35/61

ode 13 is a loo$ sam$le. Te command tat starts te loo$ is @/.times do? ere / is te numer o&

iterations. Also 0 is $ossile? ten te loo$ is not e/ecuted. ecimals are also ecce$ted in &or / in

!onic +i. Te )alue is sim$ly rounded. !o 4.# means 4 iterations.

All commands u$ to te ne/t @end are loo$ed.

,oo$s

Hans Gruendel

20.0*.201#

inMtread do

slee$ 1 1#.times do

sam$le 8dMJome

slee$ 2

end

end

Code 1'. (oops

12#4 9ith Construct7 -cho and other -ffects

!onic +i o&&ers it synts and sam$les already a lar"e numer o& sounds. Anyay? sometimes tey

are not at you e/$ect. E&&ects can no modi&y tese sounds. Ty$ical e&&ects tat occur outside o&

music in e)eryday li&e? are re)er and delay. 5e)er is $roduced in a lar"e room en te sound is

tron )ery uickly ack &rom te alls. Te eco is $roduced y te same mecanism? oe)er? te

sur&aces at ic te sound is re&lected is muc &arter aay? suc as rock alls in te mountains.

!onic +i makes e&&ects usale y te command @itM&/. As can e seen in ode 14? @itM&/ is

used y a lock. It starts it @itM&/8 e&&ect name do and ends it @end.

:it K Eco

Hans Gruendel

20.0*.201#

sam$le 8amiM$iano

slee$ 2


36/61

inMtread do

withEfx $echo do

sam$le 8amiM$iano

slee$ 6

endend

Code 1,. DithEfx used for the echo effect

:at e&&ects are tereC In !onic +i te e&&ects are e/$lained in te >F/> ta o& el$? as son in Fi"ure

21. Eac e&&ect can e modi&ied usin" $arameters.

Figure %1. "ffects in Sonic Pi

A com$lete descri$tion o& te e&&ect and also any oter e&&ect7 can e &ound in te el$? as son in

Fi"ure 22. Te descri$tion is structured like te &olloin"8

1. All $arameters o& te e&&ect are mentioned

2. A small e/am$le it no $arameters is "i)en

3. A rie& descri$tion o& te e&&ect8 at it does

4. Te numer? in ic te e&&ect as introduced

#. A detailed descri$tion o& all $arameters it te ran"e in ic te $arameters can e )aried and

te de&ault )alue. Tis is te )alue tat uses te e&&ect? i& te $arameter is not s$eci&ied y us en


37/61

e call it.

3 im$ortant e&&ects ill e e/$lained ere it teir $arameters.

12#4#1 &istortion

>istortion> is a ty$ical "uitar e&&ects. Te sound is someo unclean and dirty at makes it more

interestin" tan a clean sound. In te ode Editor tat ould look like tis8

itM&/8 istortion do

+lay8 "4

end

o aout te $ossile $arameters o& distortion8

amp

:e kno tis $arameter already &rom te command >$lay>. Here? as tere is >am$> an are)iation

&or >am$li&ier> and re&erred to te "ain o& te sound. ;alues eteen 0 and 1 are $ossile. As you can

ima"ine? means am$ L 0 tat e ill ear no distortion ile am$ L 1 is te normal )olume tat is

already $reset.

mix

!ets te ratio o& ori"inal sound and te distorted sound. 0 means tat only te ori"inal sound is

eard? 1? only te distorted sound is eard. Te de&ault )alue is 0.#.

Figure %%. :elp for the distortion effect


38/61

preEamp

Be&ore my sound "oes into te am$li&iers no &i"urati)ely s$eakin"7 I can adDust te )olume. 0

means silent? 1 is loud. e&ault )alue is 1.

distort

Tat is te stren"t or te le)el o& distortion. 0 ere means little? 1 means a lot. Te de&ault )alue is0.#.

12#4#2 -cho

Te eco e&&ect in !onic +i does e/actly at one ould e/$ect8 a sound is re$eated once or se)eral

times7 uieter in a certain time inter)al.

useMsynt8 F'

itM&/ eco? delay8 0.2#? decay8 *7 do+lay ##

end

o to te $ossile $arameters o& eco8

amp

:e kno tis $arameter already &rom te e&&ect >istortion> Here a"ain >am$> is te are)iation &or

>am$li&ier> and re&erred to te "ain o& sound. ;alues eteen 0 and 1 are $ossile.

mix

!ee te descri$tion o& te e&&ect >istortion>.

preEamp


phase

!$eci&ies te time inter)al in seconds eteen te tones o& indi)idual eco. Te de&ault )alue is 0.2#.

deca

Indicates te numer o& re$etitions.

maxEphase

!$eci&ies te ma/imum $ossile $eriod o& ecoes in seconds. Te de&ault )alue is. 2.

12#4#3 0e!er/

5e)er is an e&&ect in ic te tone sounds as i& it is $layed in a lar"e room or a den. In $o$ music?

re)er is te standard e&&ect on te )ocals and corres$ondin"ly ides$read.


39/61

itM&/8 5e)er do

+lay8 c4

end

amp


mix

!ee te descri$tion o& te e&&ect >istortion>. e&ault is 0.4.

preEamp

!ee te descri$tion o& te e&&ect >istortion>. e&ault 1.

room

Te stren"t o& te room8 0 means no s$ace and tere&ore no re)er? 1 means a stron" re)er. Te

de&ault )alue is 0.6.

damp

Hi" &reuencies i.e. te i" $ro$ortion in te sound7 are muted. 0 denotin" no dam$in"? and 1

ma/imum attenuation. Te de&ault )alue is 0.#.

All e&&ects ork in !onic +i in te same manner. Alays te sounds to e $layed it an e&&ect? starts

it

itM&/

and ends it

end

It is not necessarily ort to memoriJe all te $arameters o& all e&&ects. on)eniently? te )alues tat

can take $arameters? are set uite lo"ical. 0 means notin" or minimum? 1 is te ma/imum? )alues

eteen 0 and 1 a)e an increase in e&&ect.


:en a son" consists o& $arallel $arts? i.e. &or

e/am$le o& se)eral )oices? ten you sould

structure tese in treads.

istriute successi)e $arts tat elon" to"eter

uite clear to se)eral treads.

5e$eatin" structures e/ist in almost e)ery $iece

o& music. A)oid tese re$etitions in te code.

Alays use loo$s.


40/61

13 :aria/les and *rith"etic ;perations

!o &ar e a)e een ale to make a lot in +i !onic ut still ad no contact it )ariales. In oter

$ro"rammin" lan"ua"es tis is di&&erent. !ince )ariales are e/tremely im$ortant. Tis ca$ter

e/$lains o )ariales are used.

13#1 :aria/les

Te &olloin" e/am$le sould so at a )ariale is and o it orks.

Ima"ine you ant to $roduce a series o& tones? and &rom note to note te tone sould e i"er. tone>. !econdly? a )alue o& 60 is

assi"ned to it. To lines elo te )ariale 'II $itc is 607 is $layed8

$lay sound

And ten te )ariale is incremented y te )alue 1.

tone L tone 9 1

;ariales

Hans Gruendel

2#.0*.201#

inMtread do

useMsynt 8&m

$lay 8"4

slee$ 2

tone H >

10.times do

$lay tone

slee$ 1


41/61

tone H tone 1

end

end

Code 1. Jaria#les

Because te code contains a loo$ 10 tones are $layed.Fi"ure 23 sos te code editor and te lo"indo. :en runnin" te code te )alue o& te )ariale increases. :it eac $layin" te tone $itc

increases y 1.

Figure %'. Jaria#les

A ord aout te assi"nment. From te 'at classes your knos te usa"e o& te eual si"n? and

also )ariales and euations. Te eual si"n means in all o& matematics? tat te le&t and ri"t o&

te eual si"n is te same )alue or te same term. Tis is di&&erent in so&tare $ro"rammin".

tone L tone 9 1 is not ri"t &or any )alue tat is used in tone? de&initely. I&? &or e/am$le tone as a

)alue o& 60? ten tere ould e 60 L 61 and tat ould e ron". :e must not &or"et tat te eual

si"n in so&tare $ro"rammin" stands &or an assi"nment. Here? te term ri"t o& te eual si"n is

e)aluated tone 9 17 and assi"ned to te )ariale on te le&t o& te eual si"n.

It sould e noted tat eac )ariale is assi"ned to a numer at te time o& code e/ecution. I& tis is

not te case? ten it comes to a termination o& te $ro"ram see Fi"ure 247 it te out$ut o& te

&olloin" error messa"e8

@unde&ined local )ariale or metod Xkneu


42/61

Te error messa"e a$$ears in En"lis? ic is also te case in many oter $ro"rammin" lan"ua"es.

But it is relati)ely easy to understand at in oter lan"ua"es ould not alays e te case8 Te local

)ariale or metod >kneu> is not de&ined. !o it is not knon and it as not a numerical )alue

assi"ned.

'ore aout error messa"es in a$ter -.

Figure %,. Un0nown varia#le and error message while program execution

Tere is a second? etter ay to incor$orate a counter in a loo$8 usin" te loo$ command @/ times

do it te counter as a $arameter. For tis it must e enclosed in )ertical ars8 V loo$counter V. loo$counter> as te )alue Jero in te &irst "o. In eac &urter iterations te )alue is increased

y 1. Te $itc ill can"e accordin"ly.

Te use o& a )ariale in loo$s is only one reason to ork it )ariales. Tere are to im$ortant

more8

1. esi"nation o& numers

umers in te ode are &airly normal. In !onic +i numers are used &or many $arameters. At &irst

"lance? tese numers are also $lausile. ,ater? or &or oter $eo$le? tey are not so trans$arent. Tat

is y one o& te asic $rinci$les? not to use numers ma"ic numers7 as a $arameter? ut assi"n

sel&=e/$lanatory )ariales and ten use tese. It is $ossile to use te )ariale in many $laces. I& te


43/61

)alue sould e can"ed? it needs to e done Dust at only one location in te code? namely? ere te

allocation takes $lace.

2. !tora"e o& return )alues

'etods can "i)e ack a return )alue a&ter &inisin". Tat could e a result o& a calculation or a )aluedescriin" te success state o& te metod run. Tese return )alues can e assi"ned to )ariales and

later e used.

Figure %. Jaria#le as loop parameter

13#2 Controls

I& you a)e $layed a sound once and ill re$eat tis can"ed sli"tly? ten ontrols o&&er te rele)ant

&unctionality. For tis te $lay command is assi"ned to a )ariale and tis )ariale can later e

modi&ied it te control=command and te a$$ro$riate $arameters. It ould look like tis8

s L $lay 0? release8 6

slee$ 1

control s? note8 6#

Here? te $itc is can"ed &rom 0 to 6#. A sim$le e/am$le to ontrols are son in Fi"ure 26.

ontrols to can"e $arameters.


44/61

Te can"e a$$ened suddenly ere. But !onic +i also allos a slidin" can"e. Tis can e done y

usin" te slide $arameter. I& you ant to can"e te $itc &or e/am$le? tis mi"t e done as &ollos8

myControl = play 60, release: 5, note_slide: 1

sleep 0.5

control myControl, note: 55

13#3 *rith"etic ;perations

From te mat classes e already kno some o$erations? only e call tem te 4 asic aritmetic

o$erations. !o tese are8

$lus8 9

minus8 =

times8 W

di)ided8 K

All o& tese aritmetic o$erators can e used eteen )ariales or numers. Fi"ure 2 sos an

e/am$le o& te addition o& to numers. In te lo" )ieer it can e seen tat a total o& 3 seconds

aitin" time a$$ens until te second note is $layed.

Figure %. Using controls to modif parameters


45/61

Tis e/am$le clearly sos te codin" o& te addition o& to numers. Hoe)er? one can onder

at ad)anta"e it o&&ers. It ould e easier to rite

!lee$ 3

slee$ 3

orrect it only makes sense i& you use )ariales? as can e seen in ode 16. Te >rin"McMd> &unction is

called tice. i> and ten it >i 9 1>. >i> is incremented it eac $ass o& te

loo$.

16.times do ViV

rin"McMd i

slee$ 0.2#

rin"McMd i92

slee$ 0.2#

end

Te resultin" numer is di&&erent &or eac loo$. Tats y you can not enter te same numer as a

result o& te addition.

Figure %4. 7rithmetic 5peration


46/61

:it K Eco

Hans Gruendel

20.0*.201#

are

not "ood.

14 &ata Structures

;ariales e a)e already met. In !onic +i it is $ossile to comine multi$le )alues or )ariales in a

structure. ,ater in te code? tese structures can e used and modi&ied.


47/61

14#1 %ists and 0ings

A list is a series o& )alues or )ariales enclosed in suare rackets and se$arated y a comma and

could look like tis8

#0? ##? 60U

Tis list contains 3 )alues it te command8

$lay #2? ##? #-U

you can $lay all te )alues simultaneously. !o tis one line ill re$lace te tree lines8

$lay #2

$lay ##

$lay #-

:it a list so you can already sa)e ty$in". But list )alues need not e numers. I can also assi"n a

)alue to a )ariale in ad)ance and ten $lu" into a list8

eton L #0

$lay eton? 60U

!ometimes you a)e a i""er list and Dust ant to use &rom tat a sin"le )alue. Tere is a sim$le ay

in !onic +i to do so. I& you ant to use? &or e/am$le? te tird )alue o& a list? ten use an inde/ y

$uttin" a 2 into te rackets eind te list name8

$lay eton? 60? 66? 0U2U

Actually? you mi"t tink to used a 3U to access te tird element. But do not &or"et te 0. 0U

tere&ore $oints to te &irst element? 1U to te second? 2U to te tird and so one.

Tat seems a it akard at &irst "lance? ecause instead o&

$lay eton? 60? 66? 0U2U

you could rite directly

$lay 0

But lists alays make sense i& te elements ere "atered to"eter anyay and you ant to access

tem )ia a )ariale.

,ists a)e a e"innin" and an end. But i& tey are &ormed to a circle? ten tey are called a rin". 5in"s

are also data structures in !onic +i. For tem tere is no end. Accordin"ly? you can access elements o&

tem o)er any i" inde/ = e)en i& only a )ery limited numer o& items a)ailale. And o orks

tatC ;ery easily. :it eac ne encirclement o& te rin"? te inde/ is not e)en set to Jero? ut

sim$ly continues to e counted. I& you a)e &or e/am$le a rin" a)in" 4 elements? ten te &irst


48/61

element is as alays addressed y te inde/ 0. But also 4? *? 12? etc ould ork. Te second element

can ten e addressed y te inde/ 1 and # and -? etc..

o you a)e to kno o to create a rin". Tere are 2 ays? ut I ant to $resent ere only one.

Sust a$$end to te list a $oint and a&terard te ord @rin"? as son in te &olloin" e/am$le.

40? 60? 6-? ##U.rin"

Te notation is almost7 consistent it many oter $ro"rammin" lan"ua"es? ere you can modi&y

oDects usin" metods. Tat list ..U is ere te oDect? and te metod @rin" "enerates te rin" and

te $oint is set in eteen to let !onic +i kno tat to tin"s e/ists ere.

14#2 Chords

ords are collections o& tones like lists are sometimes. ords a)e te ad)anta"e tat tey are

already de&ined and usale immediately. In te e/am$le in Fi"ure 2* a maDor and in =minor triads

are $layed. In "eneral te ar"uments o& te cord metod are te asis tone &irst and second te

ty$e o& te cord.

It is )isile in te lo" )ieer tat te cords are uite similar. Actually? only te tone in te middle is

di&&erent. Besides te maDor and minor cords? !onic +i knos a lot o& oter cords? sometimes also

less knon as te au"mented or diminised se)ent cord etcZ

oin" e/$eriments it cords is &un. And te est is tat you need not to kno tem all y eard. In

te code editor !onic +i sos to you all ty$es o& cords a)ailale. Sust $ress te comma key a&ter

you rote te asic tone? see Fi"ure 2-.

Figure %;. C maKor and C minor triads


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:it te metod $lay cord 7 all te notes o& a cord are $layed simultaneously. eed to $lay all

sounds in succession? ten you sould use >$layM$attern> instead o& >$lay>.

$layM$attern cord8c4? 8dim7

Te $auses eteen te notes are e/actly one second. And i& you ant to use a di&&erent reak time?

ten one "i)e it as in e/tra $arameter8

$layM$atternMtimed cord8E3? 8m7? 0.2#

14#1 Scales

A scale is a seuence o& ascendin" tones. Fi"ure 30 sos a code e/am$le? ic $lays te =maDor

scale. Tis scale contains * tones? and e"ins as te name su""ests? it a tone . Tis is &olloed y

6 more tones and ten tere is a a"ain? no an octa)e i"er. From te &irst to te second te

&reuency o& te sound doules. Tis is a caracteristic &eature o& eac scale.

Figure %=. 7ll availa#le chords in Sonic Pi are visi#le after pressing the comma 0e.


50/61

Te easiest ay to $lay a musical scale is to use te $lay command. A&ter te $lay &ollos te

command >scale> it 2 ar"uments in $arenteses8 First? te root o& te scale? &olloed y te ty$e

o& scale. Belo it is an e/am$le &or a maDor scale8

$lay scale8c4? 8maDor7

Beind te ri"t racket oter $arameters can &ollo &or te $lay command. !ince >c4> re$resents anote? I can also use te a$$ro$riate 'II numerical )alue? &or e/am$le? i& I rite a counter in a loo$.

Tis is done in ode 1.

!cales

Hans Gruendel

1*.0-.201#

useMsynt 8&m

4.times do Vi/V

$layM$atternMtimed scalei/9#0? 8maDor7? 0.2#

slee$ 1

end

Code 14. Scales

Figure '>. The C maKor scale is plaed


51/61

:at you no a)e to kno aout scalesC In Euro$e e$tatonic scales are ides$read? ic

consists o& di&&erent tones as te name su""ests. :at ty$es o& scales are a)ailale in !onic +iC

Here 2 e/am$les8

maDor8 Tese scales consist o& te &olloin" ste$s8 &ull tone = &ull tone ( semi tone = &ull tone = &ull tone

= &ull tone ( semi tone

minor8 Tese scales consist o& te &olloin" ste$s8 &ull tone = semitone = &ull tone = &ull tone = semitone

= &ull tone = &ull tone

!onic +i could so all a)ailale scale ty$es =see Fi"ure 31.

15 Functions

Functions are com$onents in te code tat do sometin" s$eci&ic. ou can de&ine te &unction once

and ten call it any numer o& times. !o you can sa)e uite a it o& code and ill a)oid re$etition in

te code. As an e/am$le can e seen in te &unction >sound1> in te code editor? see Fi"ure 32.

Figure '1. An astonisin" numer o& scales are a)ailale in !onic +i


52/61

Figure '%. The function sound1

Eac &unction e"ins it te keyord @de&ine and ends it @end. All lines eteen tem elon"

to te &unction.

In te e/am$le >sound1> a distincti)e sound? ic consists o& 4 asic sounds &or te corres$ondin"

!ynts are set in te &unction. Te $itc &or all sounds is te same? ecause e)ery play statement uses

te ar"ument num. ou sim$ly can co$y ode 1* and try it.

Functions

Hans Gruendel

2#.0*.201#

inMtread do

sound1 64

slee$ 2

sound1 61

end

de&ine 8sound1 do VnumV

useMsynt 8&m

$lay num


$lay num

useMsynt 8sine


53/61

$lay num

useMsynt 8tri

$lay num

end

Code 1;. "xample of a function

In tis e/am$le? te &unction is called tice.


54/61

:at a$$ens i& te numer o& $arameters o& te call and te &unction de&inition does not matcC

:ell? ten tere is an error messa"e ic is son in Fi"ure 33. 'ore on tis in a$ter -.

Figure ''. The function sound1 is called in line = with to few parameters

,ets look at te e/am$le care&ully and consider at can e im$ro)ed. I can tink o& 3 tin"s

s$ontaneously8

1. ame o& &unction8 sound1 says already at tis is aout? namely a sound? ut te >1> is still )ery

uns$eci&ic. !oundM&m P 3 ould clearly e etter ere.

2. o e/$lanation o& at te &unction does8 still missin" te comment.

3. In !onic +i and in many oter lan"ua"es ar"uments can e $rede&ined it a &i/ed )alue. ode 20 indicates o tis orks. Te second ar"ument o& te )alue 0.1 is assi"ned. Tere are no 2 ays.

Eiter I call te &unction it 2 ar"uments? ten tese 2 are used? or Ill call it 1 ar"ument? and

ten te )alue o& 0.1 is automatically used &or te second ar"ument.

de&ine 8sound1 do Vnum? len"t L 0.1V

useMsynt 8&m

$lay num? release8 len"t




55/61

useMsynt 8sine


useMsynt 8tri


end

Code %>. &efault of arguments

Anoter e/am$le is son in ode 21. Te loo$ $arameter i is $assed to te

&unction ring_c_d en callin" it. It is irrele)ant tat te $arameter in te

&unction de&inition as a di&&erent name8 tone. !ince te loo$ is done 16 times?

te &unction is called 16 times and 16 sounds are $layed. As te rin" structure

contains * tones? it is alked trou" com$letely 2 times.

&unctions and rin"s =3

Hans Gruendel

2#.0*.201#

inMtread do

16.times do ViV

rin"McMd i slee$ 0.2#

rin"McMd i92

slee$ 0.2#

end

end

de&ine 8rin"McMd do VtoneV

allMtones L 8c4? 8e4? 8"4? 8c#? 8d4? 8&4? 8a4? 8d#U.rin"

useMsynt 8&m

$lay $lay allMtonestoneU

endCode %1. Function and ring structure


Functionality tat is used at se)eral locations

sould e $acked in a &unction.

Functions sould a)e a meanin"&ul name. e)er $ut te same code to di&&erent locations.

Good style is to $ut in &ront o& eac &unction a

comment tat e/$lains te &unction.


56/61


o To$ic

1 Functions are an im$ortant $art o& $ro"rammin". Te $rinci$le is8 de&ined once and

called at se)eral locations in te $ro"ram. And Dust as im$ortant8 A &unction sould

alays $ro)ide a lo"ically limited &unctionality. o more and no less. I& a &unctiononly as a command? ten tat is not enou".


57/61

"rror

[ see error messa"es

"rror -essages

ode may contain errors. I& te code is e/ecuted? it must e e/actly consistent. I& not te $ro"ram

$rints an error messa"e. !onic +i also out$uts te line numer? so tat te error can e &ound easily.

Functions

Functions are $arts o& te code dedicated to a certain $ur$ose. Te code is de&ined once in a &unction

and can e called as o&ten as anted.

-ethods

'etods and &unctions are $retty muc te same. A collection o& commands? to"eter ser)e a

$ur$ose.

-I&I

Are)iation &or >'usical Instrument i"ital Inter&ace>? ic is a de&inition o& a music notation.

Parameter

see [ ar"uments

Programming (anguage

Includes te commands to e/ecute. +ro"rammin" lan"ua"es are alays uniue.

Jaria#le

A )ariale is a container ic can store a sin"le )alue or e)en multi$le )alues ic can e modi&ied

&rom te code.

1) Specific Ter"s of the Musician

Chord

!e)eral notes are $layed to"eter and a)e teir on caracteristics. An e/am$le is te maDor triad.

FreLuenc

umer o& re$etiti)e e)ents in one second.

/e

Te smallest unit o& a musical $iece.

Pause

o sounds are $layed. Te command is >slee$>.


58/61

Sample

A &airly sort $assa"e o& a $iece o& music or a sound tat as recorded and ten used in anoter

son".

Scale

The ascendin" seuence o& tones tat a)e a certain distance &rom eac oter.

Time

Te $oolin" o& indi)idual notes in a "rou$. Is te same len"t &or a $articular $iece o& music? &or

e/am$le? a tree=uarter 3K47 time.


59/61

Figures

Fi"ure 1. Te Gra$ical %ser Inter&ace o& !onic +i it a sim$le e/am$le..............................................#

Fi"ure 28 G%I elements o& !onic +i..........................................................................................................

Fi"ure 3. Te \$lay=metod it te $arameter \c4...........................................................................*

Fi"ure 4. Yeyoard it natural and al& tone keys................................................................................-

Fi"ure #. !et te len"t o& a tone usin" a \release $arameter..............................................................-

Fi"ure 6. +itc as con)entional c#7 and 'II 27 descri$tion.............................................................10

Fi"ure . Te comment in te &irst line starts it te as.................................................................12

Fi"ure *. To commands in !onic +i8 >$lay> and >slee$>......................................................................13

Fi"ure -. Automatic code com$letion in !onic +i..................................................................................13

Fi"ure 10. +arameters are "i)en to te metods >$lay> and >slee$>....................................................14

Fi"ure 11. !ound $ro$et..................................................................................................................16

Fi"ure 12. All synts &rom !onic +i........................................................................................................16

Fi"ure 13. Te re$eat loo$ in !onic +i...................................................................................................1

Fi"ure 14. ode Editor it scroll ars.................................................................................................1-

Fi"ure 1#. E/tra 'B5 commands..........................................................................................................20

Fi"ure 16. Incorrect code in line 10......................................................................................................22

Fi"ure 1. Te coose metod selects &rom te )alues 60? 61? and 61................................................2#

Fi"ure 1*. Te $arameter o& te @$lay metod and tere meanin"...................................................2-

Fi"ure 1-. En)elo$e $arameters o& te @$lay metod........................................................................30

Fi"ure 20. ue and !ync........................................................................................................................33

Fi"ure 21. E&&ects in !onic +i.................................................................................................................36

Fi"ure 22. Hel$ &or te distortion e&&ect...............................................................................................3

Fi"ure 23. ;ariales..............................................................................................................................41

Fi"ure 24. %nknon )ariale and error messa"e ile $ro"ram e/ecution.........................................42

Fi"ure 2#. ;ariale as loo$ $arameter..................................................................................................43


60/61

Fi"ure 26. %sin" controls to modi&y $arameters...................................................................................44

Fi"ure 2. Aritmetic


61/61

ode #. +art 1 and 2 o& !on" 2 comined in a loo$..............................................................................1*

ode 6. 'etod rrand &or "eneratin" random numers......................................................................23

ode . 'etod rrand &or "eneratin" random numers it seed in ad)ance....................................24

ode *. 'etod coose &or te random selection...............................................................................2#

ode -. 5andom son"...........................................................................................................................2*

ode 10. +arameter o& te @$lay metod...........................................................................................2*

ode 11.inMtreads command code.....................................................................................................32

ode 12. ue and !ync e/am$le...........................................................................................................34

ode 13. ,oo$s.....................................................................................................................................3#

ode 14. :itM&/ used &or te eco e&&ect...........................................................................................36

ode 1#. ;ariales................................................................................................................................41

ode 16. Addition o& a numer and a )ariale.....................................................................................46

ode 1. !cales.....................................................................................................................................#0

ode 1*. E/am$le o& a &unction............................................................................................................#3

ode 1-. Function it 2 )ariales.......................................................................................................#3

ode 20. e&ault o& ar"uments.............................................................................................................##

ode 21. Function and rin" structure...................................................................................................##

Documents

Making Music With Sonic Pi