Live Code NYC x Live Code PHLY - Workshop - 12/15/18

01_.md

Sonic Pi - Workshop - Live Code NYC x Live Code PHLY 2018

Authors

Melody Loveless
Website: melodyloveless.com
Instagram: @melodycodes

Materials

• Computer
• Sonic Pi
• Speakers/Headphones

Vocabulary

• Algorithm - list of instructions meant to finish a task
• Commands - an instruction for the computer. Many commands put together make up algorithms and computer programs.
• Algorave - a performance/event where music is generated by code. Typically, the musicians are paired with a visual artist, the code is displayed for the public, and the music is created for dancing
• Loop - the action of doing something over and over again
• Parameter - an extra piece of information that customizes a command and/or function
• Syntax - the structure or rules of a language
• Synthesizer - an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals that may be converted to sound
• Sample - a sound file that is used a piece of music

Listening Examples

The following are examples of music to inspire you as you code. Some of the songs/examples technically belong into multiple categories (ex. some process pieces could be danced too) - and that's okay! Your music can be fluid in categories too.

Traditional/Dance Music

• Sam Aaron and Ben Smith Jam in Sonic Pi - https://youtu.be/yD4HPX8TdA8
• Lil Data - https://youtu.be/S24xfCmQkTs

Process Music

• Clapping Music by Steve Reich
• Live Musician Version w/ So Percussion - https://youtu.be/I1y_oWgIkgE
• Sonic Pi Version - https://youtu.be/iJGb8chJHIE
• Piano Phase by Steve Reich
• Youtube/Note Visualization - https://youtu.be/57TuvksMR70
• Sonic Pi Version - Look at "Reich Phase" under the "Examples" section in the Sonic Pi Reference

Ambient Music

• "Banteay Srey" by Carl Stone - https://youtu.be/Cs28V_qDGzo
• "Kyema" by Eliane Radigue - https://youtu.be/PnbGirPTgF0

Other Algorithmic Music

• "Route One" by Sigur Ros - Sigur Ros used algorithms to manipulate samples from their song "Óveður" to create a generative and constantly changing piece
• More about the project - https://sigur-ros.co.uk/routeone/
• Link to Youtube Video - https://youtu.be/G54tllj-SKI

Post Session

The following are places where you can find more resources/materials

• Sonic Pi - http://sonic-pi.net/
• Programming as Performance - Sam Aaron TEDxNewscastle - https://youtu.be/TK1mBqKvIyU
• TopLap - Awesome Live Coding - https://github.com/toplap/awesome-livecoding

Resources/Inspiration for Music Making

• Song Exploder - http://songexploder.net/
• This podcast interviews artists about their process while they write music. This is great for inspiration and new ways to approach song writing.
• "Music & Games as Shifting Possibility Spaces" by David Kanaga - http://wombflashforest.blogspot.com/2013/11/music-games-as-shifting-possibility.html

References

Sonic Pi - http://sonic-pi.net/

02a_howto.md

Examples

Notes / Synthesizers

Remember:

• We can declare any number between 0-127 as the pitch with zero (0) being the lowest pitch and 127 as the highest

How to play a note

1. Type the command "play"
2. Hit space
3. Type a number between 0-127
4. Add sleep ___ below the command to finish the algorithm

play 60 
sleep 1 

How to play a chord

Everything before "sleep 1" will play at the same time. This makes a chord.

play 60 
play 64
play 67
play 72
sleep 1

How to change a synthesizer

You can change a synthesizer by using the command "use_synth" and declaring a synthesizer afterwards

Ex. use_synth :saw, use_synth :sine

In the example below, we are changing synthesizers between the first and second note.

use_synth :saw
play 60 
sleep 1
use_synth :sine
play 64
sleep 1

Samples

Sonic Pi has built in samples for us to play. These instructions are for how to play them.

How to play a sample

1. Type the command "sample"
2. Hit space
3. Scroll down the list and pick a built-in sample to use
4. Add sleep ___ below the command to finish the algorithm

sample :bd_boom
sleep 1 

Iterations / Loops / Live_Loops

In Sonic Pi, we can play blocks using "_.times do", "loop", and "live_loop"

How to use a _.times do

1. Decide how many times you want your command to repeat
2. Write that number down
3. Add ".times do" after the number
4. Insert code that you want to repeat
5. End the algorithm by adding "end" at the bottom of the block

In this example, we are saying to play the sample four times

4.times do
  sample :elec_blip
  sleep 0.5
end

How to use a live_loop

1. Type "live_loop"
2. Hit space and type a semi-colon (:)
3. Add a name after the semi-colon (ex. live_loop :one)
4. Insert code into block
5. End the algorithm by adding "end" at the bottom of the block

Remember:

• Loops are meant to repeat forever
• Using multiple live_loops means you'll have multiple blocks of code running at the same time
• Each live_loop has to have a different name

For more information on code structure and syntax, visit https://sonic-pi.net/tutorial.html#section-5

In the example below, the bass drum is being played in a "live_loop :one".

live_loop :one do
sample :bd_808
sleep 1
end

Parameters / Effects

In Sonic Pi, we can change the way a sound is played by adjusting paramaters. These include: amp, pan, attack, rate, release, sustain.

Amp

Amp is short for amplitude. Amplitude controls the volume. We can change the amplitude for notes and samples.

In this example, we are saying to play the note half at "0.5"

play 60, amp: 0.5
sleep 1

Pan

We can say which speaker we want our sound to play out of using pan. We can adjust the panning for notes and samples. When the pan is -1, we are saying to play only out of the left speaker. When the pan is 1, we are saying to play only out of the right speaker.

In this example, we are saying to play the first note out of the left speaker and then the second sample out of the right twice.

2.times do
play 60, pan: -1
sleep 1
sample :bd_fat, pan: 1
sleep 1
end

Attack

We can control the beginning of a note or sample by adjusting the attack.

In this example, we are telling our synthesizer to take two beats to fade in.

2.times do
    play 60,
      attack: 2 #how long it takes to fades in
    sleep 4
  end

Release

We can control the end of a note by adjusting the release.

In this example, we are telling our synthesizer to take two beats to fade out.

2.times do
  use_synth :beep
  play 60,
    release: 2 #how long it takes to fades out
  sleep 2
end

Sustain

We can control how long a note or sample is played at full amplitude by using sustain. Sustain can be difficult to work with and is best paired with a different paramater like attack and/or release.

In this example, we are telling our synthesizer to sustain the pitch at full volume for 0.5 a beat, release for 1 beat.

2.times do
  use_synth :beep
  play 80, sustain: 0.5, release: 1 
  sleep 2
end

In this example, we are telling our synthesizer to fade in the attack for one beat, sustain the pitch at full volume for 2 beats, release the sound for 1 beat.

2.times do
  use_synth :blade
  play 40, attack: 1, sustain: 2, release: 1
  sleep 4
end

02b_sonicpirecipes.md

Sonic Pi Recipes

Instructions: Explore each prompt by coding with musical goals in mind while using all of the required ingredients. Use a combination of ingredients to create your piece. If you need more help making decisions, try listening to an example and break down the events happening within it.

Required Ingredients:

• At least four (4) commands
• At least four (4) parameters
• At least one (1) effect (with_fx)

1. Traditional/Dance Music

Instructions: Code music that emulates traditional/dance music.

Useful Ingredients:

• cue and sync
• sleep

Tips:

• Use “cue” and “sync” to line up your loops (live_loop)
• See Tutorial 9.3 to read more about syncing live loops
• If you don't know where to start, listen to a song you like and copy the process that you hear. -- Drum beat happens 4 times, then the synth comes in to play chords, etc.

2. Ambient/Soundscape

Instructions: Create a piece that is considered loose in time or meant to emulate a space.

If you need a starting point/inspiration, try creating a piece based off of:

• The Future
• Outer Space
• Ocean
• Haunted House

Useful Ingredients:

• rrand
• rrand_i
• rate
• choose

3. Process Music

Instructions: Create a song/piece based on a process.

Examples of Processes:

• Slow to Fast and/or Fast to Slow
• High to Low and/or Low to High
• Happy to Angry and/or Sad to Angry

Useful Ingredients:

• ring / tick
• sleep
• rate

Tips: Slow to Fast:

• Change the value of sleep from larger to smaller numbers
• Change the rate of the sample from a smaller number to a larger number

03_ex01_panvolumerate.rb

use_bpm 120
#BPM - Beats Per Minute

4.times do
  sample :glitch_perc1,
    amp: 1, #volume
    pan: -1 #pan - left speaker
  sleep 2
  sample :glitch_perc2,
    amp: 1,
    pan: 1 #pan - right speaker
  sleep 2
end

2.times do
  sample :ambi_drone,
    rate: 1 #rate of 1 is normal
  sleep 4
  sample :ambi_drone,
    rate: 2 #rate of 2 is twice as fast
  sleep 4
end

2.times do
  sample :misc_burp,
    rate: 1 #rate of 1 is normal
  sleep 4
  sample :misc_burp,
    rate: 0.5 #rate of 0.5 is half as slow
  sleep 4
end

03_ex02_waveforms.rb

#Different waves forms
#Run the following code with the oscilloscope (waveform viewer) on to see
#the physical properties of the waves
#For more about attack, release, and playing with durations, go to Tutorial 2.4

2.times do
  use_synth :sine
  play 72,
    amp: 2,
    attack: 2, #take 2 beats
    release: 2
  sleep 4
end

2.times do
  use_synth :square
  play 72,
    amp: 2,
    attack: 2,
    release: 2
  sleep 4
end

2.times do
  use_synth :tri
  play 72,
    amp: 2,
    attack: 2,
    release: 2
  sleep 4
end

2.times do
  use_synth :saw
  play 72,
    amp: 2,
    attack: 2,
    release: 2
  sleep 4
end

03_ex03_paramaters.rb

use_bpm 120
#BPM - Beats Per Minute

4.times do
  sample :glitch_perc1,
    amp: 1, #volume
    pan: -1 #pan - left speaker
  sleep 2
  sample :glitch_perc2,
    amp: 1,
    pan: 1 #pan - right speaker
  sleep 2
end

2.times do
  sample :ambi_drone,
    rate: 1 #rate of 1 is normal
  sleep 4
  sample :ambi_drone,
    rate: 2 #rate of 2 is twice as fast
  sleep 4
end

2.times do
  sample :misc_burp,
    rate: 1 #rate of 1 is normal
  sleep 4
  sample :misc_burp,
    rate: 0.5 #rate of 0.5 is half as slow
  sleep 4
end

03_ex04_paramaters2.rb

use_bpm 120
#BPM - Beats Per Minute

#Can anyone read this for me and tell me what's going to happen?
1.times do
  4.times do
    play 60
    sleep 1
  end
  sleep 2
  4.times do
    play 60,
      attack: 2 #how long it takes to fades in
    sleep 4
  end
  sleep 2
  4.times do
    play 60,
      release: 2 #how long it takes to fade out
    sleep 4
  end
  sleep 2
end

03_ex05_choose.rb

use_bpm 120

4.times do
  play [72, 84, 62].choose #this chooses randomly between 4 notes
  sleep 1
end
4.times do
  play 70,
    pan: [-1, 1].choose #chooses randomly between left and right speakers
  sleep [0.5, 1].choose #this chooses randomnly between 2 durations for sleep
end
8.times do
  play 84,
    amp: [0.5, 1].choose #chooses randomly between volume
  sleep [0.25, 0.5, 0.75].choose #this chooses randomnly between 3 durations for sleep
end

04_ambient01_randomvariables.rb

#Ambient Music #1 - rrand, rrand_i, using variables
#For general information about using rrand and rrand_i, go to Tutorial 4 and/or Appendix 9
#For more about sample slicing, go to Appendix 12

use_bpm 70

live_loop :ambient1 do
  play [:f5, :e5, :f4, :e4].choose,
    attack: 4,
    release: 2,
    pan: rrand(-1, 1)
  sleep [4, 6, 8].choose
end

live_loop :ambient2 do
  
  x = rrand_i(2, 8)
  print x #we can use print to see what the variable represents
  y = rrand(-1, 1)
  print y
  
  sample :ambi_lunar_land,
    amp: 0.5,
    rate: y,
    attack: x/4,
    release: x/4
  sleep x
end


live_loop :ambient3 do
  
  x = rrand_i(2, 8)
  y = rrand(-1, 1)
  z = rrand(0, 0.5)
  w = z + 0.25
  
  sample :loop_amen,
    start: z,
    finish: w,
    amp: [0.5, 0.25].choose,
    rate: y,
    attack: x/4,
    release: x/4
  sleep x
end


live_loop :ambient4 do
  
  x = rrand_i(4, 16)
  y = rrand(-1, 1)
  z = rrand(0, 0.5)
  w = z + 0.33
  
  with_fx [:bitcrusher, :wobble].choose do #chooses between effects
    sample [:ambi_glass_rub, :ambi_glass_hum].choose, #chooses between samples
      start: z,
      finish: w,
      amp: [0.5, 0.25].choose,
      rate: y,
      attack: x/4,
      release: x/4
    sleep x
  end
end

04_process01_slowfastslow.rb

#Process Music Example #1 - Slow Fast Slow

use_bpm 140

live_loop :somegroovething do
  sample :bd_fat,
    amp: 4
  sleep 1
  sample :sn_zome,
    amp: 1
  sleep 1
end

#Slow Fast Slow Using Sleeps
#4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4
live_loop :process1 do
  4.times do
    sample :elec_pop
    sleep 1
  end
  4.times do
    sample :elec_pop
    sleep 0.75
  end
  4.times do
    sample :elec_pop
    sleep 0.5
  end
  8.times do
    sample :elec_pop
    sleep 0.25
  end
  4.times do
    sample :elec_pop
    sleep 0.5
  end
  4.times do
    sample :elec_pop
    sleep 0.75
  end
end

04_process02_pattern.rb

#Process Music Example #2 - ring

use_bpm 120


#Pattern of 4 part 1
live_loop :process2a do
  with_synth :tri do
    play (ring 48, 50, 57, 50).tick(:line1), #Look at 9.4 in the Tutorial for more information - Naming Ticks
      attack: 2,
      release: 2,
      pan: -1
    sleep 4
  end
end

#Pattern of 3 part 1
live_loop :process2b do
  with_synth :square do
    sleep 2
    play (ring 48 + 12, 50 + 12, 57 + 12).tick(:line2),
      attack: 2,
      release: 2,
      pan: 1
    sleep 2
  end
end

#2 Against 3
live_loop :process2c do
  sample (ring :elec_blip, :elec_twang).tick(:poly1)
  sleep 0.5
end

#3
live_loop :process2d do
  sample :elec_plip,
    pan: (ring -1, 1).tick(:moveit)
  sleep 0.75
end

04_process03_hightolow.rb

#Process Music #3 - high to low, low to high, rate

notez = [45, 49, 52, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 68, 69, 71, 73, 76] # 0-12

#low to high
live_loop :process3a do
  use_synth :pluck
  with_fx :bitcrusher do
    4.times do
      play notez.choose
      sleep [0.25, 0.5].choose
    end
    4.times do
      play notez.choose + 12
      sleep [0.25, 0.5].choose
    end
    4.times do
      play notez.choose + 24
      sleep [0.25, 0.5].choose
    end
  end
end

#high to low
live_loop :process3b do
  use_synth :piano
  with_fx :distortion do
    4.times do
      play notez.choose
      sleep [0.25, 0.5, 0.75].choose
    end
    4.times do
      play notez.choose - 12
      sleep [0.25, 0.5, 0.75].choose
    end
    4.times do
      play notez.choose - 24
      sleep [0.25, 0.5, 0.75].choose
    end
  end
end

#low to high to low
live_loop :process3c do
  4.times do
    sample :ambi_haunted_hum,
      rate: (ring 0.5, 1, 2, 1).tick(:wow),
      amp: 0.5,
      attack: 1,
      release: 1
    sleep [2, 4, 8].choose
  end
end

04_traditional01_ringchoose.rb

#Traditional/Dance Music Example #1 - live_loop, cue/sync, ring, choose

use_bpm 90

#Drums in 4
live_loop :dance1 do
  cue :maindance
  with_fx :reverb do
    sample :bd_pure,
      amp: 4
    sleep 1
    sample :drum_snare_soft,
      amp: 1
    sleep 1
  end
end

#Bass line
live_loop :dance2 do
  sync :maindance
  use_synth :blade
  8.times do
    play (ring :c2, :e2, :d2, :g2).tick(:bass) #Look at 9.4 in the Tutorial for more information - Naming Ticks
    sleep [0.25, 0.5].choose
  end
end

#High pitched rythmic
live_loop :dance3 do
  sync :maindance
  use_synth :pretty_bell
  8.times do
    play choose(chord(:C7, :major)), #See Tutorial 8.3 for more about using scales
      amp: [0.5, 0.25].choose
    sleep [0.25, 0.5, 0.75].choose
  end
end

#Flowy Lines
live_loop :dance4 do
  sync :maindance
  use_synth :pretty_bell
  2.times do
    play (ring :g5, :f5, :e5, :d5).tick(:flow1), #Look at 9.4 in the Tutorial for more information - Naming Ticks
      attack: 2,
      release: 2
    sleep 4
  end
  4.times do
    play [:e4, :b4, :c4, :c5].choose,
      attack: 2,
      release: 2
    sleep 4
  end
end

04_traditional02_rowscuesyncrandom.rb

#Traditional/Dance Music Example #2 - live_loop, cue/sync, choose, rrand

#This is a row! If you want to use the same numbers over and over again, try putting them in a row!
notez = [59, 60, 62, 64, 65, 67, 71, 72, 74, 76, 84, 86]

#BPM = Beats Per Minute
use_bpm 120

#Drums in 4
live_loop :dance1 do
  cue :maindance
  sample :bd_haus,
    amp: 2 #amp
  sleep 1
  sample :drum_snare_hard,
    amp: 0.5
  sleep 1
end

#Bass line
live_loop :dance2 do
  sync :maindance
  use_synth :pretty_bell
  8.times do
    play (notez.choose - 24), # (- 24) puts the notes two octaves down
      attack: 2,
      release: 2
    sleep 4
  end
end

#Dynamic Rythmic Stuff
live_loop :dance3 do
  sync :maindance
  use_synth [:tri, :square].choose #you can have Sonic Pi choose between synths
  8.times do
    play (ring notez[2] + 12, notez[3] + 12, notez[6] + 12, notez.choose + 12).tick(:maybe), #read section 8.4 for more on rings
      release: 2, #effects how the note fades out
      amp: [0.5, 0.25].choose,
      pan: rrand(-1, 1) #picks a number randomnly between -1 and 1
    sleep [0.25, 0.5].choose
  end
end

#Random If Statements
live_loop :dance4 do
  sync :maindance
  16.times do
    with_fx :bitcrusher do #this effect makes these drums crunchy
      if one_in(2)
        sample [:drum_tom_hi_soft, :drum_tom_low_soft].choose,
          amp: [0.5, 0.75, 1].choose
        sleep [0.25, 0.5, 0.75].choose
      else
        sample [:drum_cymbal_closed, :drum_tom_hi_hard].choose,
          amp: [0.5, 0.75].choose
        sleep 0.25
      end
    end
  end
end

04_traditional_ringchoosedrop.rb

notez = [45, 49, 52, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 68, 69, 71, 73, 76] # 0-12


live_loop :randomchords do
  use_synth :tri
  play (ring notez[0], notez[2], notez[3], notez[4], notez[5], notez[6]).shuffle.drop(2).take(3) #this creates a chord everytime. Read Tutorial 8.5 on ring chains for more
  sleep 0.5
end

live_loop :prettyslowchords do
  use_synth :blade
  play (ring notez[7] + 12, notez[4] + 12, notez[5] + 12, notez[3] + 12, notez[9] + 12, notez[8] + 12).shuffle.drop(2).take(3),
    attack: 2,
    release: 2
  sleep 4
end