Difference between revisions of "Basic Patterns"
(Created page with "The basic format for making sound in Tidal looks like this <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> d1 $ sound "drum" </syntaxhighlight> You can stop making a sound using <syntaxhig...") |
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+ | <languages /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <translate> | ||
+ | <!--T:1--> | ||
The basic format for making sound in Tidal looks like this | The basic format for making sound in Tidal looks like this | ||
+ | <!--T:2--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "drum" | d1 $ sound "drum" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:3--> | ||
You can stop making a sound using <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>silence</syntaxhighlight>: | You can stop making a sound using <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>silence</syntaxhighlight>: | ||
+ | <!--T:4--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ silence | d1 $ silence | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:5--> | ||
Pick a different sound from the same set, with `:` | Pick a different sound from the same set, with `:` | ||
+ | <!--T:6--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "drum:1" | d1 $ sound "drum:1" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:7--> | ||
Some of the samples which come with Tidal are listed below. Try some out! | Some of the samples which come with Tidal are listed below. Try some out! | ||
+ | <!--T:8--> | ||
<pre> | <pre> | ||
flick sid can metal future gabba sn mouth co gretsch mt arp h cp | flick sid can metal future gabba sn mouth co gretsch mt arp h cp | ||
Line 27: | Line 38: | ||
</pre> | </pre> | ||
+ | <!--T:9--> | ||
You can see what other sounds there are (or add your own) by looking | You can see what other sounds there are (or add your own) by looking | ||
in the ''Dirt-Samples'' folder. You can find it via the SuperCollider | in the ''Dirt-Samples'' folder. You can find it via the SuperCollider | ||
Line 32: | Line 44: | ||
Dirt-Samples'. | Dirt-Samples'. | ||
− | == Make a sequence == | + | == Make a sequence == <!--T:10--> |
+ | <!--T:11--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd hh sn hh" | d1 $ sound "bd hh sn hh" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:12--> | ||
The more steps in the sequence, the faster it goes: | The more steps in the sequence, the faster it goes: | ||
+ | <!--T:13--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd bd hh bd sn bd hh bd" | d1 $ sound "bd bd hh bd sn bd hh bd" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:14--> | ||
This is because of the way Tidal handles time. There is a universal | This is because of the way Tidal handles time. There is a universal | ||
‘cycle’ (sort of like a musical 'bar') which is always running. Tidal | ‘cycle’ (sort of like a musical 'bar') which is always running. Tidal | ||
Line 52: | Line 68: | ||
later). | later). | ||
− | We can change the length of the cycle using | + | <!--T:15--> |
+ | We can change the length of the cycle using <source inline>setcps</source> (where cps stands for cycles per | ||
second) - this is a bit like bpm (beats per minute). | second) - this is a bit like bpm (beats per minute). | ||
+ | <!--T:16--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
− | + | setcps 0.6 | |
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:17--> | ||
You can use d1, d2, d3...d9 to play multiple sequences at the same time | You can use d1, d2, d3...d9 to play multiple sequences at the same time | ||
+ | <!--T:18--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d2 $ sound "sn sn:2 sn bd sn" | d2 $ sound "sn sn:2 sn bd sn" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:19--> | ||
You can stop all the running patterns with <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>hush</syntaxhighlight>. | You can stop all the running patterns with <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>hush</syntaxhighlight>. | ||
+ | <!--T:20--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
− | + | hush | |
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:21--> | ||
You can pause everything by changing the cycle length to a negative | You can pause everything by changing the cycle length to a negative | ||
number (remember to put negative numbers in brackets). | number (remember to put negative numbers in brackets). | ||
+ | <!--T:22--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
− | + | setcps (-1) | |
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:23--> | ||
Start it up again with a positive number | Start it up again with a positive number | ||
+ | <!--T:24--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
− | + | setcps 0.6 | |
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
− | Or you can `solo` one channel | + | <!--T:25--> |
+ | Or you can `solo` one channel: | ||
+ | <!--T:26--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "arpy cp arpy:2" | d1 $ sound "arpy cp arpy:2" | ||
+ | |||
+ | <!--T:84--> | ||
d2 $ sound "sn sn:2 bd sn" | d2 $ sound "sn sn:2 bd sn" | ||
− | solo | + | |
+ | <!--T:85--> | ||
+ | solo 2 | ||
+ | |||
+ | <!--T:86--> | ||
+ | -- now only the second pattern will be playing | ||
+ | |||
+ | <!--T:87--> | ||
+ | unsolo 2 | ||
+ | |||
+ | <!--T:88--> | ||
+ | -- now both will be playing, again | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:27--> | ||
Let add some more variety to our sequences. | Let add some more variety to our sequences. | ||
+ | <!--T:28--> | ||
Add a silence/rest with <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>~</syntaxhighlight>: | Add a silence/rest with <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>~</syntaxhighlight>: | ||
+ | <!--T:29--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd ~ sn:3 bd sn:5 ~ bd:2 sn:2" | d1 $ sound "bd ~ sn:3 bd sn:5 ~ bd:2 sn:2" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:30--> | ||
Fit a subsequence into a step with square brackets: | Fit a subsequence into a step with square brackets: | ||
+ | <!--T:31--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd [bd cp] bd bd" | d1 $ sound "bd [bd cp] bd bd" | ||
− | <syntaxhighlight> | + | </syntaxhighlight> |
+ | <!--T:32--> | ||
This can make for flexible time signatures: | This can make for flexible time signatures: | ||
+ | <!--T:33--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "[bd bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]" | d1 $ sound "[bd bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:34--> | ||
You can put subsequences inside subsequences: | You can put subsequences inside subsequences: | ||
+ | <!--T:35--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "[[bd bd] bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]" | d1 $ sound "[[bd bd] bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:36--> | ||
Keep going.. | Keep going.. | ||
+ | <!--T:37--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "[[bd [bd bd bd bd]] bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]" | d1 $ sound "[[bd [bd bd bd bd]] bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:38--> | ||
You can repeat a step with <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>*</syntaxhighlight>: | You can repeat a step with <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>*</syntaxhighlight>: | ||
+ | <!--T:39--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd sd*2" | d1 $ sound "bd sd*2" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:40--> | ||
This works with subsequences too: | This works with subsequences too: | ||
+ | <!--T:41--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd [sd cp]*2" | d1 $ sound "bd [sd cp]*2" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:42--> | ||
Or you can do the opposite using <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>/</syntaxhighlight>: | Or you can do the opposite using <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>/</syntaxhighlight>: | ||
+ | <!--T:43--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd sn/2" | d1 $ sound "bd sn/2" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:44--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd [sn cp]/2" | d1 $ sound "bd [sn cp]/2" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:45--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>*</syntaxhighlight> works by 'speeding up' a step to play it multiple times. <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>/</syntaxhighlight> works | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>*</syntaxhighlight> works by 'speeding up' a step to play it multiple times. <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>/</syntaxhighlight> works | ||
by 'slowing it down'. | by 'slowing it down'. | ||
+ | <!--T:46--> | ||
We can also schedule patterns across cycles using <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline><</syntaxhighlight> and <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>></syntaxhighlight>: | We can also schedule patterns across cycles using <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline><</syntaxhighlight> and <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>></syntaxhighlight>: | ||
+ | <!--T:47--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd <sd cp arpy>" | d1 $ sound "bd <sd cp arpy>" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:48--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "<bd sn> <sd [cp cp]> <bd [cp cp]>" | d1 $ sound "<bd sn> <sd [cp cp]> <bd [cp cp]>" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
− | == Effects == | + | == Effects == <!--T:49--> |
+ | <!--T:50--> | ||
Tidal has lots of effects we can use to change the way things sound. | Tidal has lots of effects we can use to change the way things sound. | ||
+ | <!--T:51--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>vowel</syntaxhighlight> is a filter which adds a vowel sound -- try a, e, i, o and u | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>vowel</syntaxhighlight> is a filter which adds a vowel sound -- try a, e, i, o and u | ||
+ | <!--T:52--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a" | d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:53--> | ||
We create patterns of effects in much the same way we create patterns of sounds. We call these effect and sound patterns 'control patterns'. So | We create patterns of effects in much the same way we create patterns of sounds. We call these effect and sound patterns 'control patterns'. So | ||
+ | <!--T:54--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o e e" | d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o e e" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:55--> | ||
Remember that we can use "<>" to schedule across cycles | Remember that we can use "<>" to schedule across cycles | ||
+ | <!--T:56--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "<a o e e>" | d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "<a o e e>" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:57--> | ||
You can add a non-vowel letter to pause the vowel effect | You can add a non-vowel letter to pause the vowel effect | ||
+ | <!--T:58--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o p p" | d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o p p" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:59--> | ||
Tidal does its best to map patterns across to one another | Tidal does its best to map patterns across to one another | ||
+ | <!--T:60--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o e" | d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o e" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:61--> | ||
The structure comes from the left - try swapping the parameters | The structure comes from the left - try swapping the parameters | ||
+ | <!--T:62--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ vowel "a o ~ i" # sound "drum" | d1 $ vowel "a o ~ i" # sound "drum" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:63--> | ||
'''Health warning''' - This is one of the changes coming up in the new Tidal - you will be able to control which side the structure comes from. . Or combine structure from ''both'' sides. | '''Health warning''' - This is one of the changes coming up in the new Tidal - you will be able to control which side the structure comes from. . Or combine structure from ''both'' sides. | ||
+ | <!--T:64--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>gain</syntaxhighlight> changes the volume of different sounds | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>gain</syntaxhighlight> changes the volume of different sounds | ||
+ | <!--T:65--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd hh sn:1 hh sn:1 hh" # gain "1 0.7 0.5" | d1 $ sound "bd hh sn:1 hh sn:1 hh" # gain "1 0.7 0.5" | ||
Line 208: | Line 287: | ||
+ | <!--T:66--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>speed</syntaxhighlight> and <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>note</syntaxhighlight> are used for pitching samples. | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>speed</syntaxhighlight> and <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>note</syntaxhighlight> are used for pitching samples. | ||
+ | <!--T:67--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>speed</syntaxhighlight> affects the speed of playback, e.g. 2 = up an octave | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>speed</syntaxhighlight> affects the speed of playback, e.g. 2 = up an octave | ||
+ | <!--T:68--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "numbers:1 numbers:2 numbers:3 numbers:4" # speed "1 1.5 2 0.5" | d1 $ sound "numbers:1 numbers:2 numbers:3 numbers:4" # speed "1 1.5 2 0.5" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:69--> | ||
Or we can take the pattern from the <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>speed</syntaxhighlight> parameter | Or we can take the pattern from the <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>speed</syntaxhighlight> parameter | ||
+ | <!--T:70--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ speed "1 2 4" # sound "jungbass:6" | d1 $ speed "1 2 4" # sound "jungbass:6" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:71--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>note</syntaxhighlight> pitches the sample up in semitones, e.g. 12 = up an octave | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>note</syntaxhighlight> pitches the sample up in semitones, e.g. 12 = up an octave | ||
+ | <!--T:72--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ up "0 ~ 12 24" # sound "jungbass:6" | d1 $ up "0 ~ 12 24" # sound "jungbass:6" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
− | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline> | + | <!--T:73--> |
+ | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>pan</syntaxhighlight> allows us to create stereo effects - 0 = left, 0.5 = middle, 1 = right | ||
+ | <!--T:74--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "numbers:1 numbers:2 numbers:3 numbers:4" # pan "0 0.5 1" | d1 $ sound "numbers:1 numbers:2 numbers:3 numbers:4" # pan "0 0.5 1" | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:75--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>shape</syntaxhighlight> adds distortion (but be careful - it also makes the sound much louder) | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>shape</syntaxhighlight> adds distortion (but be careful - it also makes the sound much louder) | ||
+ | <!--T:76--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "kurt:4 kurt:4" # shape "0 0.78" # gain "0.7" | d1 $ sound "kurt:4 kurt:4" # shape "0 0.78" # gain "0.7" | ||
Line 241: | Line 331: | ||
− | == feeling brave ? == | + | == feeling brave ? == <!--T:77--> |
− | Try more effects: | + | <!--T:78--> |
+ | Try more effects: https://tidalcycles.org/index.php/Category:Control_Functions | ||
+ | <!--T:79--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>delay</syntaxhighlight> / <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>delaytime</syntaxhighlight> / <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>delayfeedback</syntaxhighlight> / | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>delay</syntaxhighlight> / <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>delaytime</syntaxhighlight> / <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>delayfeedback</syntaxhighlight> / | ||
− | syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>cutoff</syntaxhighlight> / <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>resonance</syntaxhighlight> / | + | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>cutoff</syntaxhighlight> / <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>resonance</syntaxhighlight> / |
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>room</syntaxhighlight> / <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>size</syntaxhighlight> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>room</syntaxhighlight> / <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>size</syntaxhighlight> | ||
− | == Continuous patterns == | + | == Continuous patterns == <!--T:80--> |
+ | <!--T:81--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>sine</syntaxhighlight> is a continuous pattern following a sine curve from 0 to 1 and back | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>sine</syntaxhighlight> is a continuous pattern following a sine curve from 0 to 1 and back | ||
+ | <!--T:82--> | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell"> | ||
d1 $ sound "bd*32" # gain sine | d1 $ sound "bd*32" # gain sine | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
+ | <!--T:83--> | ||
You can also try <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>tri</syntaxhighlight>, <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>saw</syntaxhighlight> and <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>rand</syntaxhighlight>. | You can also try <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>tri</syntaxhighlight>, <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>saw</syntaxhighlight> and <syntaxhighlight lang="Haskell" inline>rand</syntaxhighlight>. | ||
− | + | </translate> |
Latest revision as of 21:59, 14 December 2019
The basic format for making sound in Tidal looks like this
d1 $ sound "drum"
You can stop making a sound using silence
:
d1 $ silence
Pick a different sound from the same set, with `:`
d1 $ sound "drum:1"
Some of the samples which come with Tidal are listed below. Try some out!
flick sid can metal future gabba sn mouth co gretsch mt arp h cp cr newnotes bass hc tabla bass0 hh bass1 bass2 oc bass3 ho odx diphone2 house off ht tink perc bd industrial pluck trump printshort jazz voodoo birds3 procshort blip drum jvbass psr wobble drumtraks koy rave bottle kurt latibro rm sax lighter lt arpy feel less stab ul
You can see what other sounds there are (or add your own) by looking in the Dirt-Samples folder. You can find it via the SuperCollider menu: 'File > Open user support directory > downloaded-quarks > Dirt-Samples'.
Make a sequence
d1 $ sound "bd hh sn hh"
The more steps in the sequence, the faster it goes:
d1 $ sound "bd bd hh bd sn bd hh bd"
This is because of the way Tidal handles time. There is a universal ‘cycle’ (sort of like a musical 'bar') which is always running. Tidal will play all of the sounds between the speech marks in one cycle, unless we tell it not to (we’ll learn how to do that later). You’ll also notice Tidal will space the sounds out evenly within the cycle Which means we can end up with polyrhythmic structures (more on those later).
We can change the length of the cycle using setcps
(where cps stands for cycles per
second) - this is a bit like bpm (beats per minute).
setcps 0.6
You can use d1, d2, d3...d9 to play multiple sequences at the same time
d2 $ sound "sn sn:2 sn bd sn"
You can stop all the running patterns with hush
.
hush
You can pause everything by changing the cycle length to a negative number (remember to put negative numbers in brackets).
setcps (-1)
Start it up again with a positive number
setcps 0.6
Or you can `solo` one channel:
d1 $ sound "arpy cp arpy:2"
d2 $ sound "sn sn:2 bd sn"
solo 2
-- now only the second pattern will be playing
unsolo 2
-- now both will be playing, again
Let add some more variety to our sequences.
Add a silence/rest with ~
:
d1 $ sound "bd ~ sn:3 bd sn:5 ~ bd:2 sn:2"
Fit a subsequence into a step with square brackets:
d1 $ sound "bd [bd cp] bd bd"
This can make for flexible time signatures:
d1 $ sound "[bd bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]"
You can put subsequences inside subsequences:
d1 $ sound "[[bd bd] bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]"
Keep going..
d1 $ sound "[[bd [bd bd bd bd]] bd sn:5] [bd sn:3]"
You can repeat a step with *
:
d1 $ sound "bd sd*2"
This works with subsequences too:
d1 $ sound "bd [sd cp]*2"
Or you can do the opposite using /
:
d1 $ sound "bd sn/2"
d1 $ sound "bd [sn cp]/2"
*
works by 'speeding up' a step to play it multiple times. /
works
by 'slowing it down'.
We can also schedule patterns across cycles using <
and >
:
d1 $ sound "bd <sd cp arpy>"
d1 $ sound "<bd sn> <sd [cp cp]> <bd [cp cp]>"
Effects
Tidal has lots of effects we can use to change the way things sound.
vowel
is a filter which adds a vowel sound -- try a, e, i, o and u
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a"
We create patterns of effects in much the same way we create patterns of sounds. We call these effect and sound patterns 'control patterns'. So
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o e e"
Remember that we can use "<>" to schedule across cycles
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "<a o e e>"
You can add a non-vowel letter to pause the vowel effect
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o p p"
Tidal does its best to map patterns across to one another
d1 $ sound "drum drum drum drum" # vowel "a o e"
The structure comes from the left - try swapping the parameters
d1 $ vowel "a o ~ i" # sound "drum"
Health warning - This is one of the changes coming up in the new Tidal - you will be able to control which side the structure comes from. . Or combine structure from both sides.
gain
changes the volume of different sounds
d1 $ sound "bd hh sn:1 hh sn:1 hh" # gain "1 0.7 0.5"
speed
and note
are used for pitching samples.
speed
affects the speed of playback, e.g. 2 = up an octave
d1 $ sound "numbers:1 numbers:2 numbers:3 numbers:4" # speed "1 1.5 2 0.5"
Or we can take the pattern from the speed
parameter
d1 $ speed "1 2 4" # sound "jungbass:6"
note
pitches the sample up in semitones, e.g. 12 = up an octave
d1 $ up "0 ~ 12 24" # sound "jungbass:6"
pan
allows us to create stereo effects - 0 = left, 0.5 = middle, 1 = right
d1 $ sound "numbers:1 numbers:2 numbers:3 numbers:4" # pan "0 0.5 1"
shape
adds distortion (but be careful - it also makes the sound much louder)
d1 $ sound "kurt:4 kurt:4" # shape "0 0.78" # gain "0.7"
feeling brave ?
Try more effects: https://tidalcycles.org/index.php/Category:Control_Functions
delay
/ delaytime
/ delayfeedback
/
cutoff
/ resonance
/
room
/ size
Continuous patterns
sine
is a continuous pattern following a sine curve from 0 to 1 and back
d1 $ sound "bd*32" # gain sine
You can also try tri
, saw
and rand
.