Euclidean rhythms
Euclidean rhythms distribute n pulses as evenly as possible across k steps.
Many traditional rhythms (clave, tresillo, bossa nova) are Euclidean patterns.
Pass an array #(pulses steps) and send euclidean.
| Argument | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| pulses | Integer | Number of triggers to distribute |
| steps | Integer | Total number of steps in the pattern |
"Classic tresillo â 3 pulses in 8 steps"
#(3 8) euclidean to: #conga.
"Cinquillo â 5 pulses in 16 steps (a Cuban staple)"
#(5 16) euclidean to: #bongo.
"With a custom sample index on each trigger"
#(5 16) euclidean index: ' 1 3 5 2'; to: #bongo.Offset
Rotate the Euclidean pattern forward (positive) or backward to shift the phase of the rhythm.
Cascade offset: before to:.
"Offset by 1 step forward â useful to stagger layered Euclidean patterns"
#(5 16) euclidean offset: 1; to: #cowbell.
"Same rhythm, different phase"
#(5 16) euclidean offset: 3; to: #bongo.Dirt notes â asDirtNotes
Route a melodic pattern to a SuperDirt instrument using a compact string notation.
Each token is a MIDI note number; - is a rest; /N sets duration in beats;
*N repeats the previous note N times.
'-/8 , 38 , 56*2 , -/4 , 41 , 66' asDirtNotes to: #acid; envMod: '0.8 0.2 0.3'.
"Tokens: rest(8 beats) â note 38 â note 56 twice â rest(4 beats) â 41 â 66"| Token | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 38 | MIDI note 38 (one step) |
| - | Rest (one step) |
| -/8 | Rest lasting 8 steps |
| 56*2 | Note 56 repeated 2 times |
| , | Separator between tokens |
Dirt index â asDirtIndex
Like asDirtNotes but selects sample indices within a SuperDirt folder
rather than MIDI note pitches. Combine with notes: to add a pitch layer.
'1 , -/16 . 7 , -/9 , 12 , -/12, 18' asDirtIndex
notes: '38 45 78 62 81'
to: #speakspell.Adding notes â notes:
Any Sequencer can have MIDI note values assigned to its triggers. By default all steps play
note 60 (C3). Pass a space-separated string to notes: â values cycle
across triggers.
16 quavers notes: '60 64 67 72' to: #piano.
"Plays a C major arpeggio across 16 steps"
#plena asRhythm notes: '36 48 60' to: #bass.Arpeggiation â arpeggiate:
Walk through a chord voicing across the triggers of a sequencer. Pass chord names as a space-separated string; Coypu resolves them to MIDI note sets.
#cumbiaClave asRhythm arpeggiate: '12-sus4 0-min'; to: #psg; level: '0.4'.
"Alternates between a sus4 arpeggio and a minor arpeggio"root-quality, e.g. 0-maj, 7-min, 12-sus4, 4-dim. The root is a semitone offset from the base note.
Random melodic walk â randomWalksOn:octaves:root:
Generate a list of MIDI notes by randomly walking up and down a scale over a specified octave range from a root note. This produces organic, scale-coherent melodies that evolve differently on each evaluation.
| Argument | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| N | Integer | Number of steps to generate |
| scale | Scale constant | e.g. Scale pentatonicMajor, Scale sakura |
| octaves | Integer | Octave range to walk within |
| rootMidi | Integer | Root note as MIDI number (e.g. 48 = C3) |
"64-step random walk on Sakura scale, 2 octaves from C3"
64 randomTrigs
notes: (32 randomWalksOn: Scale sakura octaves: 2 root: 48)
to: #psg.
"Minor pentatonic walk, 3 octaves"
16 quavers
notes: (16 randomWalksOn: Scale minorPentatonic octaves: 3 root: 36)
to: #piano.Dynamics â level:
Set per-trigger amplitude values by cascading level: on any sequencer.
Values are floats (0.0 â 1.0) and cycle across triggers.
16 randomTrigs to: #ch; level: '0.8 0.4 0.3'.
#(1 0 1 0) asSeq to: #snare; level: '1.0 0.5'.
"Alternates full and half velocity"
"Set level directly on a named instrument after routing"
#clap level: '0.3 0.1 0.4'.Envelope modulation â envMod:
Available for SuperDirt instruments. Controls envelope modulation depth per step.
Cascades in the same way as level:.
'-/8 , 38 , 56*2 , -/4 , 41 , 66'
asDirtNotes
to: #acid;
envMod: '0.8 0.2 0.3'.Chaining all together
Here is a complete performance sketch combining multiple advanced pattern techniques:
ep := EcoPhausto new.
ep playFor: 128 bars.
"Kick: Euclidean 3-in-8"
#(3 8) euclidean to: #kick.
"Snare: hex pattern"
'020F' hexBeat to: #snare.
"Hi-hat: random triggers with swing dynamics"
16 randomTrigs to: #ch; level: '0.9 0.4 0.7 0.3'.
"Bass: notes on a named rhythm"
#cumbiaClave asRhythm notes: '36 36 43 36' to: #bass.
"Lead: random walk on pentatonic over 2 octaves"
16 randomTrigs
notes: (16 randomWalksOn: Scale pentatonicMajor octaves: 2 root: 60)
to: #psg; level: '0.6'.