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RESONON

Write Polymetric and Euclidean Rhythms

The syntax is in Mini-Notation Grammar; how the onsets are placed is in Polymeter & Euclidean Rhythm.

Phase two loops against each other

Section titled “Phase two loops against each other”

Put the loops in curly braces, separated by commas. Every loop plays on the grid of the first one, and a shorter loop drifts against it:

use "std/instruments" { Sampler, Kit };


let drums = AudioTrack("drums");
drums.set_instrument(Sampler(Kit("TR-808")));


drums << {bd sd bd sd, ch ch oh};   // 4-step grid; the 3-hat loop drifts


PLAY;

Set the grid yourself with %n — n steps per cycle for every loop:

drums << {bd sd bd sd, ch ch oh}%8;

A polymetric group can be one element of a sequence:

drums << [{bd sd bd}%4 cp];         // the group fills the first half

Spread hits evenly

Section titled “Spread hits evenly”

Add (hits, steps) to an element:

use "std/instruments" { Sampler, Kit };


let drums = AudioTrack("drums");
drums.set_instrument(Sampler(Kit("TR-808")));


drums << [bd(3,8), ch(7,16), sd(2,16,4)];


PLAY;

The element plays on the hits and rests on the other steps, inside its own slot. bd(3,8) is the tresillo; the explanation lists more rhythms that two numbers spell.

Rotate and interlock

Section titled “Rotate and interlock”

A third number rotates the rhythm by that many steps. Rotations of one rhythm on different sounds interlock:

use "std/instruments" { Sampler, Kit };


let drums = AudioTrack("drums");
drums.set_instrument(Sampler(Kit("CR-78")));


drums << [bd(3,8,0), rs(3,8,2), hh(3,8,5)];


PLAY;

Deal a melody onto the hits

Section titled “Deal a melody onto the hits”

euclid() takes a whole pattern as the source, and deals its notes onto the hits in order:

let dealt   = euclid(3, 8, [C4 E4 G4]);   // one note per hit
let wrapped = euclid(5, 8, [C4 E4]);      // C4 E4 C4 E4 C4


let melody = MidiTrack("melody");
melody >> MidiOutput("synth");
melody << dealt;
PLAY;

The order of the operations matters. [C4(3,8)*2] makes the rhythm first and then plays it twice as fast; euclid(3, 8, [C4 E4].fast(2)) doubles the source first and then picks the hits from it.

Section titled “Related”