Ability to specify notes which last longer than a quarter note.

[rain-sk]

The string-based API for specifying rhythm and timing of notes is awesome, but the maximum unit of time being a quarter-note makes complex rhythms difficult to construct. I suggest adding additional characters and structures for note lengths greater than 1/4 notes.

[crazy4groovy]

I'm no expert! But I just noticed in the tidal.js example this

pattern: '[xxx]'

and [] makes it sound faster, maybe 1/8 notes? The docs don't mention this.

[rain-sk]

From discussing this with Walmik, the [ ] notation subdivides quarter-notes. So 'x' and '[xxx]' have the same duration, but the second consists of triplets.

…

On Tue, Oct 2, 2018, 11:24 PM crazy4groovy ***@***.***> wrote: I'm no expert! But I just noticed in the tidal.js example this pattern: '[xxx]' and [] makes it sound faster, maybe 1/8 notes? The docs don't mention this. — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#75 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AC7ifzj3DGkxHQxXpnB81Gbc3-e-Fn_Aks5uhDwVgaJpZM4W79c4> .

[walmik]

Thank you for the comments.

The functionality to extend note lengths is a must have for the browser clip method of scribbletune. It already exists in the node module which exports MIDI files as outlined here https://scribbletune.com/documentation/core/clip Basically adding underscores to a x will increase its length. So if x is a quarter notes, a single underscore like this, x_ makes it as long as 2 quarter notes and 2 underscores x__ makes it as long as 3 quarter notes. One can even set the default duration of each x thus making it possible to extend those notes exponentially.

However, for the browser we need to add this. I m open to PRs for this.. if no PR comes in I ll add it myself once I get some time.

[rain-sk]

Thanks for clarifying!

This begs the question (for me at least): what about dotted notes (beats that last 1.5 times the specified note length)? Would it be something like this? [x__] aka one note lasting the length of three eighth notes?

I've been messing around with some ways to make the clips editable in-browser, but understanding the notational restrictions will make it easier to design something that works!

[walmik]

Hey HI @spencerudnick For those you can just mix and match.
so something like x[xx] is a quarter note followed by 2 eighth notes. If you dont want play one of the eighth notes then simply x[-x] You can keep subdividing further if you like.. for instance something like this x[x[xx]]. Here we have one quarter note followed by another quarter note which is chopped up into a eighth notes followed by 2 sixteenth notes.

[rain-sk]

@walmik I believe you're still referring to methods of subdividing quarter notes. Check out this video for an example of what I'm referring to.

Dotted notes instruct the instrument / musician to play a note which lasts for 1.5 times the length of the note specified. So a dotted quarter note lasts the length of a quarter note plus an eighth note.

Specifying these types of notes is pretty imperative for creating a visual clip editor, otherwise users will be limited to a constrained visual grid.

This also begs the question of how to specify notes spanning beats (tied notes), so a quarter-note could begin one eighth-note length from the beginning of the measure.

[rain-sk]

Based on your syntax, I could see something like: 'x[_-]'

Thoughts?

[walmik]

I think this is definitely a new feature.

A hacky, unwieldy way that can be explored at least as a POC in the node module version (not the browser js) is to use the HDR speed and construct 2 clips and concat them before exporting. Basically you'd need to add a prop here for the required HDR speed (comments here have the description of what is HDR) https://github.com/scribbletune/scribbletune/blob/master/src/clip.js#L30

If that works out then we can put a new character in the pattern lingo for . Currently pattern only accepts

• x
• -
• _
• [
• ]

Some thought must be invested while developing this as it needs to also subsequently support the same in the browser along with Tone.js (which is a primary dependency for running Scribbletune in the browser)

All in all i believe this a great feature to have.