Making a basic music sequencer with minim

calmoo

I've started on a project to create a music sequencer with minim using instrument classes and playNote functions etc. I've got a sequence of notes working ok, but I have no way of looping them. Here's the main code:

import ddf.minim.*;
import ddf.minim.ugens.*;

Minim       minim;
AudioOutput out;
Delay myDelay;
int i;
int endSeq;

public void settings() {
  size(800, 300, P2D);
}

void setup() {

  minim = new Minim(this);
  out = minim.getLineOut();
  myDelay = new Delay(1.5,0.5, false,false);
  bassSeq(); // starts bass sequence function
  chordSeq(); // starts chord sequence function
}

void draw() {
}

And here's the bassSeq function which describes the whole bass sequence:

void bassSeq(){
float[] stepArray = {0.00, 0.75, 2.00, 2.5, 2.75, 3.5, 4, 4.5};
float[] decayArray = {1.0, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0};
float[] noteArray = {C2, F2, E2, G2, B2, C2, C2, B2};

for (i = 0; i <= 7; i++){

  out.pauseNotes();
  out.setTempo(125);
  out.playNote(stepArray[i], decayArray[i], new BassInstr(noteArray[i], 0.5, out ) );
  out.resumeNotes();

}
}

The problem is, if I put these functions in setup, they only play once. What ideally I'd want to do is iterate back to the start of i=0 so it gives the instruments the sequence from the start of the array after it is finished one loop. If I put the sequence functions in the draw loop, it sends the instrument notes incredibly fast (prob around 60fps if that's the default for draw). I've put a delay() function in the draw loop which does actually loop the music after the time but there's no way of giving delay a number that is totally accurate so it loops accurately.

Some help would be appreciated.

Chrisir

Does out have a isPlaying property?

Then check it in draw

If it's false call bassSeq

Chrisir

Avoid double questions/ posts

calmoo

I think isPlaying only applies to audio files, I can't get processing to recoginise the function.

KevinWorkman

Please link between crossposts: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/40743012/creating-a-basic-music-sequencer-with-minim-library-in-processing-trouble-with

calmoo

Ended up getting it working by adding a variable to the note startime parameter, so once the last item of the array is passed to the playNote function, x is reset and the total number of steps is added to each consecutive startime value, like so:

  out.playNote(stepArray[x] + b, decayArray[x], new ChordInstr(Fs4, 0.2, out ) );
  out.playNote(stepArray[x] + b, decayArray[x], new ChordInstr(B4, 0.2, out ) );
  out.playNote(stepArray[x] + b, decayArray[x], new ChordInstr(D5, 0.2, out ) );
   x = x +1;
  out.resumeNotes();
  if (x ==3){
    x = 0;
    b = b + 6;

Chrisir

curiosity :

could you post your entire code in one piece please?

also remember, you can hit ctrl-t in processing to get better indents

Thanks.

Chrisir

calmoo

Sure. It's in seperate tabs so might be a bit messy as a whole

import ddf.minim.*;
import ddf.minim.ugens.*;

Minim       minim;
AudioOutput out;
Delay myDelay;

int endSeq;
int x;

public void settings() {
  size(800, 300, P2D);
}

void setup() {

  minim = new Minim(this);
  out = minim.getLineOut();
  //myDelay = new Delay(1.5, 0.5, false, false);
  chordSeq();
  bassSeq();
}

void draw() {
}


void chordSeq() {
  float[] stepArray = {0.01, 2.00, 4.00, 6.00, };
  float[] decayArray = {1, 1, 1, 1};
  float[] noteArray = {C2, F2, E2, G2, B2, C2, C2, B2};
  int x = 0;
  float b = 0;

  //while(millis()<10000000){
  for (int i = 0; i <= 300; i++) {


    out.pauseNotes();
    out.setTempo(125);

    out.playNote(stepArray[x] + b, decayArray[x], new ChordInstr(Fs4, 0.2, out ) );
    out.playNote(stepArray[x] + b, decayArray[x], new ChordInstr(B4, 0.2, out ) );
    out.playNote(stepArray[x] + b, decayArray[x], new ChordInstr(D5, 0.2, out ) );
    x = x +1;
    out.resumeNotes();
    if (x ==3) {
      x = 0;
      b = b + 6;
    }
  }
  //println(i);
  //}
}

void bassSeq() {
  float[] stepArray = {0.00, 0.75, 2.00, 2.5, 2.75, 3.5, 4, 4.5};
  float[] decayArray = {1.0, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0};
  float[] noteArray = {C2, F2, E2, G2, B2, C2, C2, B2};
  int x = 0;
  float b = 0;
  for ( int i = 0; i <= 300; i++) {

    out.pauseNotes();
    out.setTempo(125);


    out.playNote(stepArray[x]+ b, decayArray[x], new BassInstr(noteArray[x], 0.5, out ) );
    out.resumeNotes();
    x++;
    if (x == 8) {
      b = b + 7;
      x = 0;
    }

    println(b);
  }
}

class ChordInstr implements Instrument { // creates an instrument class
  Oscil       wave;
  Damp damp; //initialises envelope function
  ChordInstr(float frequency, float amplitude, AudioOutput output) {

    out = output;

    wave = new Oscil(frequency, amplitude, Waves.SINE);
    damp = new Damp(1, 3);
    wave.patch(damp);
    wave.patch(myDelay);
  }

  void noteOn(float dur) {

    damp.setDampTimeFromDuration(dur);
    damp.activate();
    damp.patch(out);
  }

  void noteOff() {
    damp.unpatchAfterDamp(out);
  }
}

class BassInstr implements Instrument { // creates an instrument class
  Oscil       wave;
  Damp damp; //initialises envelope function
  BassInstr(float frequency, float amplitude, AudioOutput output) {

    out = output;

    wave = new Oscil(frequency, amplitude, Waves.TRIANGLE);
    damp = new Damp(0.0001, 1.5);
    wave.patch(damp);
    wave.patch(myDelay);
  }

  void noteOn(float dur) {

    damp.setDampTimeFromDuration(dur);
    damp.activate();
    damp.patch(out);
  }

  void noteOff() {
    damp.unpatchAfterDamp(out);
  }
}

Chrisir

but what are the values for

  float[] noteArray = {C2, F2, E2, G2, B2, C2, C2, B2};

?

Chrisir

and what is Delay?

thanks!

calmoo

I created a list of variables that contain the note name and their corresponding frequency values. This saves me from having to find the frequency of each note I want to play.

float C0  = 16.35;
float Cs0  =    17.32;
float D0    = 18.35;
float Ds0 = 19.45;
float E0    = 20.60;
float F0    = 21.83;
float Fs0 =     23.12;
float G0    = 24.50;
float Gs0 = 25.96;
float A0    = 27.50;
float As0 =     29.14;
float B0    = 30.87;
float C1    = 32.70;
float Cs1=      34.65;
float D1    = 36.71;
float Ds1=  38.89;
float E1    = 41.20;
float F1    = 43.65;
float Fs1=  46.25;
float G1    = 49.00;
float Gs1   =   51.91;
float A1    = 55.00;
float As1   =   58.27;
float B1    = 61.74;
float C2    = 65.41;
float Cs2   =   69.30;
float D2    = 73.42;
float Ds2    =      77.78;
float E2    = 82.41;
float F2    = 87.31;
float  Fs2=     92.50;
float G2    = 98.00;
float  Gs2=     103.83;
float A2    = 110.00;
float  As2=     116.54;
float B2    = 123.47;
float C3    = 130.81;
float  Cs3=     138.59;
float D3    = 146.83;
float  Ds3=     155.56;
float E3    = 164.81;
float F3    = 174.61;
float  Fs3=     185.00;
float G3    = 196.00;
float  Gs=      207.65;
float A3    = 220.00;
float  As3=     233.08;
float B3    = 246.94;
float C4    = 261.63;
float  Cs4=     277.18;
float D4    = 293.66;
float  Ds4=     311.13;
float E4    = 329.63;
float F4    = 349.23;
float  Fs4=     369.99;
float G4    = 392.00;
float  Gs4=     415.30;
float A4    = 440.00;
float  As4=     466.16;
float B4    = 493.88;
float C5    = 523.25;
float  Cs5=     554.37;
float D5    = 587.33;
float  Ds5=     622.25;
float E5    = 659.25;
float F5    = 698.46;
float  Fs5=     739.99;
float G5    = 783.99;
float  Gs5=     830.61;
float A5    = 880.00;
float  As5=     932.33;
float B5    = 987.77;
float C6    = 1046.50;
float  Cs6=     1108.73;
float D6    = 1174.66;
float  Ds6=     1244.51;
float E6    = 1318.51;
float F6    = 1396.91;
float  Fs6=     1479.98;
float G6    = 1567.98;
float  Gs6=     1661.22;
float A6    = 1760.00;
float  As6=     1864.66;
float B6    = 1975.53;
float C7    = 2093.00;
float  Cs7=     2217.46;
float D7    = 2349.32;
float  Ds7=     2489.02;
float E7    = 2637.02;
float F7    = 2793.83;
float  Fs7=     2959.96;
float G7    = 3135.96;
float  Gs7=     3322.44;
float A7    = 3520.00;
float  As7=     3729.31;
float B7    = 3951.07;
float C8    = 4186.01;
float  Cs8=     4434.92;
float D8    = 4698.63;
float  Ds8=     4978.03;
float E8    = 5274.04;
float F8    = 5587.65;
float  Fs8=     5919.91;
float G8    = 6271.93;
float  Gs8=     6644.88;
float A8    = 7040.00;
float  As8=     7458.62;
float B8    = 7902.13;

'Delay' is just an effect class with minim. It was a remaining piece of code from a tutorial I was doing, it's not used in this case.

Chrisir

thanks.

but it still doesn't run.

Now I get an error for :

  out.playNote(stepArray[x] + b, decayArray[x], new ChordInstr(Fs4, 0.2, out ) );

maybe because ChordInstr is not an Instrument?

How can I make it work?

calmoo

What does the error say?

Chrisir

The command playNote expects float, float, Instrument

Chrisir

i need to check, maybe I know why

does the sketch run for you?

calmoo

message me your email i will send you zip.

pzriddle

I, too, would like to learn from your code. Thanks for sharing what you've posted so far. Any chance you could post the whole thing? By which I mean enough to make this fragment work.