263 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
263 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
# Strudel Syntax Reference
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Complete reference for the Strudel live coding language (strudel.cc).
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## 1. Tempo & Timing
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```js
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setcps(BPM/60/4) // cycles per second — PREFERRED method
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setcpm(BPM/4) // cycles per minute — alternative
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// Default: 0.5 cps = 120 BPM = 1 cycle every 2 seconds
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```
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BPM to CPS conversion: `cps = BPM / 60 / 4` (assuming 4 beats per cycle).
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## 2. Mini-Notation (Pattern Language)
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Used inside quotes in functions like `sound("...")`, `note("...")`, `n("...")`.
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### Sequencing
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| Syntax | Meaning | Example |
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|--------|---------|---------|
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| `a b c` | Sequence (space-separated) | `sound("bd sd hh")` |
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| `[a b]` | Sub-sequence (squish into parent slot) | `sound("bd [hh hh] sd hh")` |
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| `a , b` | Play in parallel (polyrhythm) | `sound("bd sd, hh*4")` |
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| `< a b >` | Alternate: one per cycle | `sound("<bd sd hh>")` |
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| `~` or `-` | Rest / silence | `sound("bd ~ sd ~")` |
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### Speed & Duration
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| Syntax | Meaning | Example |
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|--------|---------|---------|
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| `a*N` | Repeat N times (speed up) | `sound("hh*16")` — 16 hi-hats per cycle |
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| `a/N` | Slow down by factor N | `note("[c e g b]/2")` — over 2 cycles |
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| `a@N` | Elongate: take N time units | `note("c@3 e")` — c is 3/4, e is 1/4 |
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| `a!N` | Replicate N times (copy) | `note("c!3 e")` — c c c e |
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### Sample Selection
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| Syntax | Meaning | Example |
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|--------|---------|---------|
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| `name:N` | Sample number N | `sound("bd:0 bd:1 bd:2")` |
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### Advanced Mini-Notation
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| Syntax | Meaning | Example |
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|--------|---------|---------|
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| `a?` | 50% chance of playing | `sound("hh hh? hh hh?")` |
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| `a?0.3` | 30% chance of playing | `sound("hh?0.3")` |
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| `{a b c}%N` | Euclidean rhythm | `sound("{bd bd bd}%8")` |
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## 3. Core Functions
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### Sound Sources
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```js
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sound("bd sd hh cp") // play samples by name (alias: s)
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note("c3 e3 g3 b3") // play pitched notes (letter or MIDI number)
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n("0 2 4 6") // play by index (useful with .scale())
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```
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### Sound Selection
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```js
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.sound("piano") // set instrument/sample
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.s("piano") // shorthand for .sound()
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.bank("RolandTR909") // select drum machine bank
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.n("0 1 2 3") // sample number within a sound
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```
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### Drum Sound Names
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`bd` (bass drum), `sd` (snare), `hh` (hi-hat closed), `oh` (open hi-hat),
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`cp` (clap), `rim` (rimshot), `lt` (low tom), `mt` (mid tom), `ht` (high tom),
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`rd` (ride), `cr` (crash)
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### Drum Machine Banks
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`RolandTR808`, `RolandTR909`, `RolandTR707`, `RolandTR505`,
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`RolandCompurhythm1000`, `AkaiLinn`, `RhythmAce`, `ViscoSpaceDrum`, `CasioRZ1`
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### Synth Waveforms (use as sound name)
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`sawtooth`, `square`, `triangle`, `sine`, `white`, `pink`, `brown`
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### GM Instrument Sounds (selection)
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`piano`, `gm_electric_guitar_muted`, `gm_acoustic_bass`, `gm_synth_bass_1`,
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`gm_synth_bass_2`, `gm_voice_oohs`, `gm_blown_bottle`, `gm_synth_strings_1`,
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`gm_synth_strings_2`, `gm_xylophone`, `gm_accordion`, `gm_electric_piano_1`
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## 4. Effects
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### Filter
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```js
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.lpf(800) // low-pass filter cutoff in Hz
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.hpf(200) // high-pass filter cutoff in Hz
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.bpf(1000) // band-pass filter
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.lpq(5) // filter resonance (Q) — higher = more resonant
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.vowel("a e i o") // vowel formant filter
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```
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### Amplitude
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```js
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.gain(0.8) // volume 0-1+
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.velocity(0.7) // MIDI-style velocity
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```
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### Envelope (ADSR)
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```js
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.attack(0.1) // fade in time (seconds)
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.decay(0.2) // fade to sustain time
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.sustain(0.5) // sustain level 0-1
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.release(0.3) // fade out time after note ends
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.adsr(".1:.2:.5:.3") // shorthand: attack:decay:sustain:release
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```
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### Space
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```js
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.room(0.5) // reverb amount 0-1+
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.size(0.9) // reverb room size 0-1
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.delay(0.5) // delay amount 0-1
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.delaytime(0.25) // delay time in seconds (or pattern)
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.delayfeedback(0.5) // delay feedback 0-1
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.pan(0.5) // stereo position 0=left, 0.5=center, 1=right
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```
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### Playback
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```js
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.speed(2) // playback speed (negative = reverse)
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.begin(0.25) // start position in sample 0-1
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.end(0.75) // end position in sample 0-1
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.cut(1) // cut group — stops previous sound in same group
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.loop(1) // loop the sample
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```
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### Distortion & Character
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```js
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.distort(0.5) // distortion amount
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.crush(8) // bit crush (lower = crunchier)
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.coarse(8) // sample rate reduction
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.shape(0.5) // waveshaping distortion
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```
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## 5. Signals (Continuous Modulation)
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Signals produce smooth continuous values for automating parameters.
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```js
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sine // smooth wave 0-1
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saw // ramp up 0-1
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tri // triangle 0-1
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square // on/off 0-1
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cosine // cosine wave 0-1
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rand // random values
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perlin // smooth random (Perlin noise)
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```
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### Signal Modifiers
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```js
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sine.range(200, 2000) // remap to range
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sine.range(200, 2000).slow(4) // slow down the LFO
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sine.range(200, 2000).fast(2) // speed up the LFO
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sine.segment(8) // quantize to 8 steps
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```
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### Usage
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```js
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.lpf(sine.range(300, 3000).slow(4)) // sweeping filter
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.gain(sine.range(0.2, 0.8)) // pulsing volume
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.pan(sine.range(0, 1).slow(2)) // auto-pan
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```
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## 6. Pattern Manipulation Functions
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### Time
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```js
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.fast(2) // speed up pattern 2x
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.slow(2) // slow down pattern 2x
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.early(0.25) // shift pattern earlier by 1/4 cycle
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.late(0.25) // shift pattern later
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```
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### Structural
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```js
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.rev() // reverse the pattern
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.palindrome() // play forward then backward
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.ply(2) // repeat each event N times
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.chop(8) // chop each sample into N pieces
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.striate(8) // similar to chop but interleaved
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```
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### Conditional
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```js
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.every(4, x => x.rev()) // apply every 4th cycle
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.every(3, x => x.fast(2)) // double speed every 3rd cycle
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.sometimes(x => x.speed(2)) // 50% chance
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.sometimesBy(0.3, x => x.rev()) // 30% chance
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.when(x => x % 2 === 0, x => x.rev()) // conditional
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```
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### Combination
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```js
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.jux(rev) // play original left, modified right
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.off(1/8, x => x.add(7)) // offset copy + modify
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.add(2) // add to note values
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.sub(1) // subtract from note values
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```
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### Stacking Patterns
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```js
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// Method 1: $: prefix (PREFERRED for multi-pattern)
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$: sound("bd sd")
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$: note("c3 e3 g3")
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// Method 2: stack() function (single expression)
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stack(
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sound("bd sd"),
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note("c3 e3 g3")
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)
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// Method 3: comma in mini-notation (within one function)
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sound("bd sd, hh*8")
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```
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## 7. Scales & Tonal System
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```js
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n("0 2 4 6").scale("C:minor") // scale degrees
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n("0 2 4 6").scale("C4:minor") // with octave
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n("0 2 4 6").scale("<C:minor D:dorian>/4") // changing scales
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```
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### Available Scales
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`major`, `minor`, `dorian`, `phrygian`, `lydian`, `mixolydian`, `locrian`,
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`minor:pentatonic`, `major:pentatonic`, `blues`, `chromatic`,
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`harmonicMinor`, `melodicMinor`, `whole`, `diminished`
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### Voicings (Chord Shorthand)
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```js
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voicing("<Cm7 Fm7 G7 Cm7>").sound("piano")
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```
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## 8. Sample Loading
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```js
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samples('github:tidalcycles/dirt-samples') // load from GitHub
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samples({ mySound: ['url1.wav', 'url2.wav'] }) // custom
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```
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## 9. Muting & Soloing
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```js
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$: sound("bd sd") // playing
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_$: sound("hh*8") // muted (prefix with _)
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// .hush() // append to mute one pattern
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// hush() // global mute
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```
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## 10. Variables & JavaScript
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Strudel is JavaScript — you can use variables, functions, arrays:
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```js
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const drums = s("bd sd [~ bd] sd").bank("RolandTR909")
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const hats = s("hh*8").bank("RolandTR909").gain(0.3)
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const bass = note("c2 ~ c2 ~ eb2 ~ g1 ~").sound("sawtooth").lpf(600)
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$: drums
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$: hats
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$: bass
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```
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