---
title: Recipes
layout: ../../layouts/MainLayout.astro
---
import { MiniRepl } from '../../docs/MiniRepl';
# Recipes
This page shows possible ways to achieve common (or not so common) musical goals.
There are often many ways to do a thing and there is no right or wrong.
The fun part is that each representation will give you different impulses when improvising.
## Arpeggios
An arpeggio is when the notes of a chord are played in sequence.
We can either write the notes by hand:
...or use scales:
...or chord symbols:
...using off:
## Chopping Breaks
A sample can be looped and chopped like this:
This fits the break into 8 cycles + chops it in 16 pieces.
The chops are not audible yet, because we're not doing any manipulation.
Let's add randmized doubling + reversing:
If we want to specify the order of samples, we can replace `chop` with `slice`:
*2")
.cut(1).rarely(ply("2"))`}
punchcard
/>
If we use `splice` instead of `slice`, the speed adjusts to the duration of the event:
*2")
.cut(1).rarely(ply("2"))`}
punchcard
/>
Note that we don't need `fit`, because `splice` will do that by itself.
## Filter Envelopes
Using `lpenv`, we can make the filter move:
d2")
.s("sawtooth")
.lpf(400).lpenv(4)
.scope()`}
/>
The type of envelope depends on the methods you're setting. Let's set `lpa`:
d2")
.s("sawtooth").lpq(8)
.lpf(400).lpa(.2).lpenv(4)
.scope()`}
/>
Now the filter is attacking, rather than decaying as before (decay is the default). We can also do both
d2")
.s("sawtooth").lpq(8)
.lpf(400).lpa(.1).lpd(.1).lpenv(4)
.scope()`}
/>
You can play around with `lpa` | `lpd` | `lps` | `lpd` to see what the filter envelope will do.
## Layering Sounds
We can layer sounds by separating them with ",":
")
.s("sawtooth, square") // <------
.scope()`}
/>
We can control the gain of individual sounds like this:
")
.s("sawtooth, square:0:.5") // <--- "name:number:gain"
.scope()`}
/>
For more control over each voice, we can use `layer`:
").layer(
x=>x.s("sawtooth").vib(4),
x=>x.s("square").add(note(12))
).scope()`}
/>
Here, we give the sawtooth a vibrato and the square is moved an octave up.
With `layer`, you can use any pattern method available on each voice, so sky is the limit..
## Oscillator Detune
We can fatten a sound by adding a detuned version to itself:
")
.add(note("0,.1")) // <------ chorus
.s("sawtooth").scope()`}
punchcard
/>
Try out different values, or add another voice!
## Polyrhythms
Here is a simple example of a polyrhythm:
A polyrhythm is when 2 different tempos happen at the same time.
## Polymeter
This is a polymeter:
*4")`} punchcard />
A polymeter is when 2 different bar lengths play at the same tempo.
## Phasing
This is a phasing:
*[6,6.1]").piano()`} punchcard />
Phasing happens when the same sequence plays at slightly different tempos.
## Running through samples
Using `run` with `n`, we can rush through a sample bank:
This works great with sample banks that contain similar sounds, like in this case different recordings of a tabla.
Often times, you'll hear the beginning of the phrase not where the pattern begins.
In this case, I hear the beginning at the third sample, which can be accounted for with `early`.
Let's add some randomness:
## Tape Warble
We can emulate a pitch warbling effect like this:
*8")
.add(note(perlin.range(0,.5))) // <------ warble
.clip(2).s("gm_electric_guitar_clean")`}
/>
## Sound Duration
There are a number of ways to change the sound duration. Using clip:
")`}
/>
The value of clip is relative to the duration of each event.
We can also create overlaps using release:
")`}
/>
This will smoothly fade out each sound for the given number of seconds.
We could also make the notes shorter by using a decay envelope:
")`}
/>
When using samples, we also have `.end` to cut relative to the sample length:
")`} />
Compare that to clip:
")`} />
or decay:
")`} />
## Wavetable Synthesis
You can loop a sample with `loop` / `loopEnd`:
").s("bd").loop(1).loopEnd(.05).gain(.2)`} />
This allows us to play the first 5% of the bass drum as a synth!
To simplify loading wavetables, any sample that starts with `wt_` will be looped automatically:
Running through different wavetables can also give interesting variations:
...adding a filter envelope + reverb: