Signal Processing in SuperCollider

1. A Tour of available Unit Generators.

SuperCollider has over 250 unit generators.

If you count the unary and binary operators, there are over 300.

This tour covers many, but not all of them.

categories of unit generators:

sources: periodic, aperiodic

filters

distortion

panning

reverbs

delays and buffer ugens

granular synthesis

control: envelopes, triggers, counters, gates, lags, decays

spectral

2. Techniques

broadening a sound:

decorrelation, beat frequencies, delays.

series and parallel structures.

Note: The "Help browser" (Help.gui) contains a category for UGens, which provides another useful way to get an overview of the available UGens, including those which were created since this tour was written.

(

s = Server.internal;

Server.default = s;

s.boot;

)

Periodic Sources: Oscillators.

LF - "Low Frequency" Unit Generators.

LFPar, LFCub, LFTri, Impulse, LFSaw, LFPulse, VarSaw, SyncSaw

geometric waveforms, not band limited.

will cause aliasing at higher frequencies.

LFPar, LFCub, LFTri, LFSaw, Impulse

arguments: frequency, phase, mul, add

// parabolic approximation of sine

{ LFPar.ar(LFPar.kr(LFPar.kr(0.2,0,8,10),0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFPar.ar(LFPar.kr(0.2, 0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFPar.ar(800,0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

// since it is not band limited, there are aliasing artifacts

{ LFPar.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

// cubic approximation of sine

{ LFCub.ar(LFCub.kr(LFCub.kr(0.2,0,8,10),0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFCub.ar(LFCub.kr(0.2, 0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFCub.ar(800,0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFCub.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFTri.ar(LFTri.kr(LFTri.kr(0.2,0,8,10),0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFTri.ar(LFTri.kr(0.2, 0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFTri.ar(800,0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFTri.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFSaw.ar(LFSaw.kr(LFSaw.kr(0.2,0,8,10),0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFSaw.ar(LFSaw.kr(0.2, 0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFSaw.ar(100,0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFSaw.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ Impulse.ar(LFTri.kr(LFTri.kr(0.2,0,8,10),0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ Impulse.ar(LFTri.kr(0.2, 0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ Impulse.ar(100,0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ Impulse.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

LFPulse, VarSaw

arguments: frequency, phase, width, mul, add

{ LFPulse.ar(LFPulse.kr(LFPulse.kr(0.2,0,0.5,8,10),0,0.5, 400,800),0,0.5,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFPulse.ar(LFPulse.kr(3, 0, 0.3, 200, 200), 0, 0.2, 0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFPulse.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0,0.5,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

// pulse width modulation

{ LFPulse.ar(100,0,MouseY.kr(0,1),0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ LFPulse.ar(100,0,LFTri.kr(0.2,0,0.5,0.5),0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ VarSaw.ar(VarSaw.kr(VarSaw.kr(0.2,0,0.2,8,10),0,0.2, 400,800),0,0.2,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ VarSaw.ar(VarSaw.kr(0.2, 0, 0.2, 400,800),0,0.2,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ VarSaw.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0,0.2,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

// pulse width modulation

{ VarSaw.ar(100,0,MouseY.kr(0,1),0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ VarSaw.ar(100,0,LFTri.kr(0.2,0,0.5,0.5),0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

SyncSaw

arguments: syncFreq, sawFreq, mul, add

{ SyncSaw.ar(100, MouseX.kr(100, 1000), 0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ SyncSaw.ar(100, Line.kr(100, 800, 12), 0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

Band Limited Oscillators

SinOsc, FSinOsc, Blip, Saw, Pulse

will not alias.

SinOsc, FSinOsc

arguments: frequency, phase, mul, add

{ SinOsc.ar(SinOsc.kr(SinOsc.kr(0.2,0,8,10),0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ SinOsc.ar(SinOsc.kr(0.2, 0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ SinOsc.ar(800,0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ SinOsc.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

{ FSinOsc.ar(800,0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

// FSinOsc should not be frequency modulated.

// Since it is based on a filter at the edge of stability, it will blow up:

{ FSinOsc.ar(FSinOsc.kr(FSinOsc.kr(0.2,0,8,10),0, 400,800),0,0.1) }.scope(1, zoom: 4);

Blip

arguments: frequency, numHarmonics, mul, add

{ Blip.ar(XLine.kr(20000,200,6),100,0.2) }.scope(1);

{ Blip.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),100,0.2) }.scope(1); // no aliasing

// modulate number of harmonics

{ Blip.ar(200,Line.kr(1,100,20),0.2) }.scope(1);

Saw

arguments: frequency, mul, add

{ Saw.ar(XLine.kr(20000,200,6),0.2) }.scope(1);

{ Saw.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0.2) }.scope(1); // no aliasing

Pulse

arguments: frequency, width, mul, add

{ Pulse.ar(XLine.kr(20000,200,6),0.3,0.2) }.scope(1);

{ Pulse.ar(XLine.kr(100,15000,6),0.3,0.2) }.scope(1); // no aliasing

// modulate pulse width

{ Pulse.ar(200, Line.kr(0.01,0.99,8), 0.2) }.scope(1);

// two band limited square waves thru a resonant low pass filter

{ RLPF.ar(Pulse.ar([100,250],0.5,0.1), XLine.kr(8000,400,5), 0.05) }.scope(1);

Klang - sine oscillator bank

arguments: `[ frequencies, amplitudes, phases ], mul, add

{ Klang.ar(`[ [800, 1000, 1200],[0.3, 0.3, 0.3],[pi,pi,pi]], 1, 0) * 0.4}.scope(1);

{ Klang.ar(`[ {exprand(400, 2000)}.dup(16), nil, nil ], 1, 0) * 0.04 }.scope(1);

Table Oscillators

Osc, COsc, VOsc, VOsc3

Use a buffer allocated on the server.

Osc

arguments: buffer number, frequency, phase, mul, add.

(

b = Buffer.alloc(s, 2048, 1, bufnum: 80);

b.sine1(1.0/(1..6), true, true, true);

)

{ Osc.ar(80, 100, 0, 0.1) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

b.sine1(1.0/(1..12));

b.sine1(1.0/(1..24));

b.sine1(1.0/(1..32));

b.sine1([1.0/(1,3..12), 0].flop.flat.postln);

b.sine1([1.0/(1,3..32).squared, 0].flop.flat.postln);

b.sine1((1.dup(4) ++ 0.dup(8)).scramble.postln);

b.sine1((1.dup(4) ++ 0.dup(8)).scramble.postln);

b.sine1((1.dup(4) ++ 0.dup(8)).scramble.postln);

b.sine1((1.dup(4) ++ 0.dup(8)).scramble.postln);

b.sine1({1.0.rand2.cubed}.dup(8).round(1e-3).postln);

b.sine1({1.0.rand2.cubed}.dup(12).round(1e-3).postln);

b.sine1({1.0.rand2.cubed}.dup(16).round(1e-3).postln);

b.sine1({1.0.rand2.cubed}.dup(24).round(1e-3).postln);

COsc - two oscillators, detuned

arguments: buffer number, frequency, beat frequency, mul, add.

b.sine1(1.0/(1..6), true, true, true);

{ COsc.ar(80, 100, 1, 0.1) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

// change buffer as above.

VOsc - multiple wave table crossfade oscillators

arguments: buffer number, frequency, phase, mul, add.

(

// allocate tables 80 to 87

8.do {|i| s.sendMsg(\b_alloc, 80+i, 1024); };

)

(

// fill tables 80 to 87

8.do({|i|

var n, a;

// generate array of harmonic amplitudes

n = (i+1)**2; // num harmonics for each table: [1,4,9,16,25,36,49,64]

a = {|j| ((n-j)/n).squared }.dup(n);

// fill table

s.listSendMsg([\b_gen, 80+i, \sine1, 7] ++ a);

});

)

{ VOsc.ar(MouseX.kr(80,87), 120, 0, 0.3) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

(

// allocate and fill tables 80 to 87

8.do({|i|

// generate array of harmonic amplitudes

a = {1.0.rand2.cubed }.dup((i+1)*4);

// fill table

s.listSendMsg([\b_gen, 80+i, \sine1, 7] ++ a);

});

)

VOsc3 - three VOscs summed.

arguments: buffer number, freq1, freq2, freq3, beat frequency, mul, add.

// chorusing

{ VOsc3.ar(MouseX.kr(80,87), 120, 121.04, 119.37, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

// chords

{ VOsc3.ar(MouseX.kr(80,87), 120, 151.13, 179.42, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

Aperiodic Sources: Noise.

LF "Low Frequency" Noise Generators.

LFNoise0, LFNoise1, LFNoise2, LFClipNoise

arguments: frequency, mul, add

{ LFClipNoise.ar(MouseX.kr(200, 10000, 1), 0.125) }.scope(1);

{ LFNoise0.ar(MouseX.kr(200, 10000, 1), 0.25) }.scope(1);

{ LFNoise1.ar(MouseX.kr(200, 10000, 1), 0.25) }.scope(1);

{ LFNoise2.ar(MouseX.kr(200, 10000, 1), 0.25) }.scope(1);

// used as controls

{ LFPar.ar(LFClipNoise.kr(MouseX.kr(0.5, 64, 1), 200, 400), 0, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:8);

{ LFPar.ar(LFNoise0.kr(MouseX.kr(0.5, 64, 1), 200, 400), 0, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:8);

{ LFPar.ar(LFNoise1.kr(MouseX.kr(0.5, 64, 1), 200, 400), 0, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:8);

{ LFPar.ar(LFNoise2.kr(MouseX.kr(0.5, 64, 1), 200, 400), 0, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:8);

Broad Spectrum Noise Generators

ClipNoise, WhiteNoise, PinkNoise, BrownNoise, GrayNoise

arguments: mul, add

{ ClipNoise.ar(0.2) }.scope(1);

{ WhiteNoise.ar(0.2) }.scope(1);

{ PinkNoise.ar(0.4) }.scope(1);

{ BrownNoise.ar(0.2) }.scope(1);

{ GrayNoise.ar(0.2) }.scope(1);

Impulse Noise Generators

Dust, Dust2

arguments: density, mul, add

{ Dust.ar(MouseX.kr(1,10000,1), 0.4) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

{ Dust2.ar(MouseX.kr(1,10000,1), 0.4) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

Chaotic Noise Generators

Crackle

arguments: chaosParam, mul, add

{ Crackle.ar(MouseX.kr(1,2), 0.5) }.scope(1);

Filters

Low Pass, High Pass

LPF, HPF - 12 dB / octave

arguments: in, freq, mul, add

{ LPF.ar(WhiteNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ HPF.ar(WhiteNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ LPF.ar(Saw.ar(100), MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ HPF.ar(Saw.ar(100), MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.2) }.scope(1);

Band Pass, Band Cut

BPF, BRF - 12 dB / octave

arguments: in, freq, rq, mul, add

rq is the reciprocal of the Q of the filter,

or in other words: the bandwidth in Hertz = rq * freq.

{ BPF.ar(WhiteNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.4, 0.4) }.scope(1);

{ BRF.ar(WhiteNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.4, 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ BPF.ar(Saw.ar(100), MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.4, 0.4) }.scope(1);

{ BRF.ar(Saw.ar(100), MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.4, 0.2) }.scope(1);

// modulating the bandwidth

{ BPF.ar(WhiteNoise.ar, 3000, MouseX.kr(0.01,0.7,1), 0.4) }.scope(1);

Resonant Low Pass, High Pass, Band Pass

RLPF, RHPF - 12 dB / octave

arguments: in, freq, rq, mul, add

{ RLPF.ar(WhiteNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.2, 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ RHPF.ar(WhiteNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.2, 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ RLPF.ar(Saw.ar(100), MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.2, 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ RHPF.ar(Saw.ar(100), MouseX.kr(1e2,2e4,1), 0.2, 0.2) }.scope(1);

Resonz - resonant band pass filter with uniform amplitude

arguments: in, freq, rq, mul, add

// modulate frequency

{ Resonz.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.5), XLine.kr(1000,8000,10), 0.05) }.scope(1);

// modulate bandwidth

{ Resonz.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.5), 2000, XLine.kr(1, 0.001, 8)) }.scope(1);

// modulate bandwidth opposite direction

{ Resonz.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.5), 2000, XLine.kr(0.001, 1, 8)) }.scope(1);

Ringz - ringing filter.

Internally it is the same as Resonz but the bandwidth is expressed as a ring time.

arguments: in, frequency, ring time, mul, add

{ Ringz.ar(Dust.ar(3, 0.3), 2000, 2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

{ Ringz.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.005), 2000, 0.5) }.scope(1);

// modulate frequency

{ Ringz.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.005), XLine.kr(100,3000,10), 0.5) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

{ Ringz.ar(Impulse.ar(6, 0, 0.3), XLine.kr(100,3000,10), 0.5) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

// modulate ring time

{ Ringz.ar(Impulse.ar(6, 0, 0.3), 2000, XLine.kr(0.04, 4, 8)) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

Simpler Filters

6 dB / octave

{ OnePole.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.5), MouseX.kr(-0.99, 0.99)) }.scope(1);

{ OneZero.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.5), MouseX.kr(-0.49, 0.49)) }.scope(1);

NonLinear Filters

Median, Slew

// a signal with impulse noise.

{ Saw.ar(500, 0.1) + Dust2.ar(100, 0.9) }.scope(1);

// after applying median filter

{ Median.ar(3, Saw.ar(500, 0.1) + Dust2.ar(100, 0.9)) }.scope(1);

// a signal with impulse noise.

{ Saw.ar(500, 0.1) + Dust2.ar(100, 0.9) }.scope(1);

// after applying slew rate limiter

{ Slew.ar(Saw.ar(500, 0.1) + Dust2.ar(100, 0.9),1000,1000) }.scope(1);

Formant Filter

Formlet - A filter whose impulse response is similar to a FOF grain.

{ Formlet.ar(Impulse.ar(MouseX.kr(2,300,1), 0, 0.4), 800, 0.01, 0.1) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

Klank - resonant filter bank

arguments: `[ frequencies, amplitudes, ring times ], mul, add

{ Klank.ar(`[[200, 671, 1153, 1723], nil, [1, 1, 1, 1]], Impulse.ar(2, 0, 0.1)) }.play;

{ Klank.ar(`[[200, 671, 1153, 1723], nil, [1, 1, 1, 1]], Dust.ar(8, 0.1)) }.play;

{ Klank.ar(`[[200, 671, 1153, 1723], nil, [1, 1, 1, 1]], PinkNoise.ar(0.007)) }.play;

{ Klank.ar(`[ {exprand(200, 4000)}.dup(12), nil, nil ], PinkNoise.ar(0.007)) }.scope(1);

{ Klank.ar(`[ (1..13)*200, 1/(1..13), nil ], PinkNoise.ar(0.01)) }.scope(1);

{ Klank.ar(`[ (1,3..13)*200, 1/(1,3..13), nil ], PinkNoise.ar(0.01)) }.scope(1);

Distortion

abs, max, squared, cubed

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, 0.2).abs }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, 0.2).max(0) }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0).squared * 0.2 }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0).cubed * 0.2 }.scope(1);

distort, softclip, clip2, fold2, wrap2,

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, MouseX.kr(0.1,80,1)).distort * 0.2 }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, MouseX.kr(0.1,80,1)).softclip * 0.2 }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, MouseX.kr(0.1,80,1)).clip2(1) * 0.2 }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, MouseX.kr(0.1,80,1)).fold2(1) * 0.2 }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, MouseX.kr(0.1,80,1)).wrap2(1) * 0.2 }.scope(1);

{ SinOsc.ar(300, 0, MouseX.kr(0.1,80,1)).wrap2(1) * 0.2 }.scope(1);

scaleneg

{ SinOsc.ar(200, 0, 0.2).scaleneg(MouseX.kr(-1,1)) }.scope(1);

waveshaping by phase modulating a 0 Hz sine oscillator

(currently there is a limit of 8pi)

(

{

var in;

in = SinOsc.ar(300, 0, MouseX.kr(0.1,8pi,1));

SinOsc.ar(0, in, 0.2); // 0 Hz sine oscillator

}.scope(1);

)

Shaper

input is used to look up a value in a table.

Chebyshev polynomials are typically used to fill the table.

s.sendMsg(\b_alloc, 80, 1024); // allocate table

// fill with chebyshevs

s.listSendMsg([\b_gen, 80, \cheby, 7] ++ {1.0.rand2.squared}.dup(6));

{ Shaper.ar(80, SinOsc.ar(600, 0, MouseX.kr(0,1))) * 0.3; }.scope(1);

s.listSendMsg([\b_gen, 80, \cheby, 7] ++ {1.0.rand2.squared}.dup(6));

s.listSendMsg([\b_gen, 80, \cheby, 7] ++ {1.0.rand2.squared}.dup(6));

Panning

(

s = Server.internal;

Server.default = s;

s.quit;

s.options.numOutputBusChannels = 8;

s.options.numInputBusChannels = 8;

s.boot;

)

Pan2 - equal power stereo pan a mono source

arguments: in, pan position, level

pan controls typically range from -1 to +1

{ Pan2.ar(BrownNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(-1,1), 0.3) }.scope(2);

{ Pan2.ar(BrownNoise.ar, SinOsc.kr(0.2), 0.3) }.scope(2);

LinPan2 - linear pan a mono source (not equal power)

arguments: in, pan position, level

{ LinPan2.ar(BrownNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(-1,1), 0.3) }.scope(2);

{ LinPan2.ar(BrownNoise.ar, SinOsc.kr(0.2), 0.3) }.scope(2);

Balance2 - balance a stereo source

arguments: left in, right in, pan position, level

{ Balance2.ar(BrownNoise.ar, BrownNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(-1,1), 0.3) }.scope(2);

Pan4 - equal power quad panner

{ Pan4.ar(BrownNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(-1,1), MouseY.kr(1,-1), 0.3) }.scope(4);

PanAz - azimuth panner to any number of channels

arguments: num channels, in, pan position, level, width

{ PanAz.ar(5, BrownNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(-1,1), 0.3, 2) }.scope(5);

// change width to 3

{ PanAz.ar(5, BrownNoise.ar, MouseX.kr(-1,1), 0.3, 3) }.scope(5);

XFade2 - equal power cross fade between two inputs

arguments: in1, in2, crossfade, level

{ XFade2.ar(BrownNoise.ar, SinOsc.ar(500), MouseX.kr(-1,1), 0.3) }.scope(1);

PanB2 and DecodeB2 - 2D ambisonics panner and decoder

(

{

var w, x, y, p, lf, rf, rr, lr;

p = BrownNoise.ar; // source

// B-format encode

#w, x, y = PanB2.ar(p, MouseX.kr(-1,1), 0.3);

// B-format decode to quad. outputs in clockwise order

#lf, rf, rr, lr = DecodeB2.ar(4, w, x, y);

[lf, rf, lr, rr] // reorder to my speaker arrangement: Lf Rf Lr Rr

}.scope(4);

)

Rotate2 - rotate a sound field of ambisonic or even stereo sound.

(

{

// rotation of stereo sound via mouse

var x, y;

x = Mix.fill(4, { LFSaw.ar(200 + 2.0.rand2, 0, 0.1) }); // left in

y = WhiteNoise.ar * LFPulse.kr(3,0,0.7,0.2); // right in

#x, y = Rotate2.ar(x, y, MouseX.kr(0,2));

[x,y]

}.scope(2);

)

Reverbs

FreeVerb

(

{

// play with the room size

var x;

x = Klank.ar(`[[200, 671, 1153, 1723], nil, [1, 1, 1, 1]], Dust.ar(2, 0.1));

x = Pan2.ar(x, -0.2);

x = [x[0], DelayC.ar(x[1], 0.01, 0.01)]; // de-correlate

FreeVerb.ar(x, 0.75, 0.9, 0.4);

}.scope;

)

GVerb

(

{

// play with the room size

var x;

x = Klank.ar(`[[200, 671, 1153, 1723], nil, [1, 1, 1, 1]], Dust.ar(2, 0.1));

GVerb.ar(x, 105, 5, 0.7, 0.8, 60, 0.1, 0.5, 0.4) + x;

}.scope;

)

Delays and Buffer UGens

DelayN, DelayL, DelayC

simple delays

N - no interpolation

L - linear interpolation

C - cubic interpolation

arguments: in, maximum delay time, current delay time, mul, add

(

// Dust randomly triggers Decay to create an exponential

// decay envelope for the WhiteNoise input source

{

z = Decay.ar(Dust.ar(1,0.5), 0.3, WhiteNoise.ar);

DelayN.ar(z, 0.1, 0.1, 1, z); // input is mixed with delay via the add input

}.scope(1, zoom: 4)

)

(

{

z = Decay.ar(Impulse.ar(2,0,0.4), 0.3, WhiteNoise.ar);

DelayL.ar(z, 0.3, MouseX.kr(0,0.3), 1, z); // input is mixed with delay via the add input

}.scope(1, zoom: 4)

)

CombN, CombL, CombC

feedback delays

arguments: in, maximum delay time, current delay time, echo decay time, mul, add

// used as an echo.

{ CombN.ar(Decay.ar(Dust.ar(1,0.5), 0.2, WhiteNoise.ar), 0.2, 0.2, 3) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

// Comb used as a resonator. The resonant fundamental is equal to

// reciprocal of the delay time.

{ CombN.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.02), 0.01, XLine.kr(0.0001, 0.01, 20), 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ CombL.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.02), 0.01, XLine.kr(0.0001, 0.01, 20), 0.2) }.scope(1);

{ CombC.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.02), 0.01, XLine.kr(0.0001, 0.01, 20), 0.2) }.scope(1);

// with negative feedback:

{ CombN.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.02), 0.01, XLine.kr(0.0001, 0.01, 20), -0.2) }.scope(1);

{ CombL.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.02), 0.01, XLine.kr(0.0001, 0.01, 20), -0.2) }.scope(1);

{ CombC.ar(WhiteNoise.ar(0.02), 0.01, XLine.kr(0.0001, 0.01, 20), -0.2) }.scope(1);

{ CombC.ar(Decay.ar(Dust.ar(1,0.1), 0.2, WhiteNoise.ar), 1/100, 1/100, 3) }.play;

{ CombC.ar(Decay.ar(Dust.ar(1,0.1), 0.2, WhiteNoise.ar), 1/200, 1/200, 3) }.play;

{ CombC.ar(Decay.ar(Dust.ar(1,0.1), 0.2, WhiteNoise.ar), 1/300, 1/300, 3) }.play;

{ CombC.ar(Decay.ar(Dust.ar(1,0.1), 0.2, WhiteNoise.ar), 1/400, 1/400, 3) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

AllpassN, AllpassL, AllpassC

allpass delay

arguments: in, maximum delay time, current delay time, echo decay time, mul, add

(

{

var z;

z = Decay.ar(Dust.ar(1,0.5), 0.1, WhiteNoise.ar);

8.do { z = AllpassL.ar(z, 0.04, 0.04.rand, 2) };

z

}.scope(1);

)

PlayBuf

buffer playback

arguments: numChannels, buffer number, rate, trigger, start pos, loop

// read sound

b = Buffer.read(s, "sounds/a11wlk01.wav");

{ SinOsc.ar(800 + (700 * PlayBuf.ar(1,b, BufRateScale.kr(b), loop:1)),0,0.3) }.scope(1);

// loop is true

{ PlayBuf.ar(1,b, BufRateScale.kr(b), loop:1) }.scope(1);

// trigger one shot on each pulse

(

{

var trig;

trig = Impulse.kr(2.0);

PlayBuf.ar(1,b,BufRateScale.kr(b),trig,0,0);

}.scope(1);

)

// trigger one shot on each pulse

(

{

var trig;

trig = Impulse.kr(XLine.kr(0.1,100,30));

PlayBuf.ar(1,b,BufRateScale.kr(b),trig,5000,0);

}.scope(1);

)

// mouse control of trigger rate and startpos

(

{

var trig;

trig = Impulse.kr(MouseY.kr(0.5,200,1));

PlayBuf.ar(1,b,BufRateScale.kr(b),trig,MouseX.kr(0,BufFrames.kr(b)),1)

}.scope(1);

)

// accelerating pitch

(

{

var rate;

rate = XLine.kr(0.1,100,60);

PlayBuf.ar(1, b, rate, 1.0,0.0, 1.0)

}.scope(1);

)

// sine wave control of playback rate. negative rate plays backwards

(

{

var rate;

rate = FSinOsc.kr(XLine.kr(0.2,8,30), 0, 3, 0.6);

PlayBuf.ar(1,b,BufRateScale.kr(b)*rate,1,0,1)

}.scope(1);

)

// zig zag around sound

(

{

var rate;

rate = LFNoise2.kr(XLine.kr(1,20,60), 2);

PlayBuf.ar(1,b,BufRateScale.kr(b) * rate,1,0,1)

}.scope(1);

)

// free sound

b.free;

Granular Synthesis.

TGrains

granulation of a buffer

arguments: numChannels, trigger, buffer number, rate, center pos, dur, pan, amp, interpolation

// read sound

b = Buffer.read(s, "sounds/a11wlk01.wav");

(

{

var trate, dur;

trate = MouseY.kr(2,200,1);

dur = 4 / trate;

TGrains.ar(2, Impulse.ar(trate), b, 1, MouseX.kr(0,BufDur.kr(b)), dur, 0, 0.1, 2);

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

(

{

var trate, dur, clk, pos, pan;

trate = MouseY.kr(8,120,1);

dur = 12 / trate;

clk = Impulse.kr(trate);

pos = MouseX.kr(0,BufDur.kr(b)) + TRand.kr(0, 0.01, clk);

pan = WhiteNoise.kr(0.6);

TGrains.ar(2, clk, b, 1, pos, dur, pan, 0.1);

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

// 4 channels

(

{

var trate, dur, clk, pos, pan;

trate = MouseY.kr(8,120,1);

dur = 12 / trate;

clk = Impulse.kr(trate);

pos = MouseX.kr(0,BufDur.kr(b)) + TRand.kr(0, 0.01, clk);

pan = WhiteNoise.kr(0.6);

TGrains.ar(4, clk, b, 1, pos, dur, pan, 0.1);

}.scope(4, zoom: 4);

)

(

{

var trate, dur, clk, pos, pan;

trate = MouseY.kr(8,120,1);

dur = 4 / trate;

clk = Dust.kr(trate);

pos = MouseX.kr(0,BufDur.kr(b)) + TRand.kr(0, 0.01, clk);

pan = WhiteNoise.kr(0.6);

TGrains.ar(2, clk, b, 1, pos, dur, pan, 0.1);

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

(

{

var trate, dur, clk, pos, pan;

trate = LinExp.kr(LFTri.kr(MouseY.kr(0.1,2,1)),-1,1,8,120);

dur = 12 / trate;

clk = Impulse.ar(trate);

pos = MouseX.kr(0,BufDur.kr(b));

pan = WhiteNoise.kr(0.6);

TGrains.ar(2, clk, b, 1, pos, dur, pan, 0.1);

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

(

{

var trate, dur, clk, pos, pan;

trate = 12;

dur = MouseY.kr(0.2,24,1) / trate;

clk = Impulse.kr(trate);

pos = MouseX.kr(0,BufDur.kr(b)) + TRand.kr(0, 0.01, clk);

pan = WhiteNoise.kr(0.6);

TGrains.ar(2, clk, b, 1, pos, dur, pan, 0.1);

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

(

{

var trate, dur, clk, pos, pan;

trate = 100;

dur = 8 / trate;

clk = Impulse.kr(trate);

pos = Integrator.kr(BrownNoise.kr(0.001));

pan = WhiteNoise.kr(0.6);

TGrains.ar(2, clk, b, 1, pos, dur, pan, 0.1);

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

(

{

var trate, dur, clk, pos, pan;

trate = MouseY.kr(1,400,1);

dur = 8 / trate;

clk = Impulse.kr(trate);

pos = MouseX.kr(0,BufDur.kr(b));

pan = WhiteNoise.kr(0.8);

TGrains.ar(2, clk, b, 2 ** WhiteNoise.kr(2), pos, dur, pan, 0.1);

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

(

{

var trate, dur;

trate = MouseY.kr(2,120,1);

dur = 1.2 / trate;

TGrains.ar(2, Impulse.ar(trate), b, (1.2 ** WhiteNoise.kr(3).round(1)), MouseX.kr(0,BufDur.kr(b)), dur, WhiteNoise.kr(0.6), 0.1);

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

// free sound

b.free;

GrainSin

arguments: numChannels, trigger, dur, freq, pan, envbufnum

( // using default window

{

var trigrate, winsize, trig;

trigrate = MouseX.kr(2, 120);

winsize = trigrate.reciprocal;

trig = Impulse.ar(trigrate);

GrainSin.ar(2, trig, winsize, TRand.ar(440.0, 880.0, trig), LFNoise1.kr(0.2),

-1, 0.2)

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

b = Buffer.sendCollection(s, Env([0, 1, 0], [0.5, 0.5], [8, -8]).discretize, 1);

( // using user supplied window

{

var trigrate, winsize, trig;

trigrate = MouseX.kr(2, 120);

winsize = trigrate.reciprocal;

trig = Impulse.ar(trigrate);

GrainSin.ar(2, trig, winsize, TRand.ar(440.0, 880.0, trig), LFNoise1.kr(0.2),

b, 0.2)

}.scope(2, zoom: 4);

)

see also GrainFM, GrainBuf and GrainIn

Control

Filters for Controls

Decay

triggered exponential decay

arguments: in, decay time, mul, add

{ WhiteNoise.ar * Decay.ar(Impulse.ar(1), 0.9, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

{ WhiteNoise.ar * Decay.ar(Dust.ar(3), 0.9, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

{ SinOsc.ar(Decay.ar(Dust.ar(4), 0.5, 1000, 400), 0, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

Decay2

triggered exponential attack and exponential decay

arguments: trigger, attack time, decay time, mul, add

{ WhiteNoise.ar * Decay2.ar(Impulse.ar(1), 0.2, 0.9, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

{ WhiteNoise.ar * Decay2.ar(Dust.ar(3), 0.2, 0.9, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

Lag

arguments: trigger, duration

{ SinOsc.ar(Lag.ar(LFPulse.ar(2,0,0.5,800,400), MouseX.kr(0,0.5)), 0, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

Integrator

leaky integrator

{ SinOsc.ar(Integrator.ar(Dust2.ar(8), 0.99999, 200, 800), 0, 0.2) }.scope(1)

Triggers

Trig, Trig1

timed duration gate

arguments: trigger, duration

// amplitude determined by amplitude of trigger

{ Trig.ar(Dust.ar(2), 0.2) * FSinOsc.ar(800, 0, 0.4) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

// amplitude always the same.

{ Trig1.ar(Dust.ar(2), 0.2) * FSinOsc.ar(800, 0, 0.4) }.scope(1, zoom:4)

TDelay

delays a trigger. only delays one pending trigger at a time.

arguments: trigger, delay time

(

{

var trig;

trig = Dust.ar(2);

[(Trig1.ar(trig, 0.05) * FSinOsc.ar(600, 0, 0.2)),

(Trig1.ar(TDelay.ar(trig, 0.1), 0.05) * FSinOsc.ar(800, 0, 0.2))]

}.scope(2, zoom:4);

)

Latch

sample and hold

arguments: in, trigger

{ Blip.ar(Latch.ar(WhiteNoise.ar, Impulse.ar(9)) * 400 + 500, 4, 0.2) }.play;

{ Blip.ar(Latch.ar(SinOsc.ar(0.3), Impulse.ar(9)) * 400 + 500, 4, 0.2) }.play;

Gate

pass or hold

arguments: in, trigger

{ Blip.ar(Gate.ar(LFNoise2.ar(40), LFPulse.ar(1)) * 400 + 500, 4, 0.2) }.scope(1, zoom:4);

PulseCount

count triggers

arguments: trigger, reset

(

{

SinOsc.ar(

PulseCount.ar(Impulse.ar(10), Impulse.ar(0.4)) * 200,

0, 0.05

)

}.scope(2, zoom:4);

)

PulseDivider

arguments: trigger, div, start

(

{

var p, a, b;

p = Impulse.ar(8);

a = SinOsc.ar(1200, 0, Decay2.ar(p, 0.005, 0.1));

b = SinOsc.ar(600, 0, Decay2.ar(PulseDivider.ar(p, MouseX.kr(1,8).round(1)), 0.005, 0.5));

[a, b] * 0.4

}.scope(2, zoom:4);

)

EnvGen

envelope generator

envelope is specified using an instance of the Env class.

{ EnvGen.kr(Env.perc, doneAction:2) * SinOsc.ar(880,0,0.2) }.play;

{ EnvGen.kr(Env.perc(1,0.005,1,4), doneAction:2) * SinOsc.ar(880,0,0.2) }.play;

{ EnvGen.kr(Env.perc, Impulse.kr(2)) * SinOsc.ar(880,0,0.2) }.play;

{ EnvGen.kr(Env.perc, Dust.kr(3)) * SinOsc.ar(880,0,0.2) }.play;

// for sustain envelopes a gate is required

z = { arg gate=1; EnvGen.kr(Env.adsr, gate, doneAction:2) * SinOsc.ar(880,0,0.2) }.play;

z.release;

(

// randomly generated envelope

z = { arg gate=1;

var env, n=32;

env = Env(

[0]++{1.0.rand.squared}.dup(n-1) ++ [0],

{rrand(0.005,0.2)}.dup(n),

\lin, n-8, 8 );

EnvGen.kr(env, gate, doneAction: 2) * LFTri.ar(220,0,0.4)

}.scope(1, zoom:4);

)

z.release;

Spectral

FFT, IFFT and the phase vocoder ugens.

FFT calculates the spectrum of a sound, puts it into a buffer, and outputs a trigger each time the

buffer is ready to process. The PV UGens process the spectrum when they receive the trigger.

IFFT converts the spectrum back into sound.

// alloc a buffer for the FFT

b = Buffer.alloc(s,2048,1);

// read a sound

c = Buffer.read(s, "sounds/a11wlk01.wav");

(

// do nothing

{

var in, chain;

in = PlayBuf.ar(1,c, BufRateScale.kr(c), loop:1);

chain = FFT(b, in);

0.5 * IFFT(chain);

}.scope(1);

)

(

// pass only magnitudes above a threshold

{

var in, chain;

in = PlayBuf.ar(1,c, BufRateScale.kr(c), loop:1);

chain = FFT(b, in);

chain = PV_MagAbove(chain, MouseX.kr(0.1,512,1));

0.5 * IFFT(chain);

}.scope(1);

)

(

// pass only magnitudes below a threshold

{

var in, chain;

in = PlayBuf.ar(1,c, BufRateScale.kr(c), loop:1);

chain = FFT(b, in);

chain = PV_MagBelow(chain, MouseX.kr(0.1,512,1));

0.5 * IFFT(chain);

}.scope(1);

)

(

// brick wall filter.

{

var in, chain;

in = PlayBuf.ar(1,c, BufRateScale.kr(c), loop:1);

chain = FFT(b, in);

chain = PV_BrickWall(chain, MouseX.kr(-1,1));

0.5 * IFFT(chain);

}.scope(1);

)

(

// pass random frequencies. Mouse controls how many to pass.

// trigger changes the frequencies periodically

{

var in, chain;

in = PlayBuf.ar(1,c, BufRateScale.kr(c), loop:1);

chain = FFT(b, in);

chain = PV_RandComb(chain, MouseX.kr(0,1), Impulse.kr(0.4));

0.5 * IFFT(chain);

}.scope(1);

)

(

// rectangular comb filter

{

var in, chain;

in = PlayBuf.ar(1,c, BufRateScale.kr(c), loop:1);

chain = FFT(b, in);

chain = PV_RectComb(chain, 8, MouseY.kr(0,1), MouseX.kr(0,1));

0.5 * IFFT(chain);

}.scope(1);

)

(

// freeze magnitudes

{

var in, chain;

in = PlayBuf.ar(1,c, BufRateScale.kr(c), loop:1);

chain = FFT(b, in);

chain = PV_MagFreeze(chain, LFPulse.kr(1, 0.75));

0.5 * IFFT(chain);

}.scope(1);

)

2. Techniques

Artificial Space

Building a sense of space into a sound by setting up phase differences between the speakers.

{ var x; x = BrownNoise.ar(0.2); [x,x] }.scope(2); // correlated

{ {BrownNoise.ar(0.2)}.dup }.scope(2); // not correlated

// correlated

{ var x; x = LPF.ar(BrownNoise.ar(0.2), MouseX.kr(100,10000)); [x,x] }.scope(2);

// not correlated

{ LPF.ar({BrownNoise.ar(0.2)}.dup, MouseX.kr(100,10000)) }.scope(2);

// correlated

(

{ var x;

x = Klank.ar(`[[200, 671, 1153, 1723], nil, [1, 1, 1, 1]], PinkNoise.ar(7e-3));

[x,x]

}.scope(2))

// not correlated

{ Klank.ar(`[[200, 671, 1153, 1723], nil, [1, 1, 1, 1]], PinkNoise.ar([7e-3,7e-3])) }.scope(2);

// two waves mixed together coming out both speakers

{ var x; x = Mix.ar(VarSaw.ar([100,101], 0, 0.1, 0.2)); [x,x] }.scope(2);

// two waves coming out each speaker independantly

{ VarSaw.ar([100,101], 0, 0.1, 0.2 * 1.414) }.scope(2); // * 1.414 to compensate for power

// delays as cues to direction

// mono

{ var x; x = LFTri.ar(1000,0,Decay2.ar(Impulse.ar(4,0,0.2),0.004,0.2)); [x,x]}.scope(2);

(

// inter-speaker delays

{ var x; x = LFTri.ar(1000,0,Decay2.ar(Impulse.ar(4,0,0.2),0.004,0.2));

[DelayC.ar(x,0.01,0.01),DelayC.ar(x,0.02,MouseX.kr(0.02, 0))]

}.scope(2);

)

(

// mixing two delays together

// you hear a phasing sound but the sound is still flat.

{ var x; x = BrownNoise.ar(0.2);

x = Mix.ar([DelayC.ar(x,0.01,0.01),DelayC.ar(x,0.02,MouseX.kr(0,0.02))]);

[x,x]

}.scope(2);

)

(

// more spatial sounding. phasing causes you to perceive directionality

{ var x; x = BrownNoise.ar(0.2);

[DelayC.ar(x,0.01,0.01),DelayC.ar(x,0.02,MouseX.kr(0.02, 0))]

}.scope(2);

)

Parallel Structures

(

{

// mixing sine oscillators in parallel

var n = 16; // number of structures to make

// mix together parallel structures

Mix.fill(n,

// this function creates an oscillator at a random frequency

{ FSinOsc.ar(200 + 1000.0.rand) }

) / (2*n) // scale amplitude

}.scope(1);

)

(

{

// mixing sine oscillators in parallel

var n = 16; // number of structures to make

// mix together parallel structures

Mix.fill(n,

// this function creates an oscillator at a random frequency

{ FSinOsc.ar(200 + 1000.0.rand + [0, 0.5]) }

) / (2*n) // scale amplitude

}.scope(2);

)

(

{

// mixing sine oscillators in parallel

var n = 16; // number of structures to make

// mix together parallel structures

Mix.fill(n,

{

var amp;

amp = FSinOsc.kr(exprand(0.1,1),2pi.rand).max(0);

Pan2.ar(

FSinOsc.ar(exprand(100,1000.0), 0, amp),

1.0.rand2)

}

) / (2*n) // scale amplitude

}.scope(2);

)

(

{

var n;

n = 8; // number of 'voices'

Mix.ar( // mix all stereo pairs down.

Pan2.ar( // pan the voice to a stereo position

CombL.ar( // a comb filter used as a string resonator

Dust.ar( // random impulses as an excitation function

// an array to cause expansion of Dust to n channels

// 1 means one impulse per second on average

1.dup(n),

0.3 // amplitude

),

0.01, // max delay time in seconds

// array of different random lengths for each 'string'

{0.004.rand+0.0003}.dup(n),

4 // decay time in seconds

),

{1.0.rand2}.dup(n) // give each voice a different pan position

)

)

}.scope(2, zoom:4);

)