Help with Supercollider for Music tech in University :)

Das89

Have started supercollider and just not getting it....at all. If anyone can help would be very very greatfull. 1 assignment goes like this.....


2a. Write a program that converts frequency in Hz to the nearest musical note name. First, convert the frequency to the nearest MIDI note. Then, using that MIDI note have your program determine the note name. Include sharps or flats when appropriate. You don't need to report the note's octave. (You will probably want to accomplish this by creating an array of note names (that includes sharps or flats), but do not create an array with 128 entries!) The final result of your program should post the frequency in Hz and the resulting musical note name.

Test your program by using a random frequency generator such that each time you run the program, it picks a new frequency between 32 and 2000 Hz.

2b. Starting with the eight notes of a C-major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C), randomly assign one of five rhythmic values (dotted-half, half, dotted-quarter, quarter or eighth) to each note in the scale. This note will always have this rhythmic value. Then, generate a melody of 16 randomly selected notes along with their matched rhythmic values. Create the melody such that G,B,D and F are two times as likely to occur as C,E or A. Post the resulting melody, with note names and associated rhythmic value.

Each time your program runs, it should produce a different melody.




Any help trying to understand this will be helpful

srsly78

Post up all your college notes first, then we will do your homework for you.

Das89

What?.....

srsly78

Well this is a very specific system. Gonna need notes to answer your question.

Also, read this: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055050400

Das89

Well we have just started and only got few notes on the basics of SC. Im just finding it hard to get a grip with the basics.

Joneser

It depends a lot on what programming language you are using. Are you using Matlab or Java by any chance? My 4th yr project involved what you are trying to do.

EDIT: If you provide some sample of what you have done so far, people (including me) will be more willing to help.

Das89

Sorry my bad. I will post what have done so far............



Introduction

SuperCollider is a text editor, programming language, compiler and digital synthesizer all in one. Please take a look at the Wikipedia entry, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperCollider/.

Starting Up SC

Navigate to the folder in which SuperCollider resides and double-click on it. A window with text such as

init_OSC
compiling class library..
NumPrimitives = 669
compiling dir: '/Applications/SuperCollider/SCClassLibrary'
compiling dir: '/Users/gary/Library/Application Support/SuperCollider/Extensions'
pass 1 done
Extension overwriting SimpleNumber:asTimeString
in file '/Users/gary/Library/Application Support/SuperCollider/Extensions/sc3-plugins/ljpclasses/classes/LJP Classes/Extensions/SimpleNumber-asTimeString.sc'.
Original method in file '/Common/Math/SimpleNumber.sc'.
numentries = 981601 / 13459356 = 0.073
Method Table Size 7385900 bytes
Number of Method Selectors 4866
Number of Classes 2766
big table size 53837424
Number of Symbols 11858
Byte Code Size 360121
compiled 439 files in 0.86 seconds
compile done
// History.logFolder: /Users/gary/Library/Application Support/SuperCollider/HistoryLogs
Class tree inited in 0.03 seconds
RESULT = 0
StartUp done.
Welcome to SuperCollider, type cmd-d for help

appears in the top left of the screen. The window functions as the "post" window. This is where SuperCollider 'posts' all messages.

Two more windows

On the bottom of the screen are two more windows. One is called "localhost server" and the other is "internal server." Click on the "boot" button on the localhost server. The word "Boot" on the button changes to "Quit." More text, such as

booting 57110
Using vector unit: no
Number of Devices: 3
0 : "Built-in Microphone"
1 : "Built-in Input"
2 : "Built-in Output"

"Built-in Microphone" Input Device
Streams: 1
0 channels 2

"Built-in Output" Output Device
Streams: 1
0 channels 2

mSafetyOffset 280
mNumberBuffers 1
mDataByteSize 0 4096
<-SC_CoreAudioDriver::Setup world 0041CF90
SC_AudioDriver: numSamples=512, sampleRate=44100.000000
->SC_CoreAudioDriver::DriverStart
start UseSeparateIO?: 1
<-SC_CoreAudioDriver::DriverStart
SuperCollider 3 server ready..
PublishPortToRendezvous 0 5855
notification is on

will print to the post window. The localhost server is now ready to be used. Activate the internal server, if you wish, in the same way.

Workspace windows

Open existing SC documents with File->Open... or cmd-o. Use File->New or cmd-n to create new documents.

SuperCollider documents generally have .sc appended to their file names; however, SuperCollider can read and write documents in Rich Text Format (.rtf) and several other formats, as well.


Important Commands

Available as Menu-commands as well as command-key sequences:

enter evaluate (and run) selected code / Ctrl-C
cmd-. Stop all playback

cmd-N new window
cmd-O open file

"Hello World".speak;

In order to play audio, you have to first boot servers and then:

{SinOsc.ar(LFNoise0.ar([10, 15], 400, 800), 0, 0.3)}.play;
// Place the cursor anywhere on the line and then type 'enter'

{
RLPF.ar(
LFSaw.ar([8, 12], 0, 0.2),
LFNoise1.ar([2, 3].choose, 1500, 1600),
0.05, mul: 0.4
)
}.play;
// Use cursor to select all of these lines and then type 'enter'

More Editing Commands:

cmd-D Open help file for selected item
cmd-z Undo Typing
cmd-, Go to line number
cmd-/ Make selected lines a comment
Opt-cmd-/ Remove comment marks on selected lines
cmd-] Shift code right
cmd-[ Shift code left
cmd-' Syntax colorize=
double click enclosure Balance enclosures

Das89

Sorry couldnt attach kept failing.