uzer / algalib

SuperCollider implementation of Alga, an interpolating live coding environment.

AlgaLib

This is the SuperCollider implementation of Alga, an interpolating live coding environment.

Alga is a new environment for live coding that focuses on the creation and connection of sonic modules. Unlike other audio software environments, the act of connecting Alga modules together is viewed as an essential component of music composing and improvising, and not just as a mean towards static audio patches. In Alga, the definition of a new connection between the output of a module and the input of another does not happen instantaneously, but it triggers a process of parameter interpolation over a specified window of time.

Installation

To install AlgaLib, you can either:

• Use the Quarks system: Quarks.install("https://github.com/vitreo12/AlgaLib")

OR

• git clone this repository to your Platform.userExtensionDir.

AlgaUGens

For AlgaLib to work correctly, a set of specific UGens must be installed. To install them, follow these simple instructions:

1. Download the correct version for your OS from https://github.com/vitreo12/AlgaUGens/releases/tag/v1.0.0

2. Unzip the file to your SuperCollider's Platform.userExtensionDir.

Examples

For usage and examples, check the Help files and the Examples folder.

AlgaNode

2021-10-29-11-14-05.mp4

//Boot Alga
(
Alga.boot({
    //Declare an AlgaSynthDef
    AlgaSynthDef(\sine, {
        SinOsc.ar(\freq.ar(440))
    }).add;

    //Wait for definition to be sent to server
    s.sync;

    //Declare a node and play to stereo output
    a = AlgaNode(\sine, interpTime:2).play(chans:2);
});
)

//Change \freq parameter. Note how it interpolates to new value over 2 seconds
a <<.freq 220;

//Declare a square oscillator with variable frequency 1 to 100
b = AlgaNode({ Pulse.ar(LFNoise1.kr(1).range(1, 100)) });

//Map the b node to a's \freq parameter, scaling the -1 to 1 range to 100 to 1000.
//The interpolation will take 5 seconds to complete
a.from(b, \freq, scale: [100, 1000], time:5);

//Declare a new Sine oscillator to use as LFO
c = AlgaNode(\sine, [\freq, 2]);

//Also connect c to a's \freq, mixing with what was already there.
//This will use a's interpTime, 2
a.mixFrom(c, \freq, scale:[-100, 100]);

//Clear over 3 seconds. Note how the interpolation will bring us back
//to just having b modulating a's frequency parameter
c.clear(time:3);

//Clear over 5 seconds. No more connections:
//now we'll interpolate back to a's \freq default value, 440
b.clear(time:5);

//Bye bye
a.clear(time:3);

AlgaPattern

2021-10-29-11-19-03.mp4

(
//Boot Alga
Alga.boot({
    //Declare a simple AlgaSynthDef.
    //Note that for it to be used in an AlgaPattern it must free itself.
    //Also, note the 'sampleAccurate' argument. This allows the AlgaSynthDef to use OffsetOut instead of Out
    //for sample accurate retriggering.
    AlgaSynthDef(\sinePerc, {
        SinOsc.ar(\freq.kr(440)) * EnvPerc.ar
    }, sampleAccurate: true).add;

    //Wait for definition to be sent to server
    s.sync;

    //Create an AlgaPattern and play it.
    //Unlike Pbind, AlgaPatterns use an Event to describe the parameter -> value mapping.
    a = AlgaPattern((
        def: \sinePerc,
        dur: 0.5
    )).play(chans: 2);
});
)

//Interpolate over the new Pseq. 'sched: 1' triggers it at the next beat
a.from(Pseq([220, 440, 880], inf), \freq, time: 3, sched: 1);

//Interpolate over the new Pwhite.
a.from(Pwhite(220, 880), \freq, time: 3, sched: 1);

//Interpolation can be sampled and held instead of being dynamic
a.from(Pseq([220, 440, 880], inf), \freq, sampleAndHold: true, time: 3, sched: 1);

//Change \dur does not trigger interpolation (yet), but it applies the changes directly
a.from(Pwhite(0.03, 0.5), \dur, sched: 1);

//Alternatively, the 'replaceDur' option can be used to trigger a 'replace' call, allowing for volume transitions
a.replaceDur = true;

//Now it will 'replace'
a.from(0.25, \dur, time: 3, sched: 1);

//Bye bye
a.clear(time: 2);