Sonic Pi: Ruby as a Composition Tool
Sonic Pi is a software synthesizer that enables music creation through coding in Ruby, featuring extensive documentation and tutorials, bridging technology and music for innovative compositions without physical instruments.
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Sonic Pi is a unique software synthesizer that allows users to create music through coding, specifically using an extended version of the Ruby programming language. Developed by Sam Aaron, Sonic Pi employs a domain-specific language (DSL) that maps musical concepts to code, enabling users to compose music by writing scripts. The author, who has a background in music and web development, reflects on their journey of rediscovering music composition through Sonic Pi after a hiatus from traditional instruments. They describe the process of creating music using code, including defining rhythms, melodies, and harmonies, and utilizing features like loops and threads to layer sounds. The article includes examples of code snippets that demonstrate how to manipulate sound parameters, such as tempo and synth types, and how to create musical sequences programmatically. The author emphasizes the educational aspect of Sonic Pi, highlighting its documentation and tutorials that assist users in learning both coding and music composition. Ultimately, Sonic Pi serves as a bridge between technology and music, allowing for innovative compositions without the need for physical instruments.
- Sonic Pi is a software synthesizer that uses Ruby for music composition.
- It allows users to create music through coding, utilizing a domain-specific language.
- The author shares their experience of rediscovering music through Sonic Pi after a break from traditional instruments.
- The platform includes extensive documentation and tutorials for learning.
- Sonic Pi combines technology and music, enabling innovative compositions without physical instruments.
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- Several users mention alternative music programming languages like SCAMP and Glicol, highlighting their unique features.
- Comments praise the capabilities of Sonic Pi, particularly its live coding performance and the engaging experiences it offers.
- Users share personal experiences and memorable performances involving Sonic Pi, showcasing its impact on their musical journey.
- There is a discussion about the challenges of installing Sonic Pi due to dependencies, with suggestions for packaging solutions like Flatpak.
- Some users express interest in artists who effectively use Sonic Pi, sharing links to their work and performances.
13 commentsThere's also TidalCycles. I have to praise the ability of Haskell and Ruby in creating DSLs
For Glicol, my thoughts on language design are focused on a synth-inspired syntax, speed for composition, and convenience of sound design. The idea is to design a DSL that draws from previous programming habits but isn't confined to existing languages.
I loved that video but I have since been unable to find it again. If anyone has a link to that video, please share
He was impressive. The music was evolving each time he changed code in live. And it was good.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiQHclg_648
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/audius/comments/19dxmy6/hey_audius_...
But speaking as a musician with lots of keyboard instruments — if I were trying to compose a piece of music, I'm not really sure why I would compose musical sequences with Ruby when I can play them with a MIDI keyboard, or record an acoustic instrument and loop it. I see that you can input anything you like with the Ruby DSL, but it's not a great UX compared to a piano keyboard.
I guess to put it another way — I would not use this to replace what I use Logic for. But that's just me.
* see also http://listen.hatnote.com/
Flatpak to the rescue.
Just a heads up though your site layout is broken in Safari
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