#lang scribble/manual @(require (for-label racket)) @title{Synth} Client-side representation of a synth node on the server@section{categories} Server>Nodes, Server>Abstractions @section{related} Classes/Node, Classes/SynthDef @section{description} A Synth is the client-side representation of a synth node on the server. A Synth represents a single sound producing unit. What it does is defined in a link::Classes/SynthDef::, which specifies what link::Classes/UGen::s are used and how they are patched together. It also specifies what inputs and outputs the Synth will have. A SynthDef is thus a kind of fixed pattern, upon which Synths are be based. (Despite this, a given SynthDef can provide a surprising amount of variation.) For more detail on SynthDefs, their construction, and how to send them to a server, see the link::Classes/SynthDef:: help file. For more on the important distinction between client objects and server nodes, see link::Guides/ClientVsServer::. For information on creating nodes without using objects, see link::Guides/NodeMessaging::. @section{subsection} Order of Execution Order of execution is a crucial issue when creating Synths which interact with each other. @racketblock[ sound -> filter :: If a sound is to be passed through a filter, the synth that does the filtering must be later in the order of execution than the synth which is its input. The computer must calculate a buffer's worth of sound, and then the computer moves on to calculate a buffer's worth of the filtered version of that sound. The actual interconnection between synth nodes is accomplished with buses. See link::Classes/Bus:: and link::Reference/Server-Architecture:: for details. See the link::Guides/Order-of-execution:: help file for a more detailed discussion of this important topic. ] @section{subsection} Bundling Some of the methods below have two versions: a regular one which sends its corresponding message to the server immediately, and one which returns the message in an link::Classes/Array:: so that it can be added to a bundle. It is also possible to capture the messages generated by the regular methods using Server's automated bundling capabilities. See link::Classes/Server:: and link::Guides/Bundled-Messages:: for more details. @section{classmethods} Synth is a subclass of Node, and thus many of its most useful and important methods are documented in the link::Classes/Node:: help file. @section{private} stop, play, sampleRate @section{subsection} Creation with Immediate Instantiation on the Server @section{method} new Create and return a new Synth object, and immediately start the corresponding synth node on the server. @section{argument} defName A String or Symbol specifying the name of the SynthDef to use in creating the Synth. @section{argument} args An optional link::Classes/Array:: specifying initial values for the link::Classes/SynthDef::'s arguments (controls). These are specified in pairs of control name or index and value. If names are used they can be specified with either link::Classes/String::s or link::Classes/Symbol::s. e.g. @racketblock[ [\frequency, 440, \amplitude, 1, ...] ::. Values that are arrays are sent using OSC array type-tags ($[ and $]). These values will be assigned to subsequent controls. ] @section{argument} target A target for this Synth. If target is not a link::Classes/Group:: or Synth, it will be converted as follows: If it is a link::Classes/Server::, it will be converted to the link::Reference/default_group:: of that server. If it is nil, to the default_group of the default Server. If it is an integer, it is created relative to a group with that id. @section{argument} addAction one of the following Symbols: @section{definitionlist} ## \addToHead || (the default) add at the head of the group specified by target ## \addToTail || add at the tail of the group specified by target ## \addAfter || add immediately after target in its server's node order ## \addBefore || add immediately before target in its server's node order ## \addReplace || replace target and take its place in its server's node order :: Note: A Synth is not a valid target for \addToHead and \addToTail. @section{discussion} @racketblock[ s.boot; // create a Synth at the head of the default Server's default group // based on the SynthDef "default" x = Synth.new("default"); s.queryAllNodes; // note the default group (ID 1) x.free; // Using an arrayed control // run this block first to make the SynthDef ( SynthDef("help-synth", {| freq = #[440, 450, 460], out = 0 | Out.ar(out, Mix(SinOsc.ar(freq, 0, 0.1))); }).add; ) // then this a short while later x = Synth("help-synth", [freq: [500,501,510] ]); x = Synth("help-synth", [freq: [500,501,510] ]); x.set(\freq, [1,2,3] * 400 + [1,2,3], \out, 1); x.set(\freq, [3] * 400 + [1,2,3], \out, 1); x.free; :: ] @section{method} newPaused As @racketblock[new:: above, but creates a node which is paused. This can be started by calling ] @racketblock[run:: on it. ] @racketblock[ s.boot; x = Synth.newPaused("default"); s.queryAllNodes; // see I'm here x.run; // true is the default x.run(false); // pause me again x.free; :: ] @section{method} grain A convenience method which will create a synth node with an node ID of -1. Such a node cannot be messaged after creation. As such this method does not create an object, and returns nil. For details of its arguments see @racketblock[new:: above. ] @section{returns} nil @section{subsection} Convenience methods for add actions The following convenience methods correspond to the add actions of @racketblock[Synth.new:: : ] @section{method} after Create and return a Synth and add it immediately after aNode. @section{method} before Create and return a Synth and add it immediately before aNode. @section{method} head Create and return a Synth. If @racketblock[aGroup:: is a link::Classes/Group:: add it at the head of that group. If it is a link::Classes/Server::, add it at the head of the link::Reference/default_group:: of that server. If it is nil, add it at the head of the default_group of the default server. If it is an integer, it is created relative to a group with that id. ] @section{method} tail Create and return a Synth. If @racketblock[aGroup:: is a link::Classes/Group:: add it at the tail of that group. If it is a link::Classes/Server::, add it at the tail of the link::Reference/default_group:: of that server. If it is nil, add it at the tail of the default_group of the the default server. If it is an integer, it is created relative to a group with that id. ] @section{method} replace Create and return a Synth and use it to replace @racketblock[nodeToReplace::, taking its place in its server's node order. ] @section{subsection} Creation without Instantiation on the Server For use in message bundles it is also possible to create a Synth object in the client app without immediately creating a synth node on the server. Once done one can call methods which create messages to add to a bundle, which when sent to the server will instantiate the synth. @section{method} basicNew Create and return a Synth object without creating a synth node on the server. @section{argument} defName A String or Symbol specifying the name of the SynthDef to use in creating the Synth. @section{argument} server An optional instance of Server. If nil this will default to the default Server. @section{argument} nodeID An optional node ID number. If not supplied one will be generated by the Server's NodeIDAllocator. Normally you should not need to supply an ID. @section{discussion} @racketblock[ s.boot; x = Synth.basicNew("default", s); // Create without sending s.sendBundle(nil, x.newMsg;); // Now send a message; create at the head of s' default group s.queryAllNodes; x.free; :: After creation, use instance methods ] @racketblock[newMsg, addToHeadMsg, addToTailMsg, addBeforeMsg, addAfterMsg, addReplaceMsg:: to instantiate this synth on the server. See link::#instancemethods#Instance Methods:: below. ] @section{instancemethods} Synth is a subclass of Node, and thus many of its most useful and important methods are documented in the link::Classes/Node:: help file. @section{private} prepareForProxySynthDef, play @section{method} defName @section{Returns} the name of this Synth's SynthDef. @section{subsection} Creation without Instantiation on the Server Use class method @racketblock[basicNew:: to create a Synth without instantiating it on the server. Then use the following instance methods: ] @section{method} newMsg See *new above for details of addActions and args. @section{Returns} a message of the type s_new which can be bundled. When sent to the server this message will instantiate this synth. If target is nil, it will default to the default_group of the Server specified in *basicNew when this Synth was created. The default addAction is \addToHead. @section{method} addToHeadMsg See *new above for details on args. @section{Returns} a message of the type s_new which can be bundled. When sent to the server this message will instantiate this synth. If aGroup is a Group it will be added at the head of that group. If it is nil, it will be added at the head of the default_group of this Synth's server (as specified when *basicNew was called). @section{method} addToTailMsg See *new above for details on args. @section{Returns} a message of the type s_new which can be bundled. When sent to the server this message will instantiate this synth. If aGroup is a Group it will be added at the tail of that group. If it is nil, it will be added at the tail of the default_group of this Synth's server (as specified when *basicNew was called). @section{method} addBeforeMsg See *new above for details on args. @section{Returns} a message of the type s_new which can be bundled. When sent to the server this message will instantiate this synth, immediately before aNode. @section{method} addAfterMsg See *new above for details on args. @section{Returns} a message of the type s_new which can be bundled. When sent to the server this message will instantiate this synth, immediately after aNode. @section{method} addReplaceMsg See *new above for details on args. @section{Returns} a message of the type s_new which can be bundled. When sent to the server this message will instantiate this synth, replacing nodeToReplace in the server's node order. @section{subsection} Control For further methods of controlling Synths (set, map, etc.), see the link::Classes/Node:: helpfile. @section{method} get, getMsg Query the server for the current value of a link::Classes/Control:: (argument). @section{argument} index a control name or index @section{argument} action a Function which will be evaluated with the value passed as an argument when the reply is received. @section{discussion} @racketblock[ s.boot; ( SynthDef("help-Synth-get", { arg freq = 440; Out.ar(0, SinOsc.ar(freq, 0, 0.1)); }).add; ) x = Synth("help-Synth-get"); x.set(\freq, 220 + 440.rand); x.get(\freq, { arg value; ("freq is now:" + value + "Hz").postln; }); x.free; :: ] @section{method} getn, getnMsg Query the server for the current values of a sequential range of link::Classes/Control::s (arguments). @section{argument} index a control name or index @section{argument} count the number of sequential controls to query, starting at index. @section{argument} action a Function which will be evaluated with an link::Classes/Array:: containing the values passed as an argument when the reply is received. @section{method} set Set the values of one or more link::Classes/Control::s. @section{discussion} Example: @racketblock[ x.set(\freq, 440, \amp, 0.5) :: ] @section{method} seti Set part of an arrayed control. @section{argument} ... args A sequence of strong:: name, index, value :: triplets. @section{definitionlist} ## name || The name of the arrayed control ## index || The index into the array ## value || The new value to set, can be an array to set a range of elements. :: @section{discussion} @section{note} The synthdef has to be .add'ed, so that it is stored in the link::Classes/SynthDescLib::. :: Example: @racketblock[ ( s.waitForBoot({ SynthDef(\helpSeti, { |freqs = #[100,150,200,250]| Out.ar(0, SinOsc.ar(freqs.poll,0,0.1).sum ! 2) }).add; s.sync; x = Synth(\helpSeti); }) ) x.seti(\freqs,2,600); // set only the third element x.seti(\freqs,1,[400,410]); // set second and third element x.free; :: ] @section{Examples} @racketblock[ s.boot; ( // send a synth def to server SynthDef("tpulse", { arg out = 0,freq = 700, sawFreq = 440.0; Out.ar(out, SyncSaw.ar(freq, sawFreq, 0.1)); }).add; ) // Here the defaults for *new will result in a Synth at the head of the default group // of the default Server. This will use the SynthDef's default arguments; y = Synth.new("tpulse"); y.free; // The same done explicitly y = Synth.new("tpulse", nil, s, \addToHead); y.free; // With some arguments y = Synth.new("tpulse", [\freq, 350, \sawFreq, 220]); y.free; // make a new synth y = Synth("tpulse"); // pause y.run(false); y.run(true); // set a control by argument name y.set("freq", 200); // or by index y.set(2, 100.0); // modulate out to bus number 1 (the right speaker) y.set(0, 1); // multiple set commands in one message y.set("out", 0, "freq",300); // free the synth from the server y.free; :: ] @section{subsection} Filtering @racketblock[ ( // first collect some things to play with SynthDef("moto-rev", { arg out=0; var x; x = RLPF.ar(LFPulse.ar(SinOsc.kr(0.2, 0, 10, 21), [0,0.1], 0.1), 100, 0.1).clip2(0.4); Out.ar(out, x); }).add; SynthDef("bubbles", { arg out=0; var f, zout; f = LFSaw.kr(0.4, 0, 24, LFSaw.kr([8,7.23], 0, 3, 80)).midicps; zout = CombN.ar(SinOsc.ar(f, 0, 0.04), 0.2, 0.2, 4); // echoing sine wave Out.ar(out, zout); }).add; SynthDef("rlpf",{ arg out=0,ffreq=600,rq=0.1; ReplaceOut.ar( out, RLPF.ar( In.ar(out), ffreq,rq) ) }).add; SynthDef("wah", { arg out, rate = 1.5, cfreq = 1400, mfreq = 1200, rq=0.1; var zin, zout; zin = In.ar(out, 2); cfreq = Lag3.kr(cfreq, 0.1); mfreq = Lag3.kr(mfreq, 0.1); rq = Ramp.kr(rq, 0.1); zout = RLPF.ar(zin, LFNoise1.kr(rate, mfreq, cfreq), rq, 10).distort * 0.15; // replace the incoming bus with the effected version ReplaceOut.ar( out , zout ); }).add; SynthDef("modulate",{ arg out = 0, freq = 1, center = 440, plusMinus = 110; Out.kr(out, SinOsc.kr(freq, 0, plusMinus, center)); }).add; ) // execute these one at a time // y is playing on bus 0 y = Synth("moto-rev",["out",0]); // z is reading from bus 0 and replacing that; It must be *after* y z = Synth.after(y,"wah",["out",0]); // stop the wah-ing z.run(false); // resume the wah-ing z.run(true); // add a rlpf after that, reading and writing to the same buss x = Synth.after(z,"rlpf",["out",0]); // create another rlpf after x t = Synth.after(x,"rlpf",["out",0]); x.set("ffreq", 400); x.set(\ffreq, 800); // Symbols work for control names too // Now let's modulate x's ffreq arg // First get a control Bus b = Bus.control(s, 1); // now the modulator, *before* x m = Synth.before(x, "modulate", [\out, b]); // now map x's ffreq to b x.map("ffreq", b); m.set("freq", 4, "plusMinus", 20); x.free; z.free; m.free; // now place another synth after y, on the same bus // they both write to the buss, adding their outputs r = Synth.after(y,"bubbles",["out",0]); y.free; r.free; // look at the Server window // still see 4 Ugens and 1 synth? // you can't hear me, but don't forget to free me t.free; :: ]