supercollider-common 1:3.8.0~repack-2 / usr / share / SuperCollider / HelpSource / Classes / Tdef.schelp

class:: Tdef
summary:: task reference definition
categories:: Libraries>JITLib>Patterns
related:: Classes/TaskProxy, Classes/Task, Classes/Routine

description::
Tdef provides an interface to its superclass TaskProxy. Tdef keeps a reference to a task ( strong::time pattern:: ) that can be replaced while playing. It continues playing when the old stream ended and a new stream is set and schedules the changes to the beat. One Tdef may be used in many tasks in different places. A change in the task definition Tdef propagates through all tasks.

code::
Tdef(key)	//returns the instance
Tdef(key, func)	//defines the task and returns the instance, like Pdef and Ndef.
::

Graphical overview over all current Tdefs: link::Classes/TdefAllGui::. Overview: link::Overviews/JITLib::

subsection::First Example

code::
Tdef(\x, { loop { 0.5.wait; "aaaaaaaaaaaaaazz".scramble.postln } }).play;
Tdef(\x, { loop { 0.125.wait; "aazz".scramble.postln } });
Tdef(\x, { loop { 0.5.wait; (note: 14.rand).play } });
Tdef(\x, { loop { 0.5.wait; (note: 14.rand + [0, 3, 6, 7].keep(4.rand)).play } });
Tdef(\x).stop;
Tdef(\x).play;
Tdef(\x).clear;
::

ClassMethods::

private::initClass

subsection::Creation

method::new
Store the task in a global dictionary under key, replacing its routine function with the new one.

Using strong::*new(key):: you can access the pattern at that key (if none is given, a default task is created)

method::default
Default source, if none is given. The default task has a function that waits in 1.0 beat steps and does nothing.

method::removeAll
Remove all proxies from the global dictionary ( link::#*all:: )

method::clear
Clear all proxies, setting their source to silence.

method::all
Set or return the environment ( link::Classes/IdentityDictionary:: ) that stores all instances.

method::defaultQuant
Set the default quantisation for new instances (default: 1.0). This can be an array [quant, phase, timingOffset, outset]

InstanceMethods::

subsection::Changing the definition / setting the source

One Tdef may have many tasks in different places. A change in the task definition Tdef propagates through all tasks. The change does not have to be immediate - there is a scheme to schedule when the change becomes effective: a strong::quant:: and strong::clock:: (like elsewhere) and a strong::condition::.

method::quant
Set the quantisation time for beat accurate scheduling.

argument::val
can be an array strong::[quant, phase, timingOffset, outset] ::, or just strong::[quant, phase]:: etc.

method::condition
Provide a condition under which the pattern is switched when a new one is inserted. The stream value and a count value is passed into the function.

method::count
Create and update condition that simply counts up to n and switches the pattern then

method::reset
Switch the task immediately (stuck conditions can be subverted by this).

method::envir
Set the environment (an link::Classes/Event::) for the Tdef. strong::It is passed as first argument into the Task function::.

method::set
Set arguments in the default event. If there is none, it is created and the task routine is rebuilt.

method::clear
Set the source to nil

method::endless
Returns a link::Classes/Prout:: that plays the task endlessly, replacing strong::nil:: with a strong::default:: value 1. This allows to create streams that idle on until a new pattern is inserted.

subsection::Tdef as stream reference

A single Tdef may serve as a definition for multiple tasks. These methods show how to fork off separate routines from one instance. Even if they run in different contexts, their definition may still be changed.

method::fork
Play an independent task in parallel.

argument::clock
the clock on which to play the forked task

argument::quant
can be an array of [quant, phase, offset], or a link::Classes/Quant:: value.

argument::event
an event to pass into the forked task

method::embed
Pass a value (typically an link::Classes/Event::) into the task function, and embed the Tdef in the stream.

method::embedInStream
just like any pattern, embeds itself in stream

subsection::Tdef as EventStreamPlayer

For live coding, each Tdef also may control one instance that plays one task. This is a link::Classes/PauseStream::, accessible in the instance variable link::#-player::.

method::play
Starts the Tdef and creates a player.

argument::argClock
a clock on which to play the Tdef
argument::doReset
a flag whether to reset the task if already playing
argument::quant
can be an array of [quant, phase, offset] or a link::Classes/Quant:: value.

method::stop
Stops the player

method::player
Return the current player (if the Tdef is simply used in other streams this is nil)

method::pause, resume, reset
Perform this method on the player.

method::isPlaying
Returns true if player is running. If a Tdef is playing and its stream ends, it will schedule a stream for playing strong::as soon as a new one is assigned to it::. If it is stopped by strong::stop::, it won't.

Examples::

subsection::Tdef as a Task player

code::
Tdef(\x).play; // create an empty Tdef and play it.

Tdef(\x, { loop({ "ggggggggggggggggg9999ggg999ggg999gg".scramble.postln; 0.5.wait; }) });


Tdef(\x, { loop({ "---------////----------------------".scramble.postln; 0.25.wait; }) });
Tdef(\x, { loop({ thisThread.seconds.postln; 1.wait; }) });
Tdef(\x, { loop({ thisThread.seconds.postln; 1.01.wait; }) });

TempoClock.default.tempo = 2;

Tdef(\x, { "the end".postln });
Tdef(\x, { "one more".postln });
Tdef(\x, { 10.do({ "ten more".scramble.postln; 0.25.wait; }) });
Tdef(\x, { loop({ "lots more".scramble.postln; 0.25.wait; }) });

TempoClock.default.tempo = 1;

Tdef(\x).stop;
Tdef(\x).play;

Tdef(\x).clear;
::

code::
// sound example

(
// load a synthdef
s.boot;
SynthDef(\pdef_grainlet,
	{ arg out=0, freq=440, sustain=0.05;
		var env;
		env = EnvGen.kr(Env.perc(0.01, sustain, 0.3), doneAction:2);
		Out.ar(out, SinOsc.ar(freq, 0, env))
	}).add;
)
Tdef(\x).play;

(
Tdef(\x, {
	loop({
		s.sendMsg("/s_new", "pdef_grainlet", -1,0,0, \freq, rrand(600, 640));
		0.1.wait;
	})
})
)

(
Tdef(\x, {
	var x;
	x = Pseries(300, 20, 100).loop.asStream;
	loop({
		s.sendMsg("/s_new", "pdef_grainlet", -1,0,0, \freq, x.next);
		0.05.wait;
	})
})
)

(
Tdef(\x, {
	var x;
	x = Plazy({ Pseries(300 + 300.rand, 10 + 30.rand, 10 + 30.rand) }).loop.asStream;
	loop({
		s.sendMsg("/s_new", "pdef_grainlet", -1,0,0, \freq, x.next);
		0.05.wait;
	})
})
)

// metronome
Tdef(\y, { loop({ s.sendMsg("/s_new", "pdef_grainlet", -1,0,0, \freq, 1500); 1.wait; }) }).play;

// play ending stream once
(
Tdef(\x, {
	var x, dt;
	dt = [0.1, 0.125, 0.05].choose;
	x = Plazy({ Pseries(1300 + 300.rand, 110 + 130.rand, 16) }).asStream;
	x.do({ arg item;
		s.sendMsg("/s_new", "pdef_grainlet", -1,0,0, \freq, item);
		dt.wait;
	})
})
)

// ... and so on ...

Tdef(\x).stop;
Tdef.removeAll;
::

subsection::Embed and fork: Tdef within other Tasks / Routines

code::
// embed plays tdefs in sequence within a task.
(
Tdef(\a, { "one".postln; 1.wait; "two".postln });
Tdef(\c, { var z; z = Synth(\default); 0.5.wait; z.release });
r = Task({
	"counting...".postln;
	2.wait;
	Tdef(\a).embed;
	1.wait;
	Tdef(\c).embed;
	"done.".postln;
});
)

r.play; // play a stream

Tdef(\c, { var z; z = Synth(\default, [\freq, 300]); 1.5.wait; z.release }); // change the def

r.reset;
r.play;

// of course Tdefs can be used in other Tdefs:
(
Tdef(\a, { 10.do { |i| (" a: " + i).postln; 0.3.wait; } });
Tdef(\b, { 15.do { |i| ("\t\t b: " + i).postln; 0.2.wait; } });
Tdef(\c, { 5.do { |i| ("\t\t\t\t c: " + i).postln; 0.5.wait; } });

Tdef(\d, {
	"embed - sequence.".postln;
	1.wait;
	Tdef(\a).embed;
	1.wait;
	Tdef(\b).embed;
	1.wait;
	Tdef(\c).embed;

	"done.".postln;
});
)
Tdef(\d).play;

// to start a tdef in its own separate thread, thus branching into parallel threads,
// one can use .fork, or .playOnce
(
Tdef(\a, { 10.do { |i| (" a: " + i).postln; 0.3.wait; } });
Tdef(\b, { 15.do { |i| ("\t\t b: " + i).postln; 0.2.wait; } });
Tdef(\c, { 5.do { |i| ("\t\t\t\t c: " + i).postln; 0.5.wait; } });

Tdef(\d, {
	"fork - parallel.".postln;
	1.wait;
	Tdef(\a).fork;
	1.wait;
	Tdef(\b).fork;
	1.wait;
	Tdef(\c).fork;

	"done.".postln;
});
)
::

subsection::Tdef as a time pattern

Instead of using a link::Classes/Pdefn:: for time values, it can be useful to use a Tdef. When changing its source, it keeps the stream of values synchronized to its clock.

code::
(
// load a synthdef
s.boot;
SynthDef("pdef_grainlet",
	{ arg out=0, freq=440, sustain=0.05;
		var env;
		env = EnvGen.kr(Env.perc(0.01, sustain, 0.3), doneAction:2);
		Out.ar(out, SinOsc.ar(freq, 0, env))
	}).add;
)



Tdef(\z, Pseq([1, 1, 1, 0.5, 0.5], inf));

(
Pset(\instrument, \pdef_grainlet,
	Ppar([
		Pbind(
			\dur, Tdef(\z),
			\note, Pseq([1, 3, 2, 1, 0], inf),
			\x, Pfunc { TempoClock.default.elapsedBeats.postln } // posts the onset times
		),
		Pbind(
			\dur, 4, // reference beat
			\sustain, 0.1,
			\note, 8
		)
	])
).play(quant:1);
)


Tdef(\z, Prand([1, 1, 0.23, 0.5, 0.5], inf)); // exchange time pattern
Tdef(\z, Pseq([1, 1, 1, 1], inf)); // pattern stays in sync.
Tdef(\z, Pseq([1, 1, 1, 0.5, 0.5], inf)); // but might be in different order.
					// to avoid this, set quant to an appropriate value.
::