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ps-examples-iclc2017

Pulse Sequencer example code for ICLC 2017.

Background Listening

https://youtu.be/tqb-0JY40vU?t=20m8s

Prerequisites

• Cycling ‘74 Max (7 or later).
• Ableton Suite 9 or later. (Technically, the Pulse Sequencing machinery will work fine in standalone Max, if you can provide a sound source which responds to MIDI.)
• Java 8. Download and install from Oracle.
• The Max for Live devices: PulseSeq.amxd hosts the Pulse Sequencer, while python-sanity-check.amxd is a simple test device for making sure the Java and Python machinery is working.
• A text editor which understands Python. We suggest Atom.

Installation

• Suite 9
• Max 7
• Java
• Atom
• Java libraries: place in ~/Documents/Max 7/Packages/ps-support/java-classes/lib.
• All Pulse Sequencer scripts need to be placed in the same directory as a place-holder file (with extension .python.PLACE_HOLDER).
• Max needs to have the place-holder’s directory in its search path.

Getting Started

• Create a new Live Set, add the provided devices.
• Test the sanity check. Can Python evaluate expressions? Can it load and run scripts?
• Try to load a script into the Pulse Sequencer device. Set the place-holder first.

Topics

• First principles. (ICLC paper.)
• File organisation: place-holders, header, footer. Extending Python search path.
• First pass: cycling round some fixed pitches.
• Assembling: shortcut syntax.
• Cycle controls: firstIf, nextIf, loopIf.
• Timing patterns - multiple cycles.
• Indexing, indirect lookup, scales.
• Randomisation, selection.
• Controller output: Live Object Model.
• Controller input: Atoms, and working with automation.
• (Optional) Keyboard input.