Sound.Tidal.MIDI.Tetra

Mapping and Abstractions for the analog four-voice synthesizer, TETR4 by Dave Smith Instruments.

Rather than being a tutorial on how to write your own mappings for your MIDI devices, this is more like the kitchen sink: it shows what is possible.

The DSI TETR4 has four separate voices that can (when set to multi-mode) be controlled via four different MIDI channels. Almost everything you can control directly on the device can be automated via MIDI messages.

Documentation

tetraController :: ControllerShape

The controller mapping for TETR4

To get the most out of this device with tidal, I chose to use the non-registered parameter (NRPN) variant to control it. This allows to use the full spectrum for controls like cutoff that allow more granular stepping than standard MIDI (164 instead of 128 steps).

Many parameters diverge from the default ranges of 0 to 127 and therefore this mapping uses the mapRange functionality for controls to allow you to always use double params, e.g.:

>>> t1 $ n (run 4) # famt "0.5" # cutoff "0.3" # resonance "0.8"

while famt, cutoff and resonance all have different ranges of operation (0..254, 0..14 and 0..127 respectively)

Some parameters are essentially mode switches and I chose to pass the values you enter into patterns directly through to the resulting control change. The method passThru on control specification simply skips the scaling of values (you can write your own scaler if you want).

For very generic control I reused Tidal's own params, like cutoff, attack, gain, pan and release. Sometimes the defaults for Tidal do not make sense for MIDI. See (_, cutoff_p) below the actual controller shape for examples on how to deal with this.

tetra :: Shape

notesoff :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

ccreset :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

damp :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

osc1freq :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

osc1detune :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

osc1shape :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

osc1glide :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

osc1kbd :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

osc2freq :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

osc2detune :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

osc2shape :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

osc2glide :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

osc2kbd :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

oscsync :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

glidemode :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

oscslop :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

oscmix :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

noise :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

kamt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

cutoff_p :: Param

attack_p :: Param

release_p :: Param

decay_p :: Param

sustain_p :: Param

audiomod :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

fpoles :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

twopole :: ParamPattern

fourpole :: ParamPattern

famt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

fvel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

fdel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

fatk :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

fdcy :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

fsus :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

frel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

vcavol :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

vamt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

vvel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

vdel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo1rate :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo1shape :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

lfo1amt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo1dest :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo1sync :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

lfo2rate :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo2shape :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

lfo2amt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo2dest :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo2sync :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

lfo3rate :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo3shape :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

lfo3amt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo3dest :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo3sync :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

lfo4rate :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo4shape :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

lfo4amt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo4dest :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo4sync :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

emod :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

eamt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

evel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

edel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

eatk :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

edcy :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

esus :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

erel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod1src :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod1amt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod1dst :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod2src :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod2amt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod2dst :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod3src :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod3amt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod3dst :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod4src :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod4amt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod4dst :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

seq1dst :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

seq2dst :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

seq3dst :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

seq4dst :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mwhl :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mwhldst :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

aftt :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

afttdst :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

breath :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

breathdst :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

mvel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mveldst :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

foot :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

footdst :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

bendrng :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

kbpm :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

clockdiv :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

sqntrig :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

unisonkey :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

unisonmode :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

arpmode :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

erepeat :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

unison :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

arp :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

sqn :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mcr1 :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

mcr2 :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

mcr3 :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

mcr4 :: Pattern Int -> ParamPattern

btnfreq :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

btnvel :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

btnmode :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

sub1vol :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

sub2vol :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

fbvol :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

ksplitpoint :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

kmode :: Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

knormal :: ParamPattern

kstack :: ParamPattern

ksplit :: ParamPattern

adsr :: Pattern String -> ParamPattern

Abstractions

Though not yet finished, these are some examples on how to combine multiple parameters into one single function you can use within your patterns.

Since Tidal 0.7 you can use the grp method to allow things like:

>>> t1 $ n (run 4) # adsr "0.1:0.6:0.3:0.9 0.8:0.3:0.9:0.1"

which alternates between two filter envelope shapes, the first one with a sharp attack and a long decay/release and the latter with a long attack, high sustain and a short release.

atk3 :: Pattern String -> ParamPattern

dcy3 :: Pattern String -> ParamPattern

sus3 :: Pattern String -> ParamPattern

rel3' :: Pattern String -> ParamPattern

lfotri :: Pattern Double

lforsaw :: Pattern Double

lfosaw :: Pattern Double

lfopulse :: Pattern Double

lforand :: Pattern Double

lrate :: (Num b, Ord b, Functor f) => f b -> f b

A hack to handle a param with completely different behavior for certain parts of the range:

lrate is limited from 0 to 150 and specifies values that will produce an lfo frequency

lstep however is essentially limited from 0 to 16 and specifies values that will produce rhythmic lfo based on the _sequence speed_. as taken from the manual:

0: 32 steps 1: 16 steps 2: 8 steps 3: 6 steps 4: 4 steps 5: 3 steps 6: 2 steps 7: 1.5 steps 8: 1 step 9: 2/3 steps 10: 1/2 step 11: 1/3 step 12: 1/4 step 13: 1/6 step 14: 1/8 step 15: 1/16 step

lstep :: (Num b, Ord b, Functor f) => f b -> f b

lfo1 :: Pattern Int -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo2 :: Pattern Int -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo3 :: Pattern Int -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

lfo4 :: Pattern Int -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod1 :: Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod2 :: Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod3 :: Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

mod4 :: Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> Pattern Double -> ParamPattern

doublePattern :: Double -> Pattern Double

Modulation

named sources and destinations to able to refer them for lfos, mods and also sequences.

dosc1 :: Pattern Double

dosc2 :: Pattern Double

dosc :: Pattern Double

dmix :: Pattern Double

dnoise :: Pattern Double

dpw1 :: Pattern Double

dpw2 :: Pattern Double

dpw :: Pattern Double

dcut :: Pattern Double

dres :: Pattern Double

damod :: Pattern Double

dvca :: Pattern Double

dspread :: Pattern Double

dlfo1f :: Pattern Double

dlfo2f :: Pattern Double

dlfo3f :: Pattern Double

dlfo4f :: Pattern Double

dlfof :: Pattern Double

dlfo1a :: Pattern Double

dlfo2a :: Pattern Double

dlfo3a :: Pattern Double

dlfo4a :: Pattern Double

dlfoa :: Pattern Double

dfamt :: Pattern Double

dvamt :: Pattern Double

deamt :: Pattern Double

damt :: Pattern Double

dfatk :: Pattern Double

dvatk :: Pattern Double

deatk :: Pattern Double

datk :: Pattern Double

dfdcy :: Pattern Double

dvdcy :: Pattern Double

dedcy :: Pattern Double

ddcy :: Pattern Double

dfrel :: Pattern Double

dvrel :: Pattern Double

derel :: Pattern Double

drel :: Pattern Double

dmod1 :: Pattern Double

dmod2 :: Pattern Double

dmod3 :: Pattern Double

dmod4 :: Pattern Double

dfb :: Pattern Double

dsub1 :: Pattern Double

dsub2 :: Pattern Double

dshape :: Pattern Double

dslew :: Pattern Double

sseq1 :: Pattern Double

sseq2 :: Pattern Double

sseq3 :: Pattern Double

sseq4 :: Pattern Double

slfo1 :: Pattern Double

slfo2 :: Pattern Double

slfo3 :: Pattern Double

slfo4 :: Pattern Double

sfenv :: Pattern Double

svenv :: Pattern Double

seenv :: Pattern Double

spitchb :: Pattern Double

smodwh :: Pattern Double

saftert :: Pattern Double

sbreath :: Pattern Double

sfoot :: Pattern Double

sexpr :: Pattern Double

svel :: Pattern Double

snote :: Pattern Double

snoise :: Pattern Double

snare :: ParamPattern

Presets suck, but I constantly forget how to make drums with the TETR4, so here are some defaults (that can mostly be changed when using them) to make a snare and a kick.

Use the snare like this:

>>> t1 $ n "0(3,8)" # snare

To make it shorter:

>>> t1 $ n "0(3,8)" # snare |-| release "0.1" |-| decay "0.1"

kick :: ParamPattern

usage would be:

>>> t1 $ n "0 [[0 1] 1]" # kick

you can change the defaults by applying merge operations for certain params:

>>> t1 $ n "0(3,8)" # kick |+| edcy "0.05"

will give the kick more resonance

>>> t1 $ n "0(3,8)" # kick |-| edcy "0.15"

will make it really dry

chip :: ParamPattern

Since the TETR4 lacks a high-pass filter, things like snares and especially cymbals are somewhat limited to filtered noise which sounds okish.

Therefore some presets for the different types of sounds you can get from the TETR4 can come in handy and can also be combined and modified with and through others:

A chip tune like sound, reminds me of gameboys