README

===============================================================================
Python Music Generator
===============================================================================

Simple library to generate midi patterns from numbers. 
This library can be used to build generative music tools.

Download from http://code.google.com/p/python-music-gen/

Midi examples

http://www.black-aura.com/resources/python-music-gen/arptest.mid
http://www.black-aura.com/resources/python-music-gen/bassline.mid
http://www.black-aura.com/resources/python-music-gen/chords.mid
http://www.black-aura.com/resources/python-music-gen/chords2.mid

MP3 examples (imported MIDI in Ableton Live and added instruments)

http://www.black-aura.com/resources/python-music-gen/arps.mp3

Code Examples

View the examples under /music to start creating your own music!

Documentation

Creating a MIDI file
===============================================================================

from midiutil.MidiGenerator import MidiGenerator
 
midiGenerator = MidiGenerator(tempo=105)
midiGenerator.write()

This code will write an empty midi file. 
The midi file name will be the python_file_name.mid.


A simple loop
===============================================================================

The following code will generate a loop with notes 60,62 and 64 playing in 
sequence. The length and distance between notes will be 1/2 a beat. The 
velocities will loop as follows: 100, 90, 100, 90, etc.

from midiutil.MidiGenerator import MidiGenerator
from midiutil.TrackGen import LoopingArray
 
midiGenerator = MidiGenerator(tempo=105)
 
# Create a looping array of notes 60, 62 and 64 (C, D, E)
notes = LoopingArray([[60],[62],[64]])
 
# Create a looping array of beats (note duration, note length)
beats = LoopingArray([(0.5,0.5)])
 
# Create a looping array of velocities
velocities = LoopingArray([100,90])
 
midiGenerator.add_track(0, 0, 
						beat=beats, 
						notes=notes, 
						velocities=velocities, 
						length=16)

midiGenerator.write()


A slightly more complex loop
===============================================================================

The following loop will play multiple notes with a varying beat.

from midiutil.MidiGenerator import MidiGenerator
from midiutil.TrackGen import LoopingArray

midiGenerator = MidiGenerator(tempo=105)

# Create a looping array of chord C, note C, and notes 64+67
notes = LoopingArray([[60,64,67],[60],[64,67]])

# Create a looping array of beats (note duration, note length)
beats = LoopingArray([(0.5,0.5), (0.25,0.125)])

# Create a looping array of velocities
velocities = LoopingArray([100,90])

midiGenerator.add_track(0, 0, 
						beat=beats, 
						notes=notes, 
						velocities=velocities, 
						length=16)

midiGenerator.write()


Introducing functioniterator
===============================================================================

The LoopingArray class can take as a parameter a number of generator classes 
which modify the way notes are read from the array. For example the following 
code will read notes from the array by skipping a value.

from midiutil.MidiGenerator import MidiGenerator
from midiutil.TrackGen import LoopingArray, StaticIterator

midiGenerator = MidiGenerator(tempo=105)

notes = LoopingArray(
			[[x] for x in range(60,80)], 
			functioniterator=[('add',StaticIterator(value=2))]
		)

beats = LoopingArray([(0.5,0.5)])
velocities = LoopingArray([100,90])
midiGenerator.add_track(0, 0, 
						beat=beats, 
						notes=notes, 
						velocities=velocities, 
						length=16)

midiGenerator.write()

functioniterator is a list of tuples in the form (function, generator)

function can be: add, dec, mult, div

For example:

notes = LoopingArray(
	[[x] for x in range(60,80)],
	functioniterator=[
		('add',StaticIterator(value=2)),
		('dec',StaticIterator(value=1)),
	]
)

Will first add 2 to the index and reduce it by 1. Note that when using 
StaticIterator, this does not make alot of sense. However when using complex 
generators such as LoopingArray, then very complex patterns can be achieved.


Complex functioniterator
===============================================================================

As already mentioned, one can add a LoopingArray as a functioniterator. 
In the following example, the note array index is first incremented by 1, 
then by 2, 1 again, etc...

from midiutil.MidiGenerator import MidiGenerator
from midiutil.TrackGen import LoopingArray, StaticIterator

midiGenerator = MidiGenerator(tempo=105)

notes = LoopingArray(
			[[x] for x in range(60,80)], 
			functioniterator=[('add',LoopingArray([1,2]))]
		)

beats = LoopingArray([(0.5,0.5)])
velocities = LoopingArray([100,90])

midiGenerator.add_track(0, 0, 
						beat=beats, 
						notes=notes, 
						velocities=velocities, 
						length=16)

midiGenerator.write()


One can build complex patterns such as:


import sys
sys.path.append("../")

from midiutil.TrackGen import LoopingArray

if __name__ == '__main__':
    arr = LoopingArray(
	   [x for x in range(128)],
	   functioniterator=[
		 ('add', LoopingArray([1, 2, 3], functioniterator=[
			 ('add', LoopingArray([1, 2, 3], functioniterator=[
			   ('add', LoopingArray([1,2,3], id='array4', debug=True))
			   ],
			  id='array3', debug=True)
			  )
			 ],
		  id='array2', debug=True)
		  )
		 ],
	   id='array1', debug=True
	   )
    
    for _ in range(20):
        arr.next()


LoopingIndexedArray
===============================================================================

A LoopingIndexedArray returns items from an array.

values = [value1, value2, value3, value4, value5]
indexes = [index1, index2, index3, index4, index5]
             ^
        loopindex

returns values[indexes[loopindex]]

on next(), the loopindex is moved. By default the value is incremented by 1, 
however this can be modified by adding values to the list functioniterator 
(see below).

Example:

x = LoopingIndexedArray([1,2,3,4,5],[0,1,0,2,0,3])
x.next()
> 1
x.next()
> 2
x.next()
> 1
x.next()
3
x.next()
> 1


LoopingIncrementalIndexedArray
===============================================================================

A LoopingIncrementalIndexedArray returns items from an array.

values = [value1, value2, value3, value4, value5]
indexes = [index1, index2, index3, index4, index5]
             ^
          loopindex

noteindex=noteindex+indexes[loopindex]

returns values[noteindex]


on next(), the loopindex is moved. By default the value is incremented by 1, 
however this can be modified by adding values to the list functioniterator 
(see below).

Example:

x = LoopingIncrementalIndexedArray([1,2,3,4,5],[0,1,-1,2,0,3])
x.next()
> 1
x.next()
> 1
x.next()
> 2
x.next()
> 1
x.next()
> 3
x.next()
> 3
x.next()
> 1


Note: negative values will move the loopindex to the right

Arpeggiator
===============================================================================

So far we have seen adding note loops as tracks. You can also add 
arpeggios by using the add_arpeggio method.

from midiutil.MidiGenerator import MidiGenerator
from midiutil.Scales import MINOR, buildScale
from midiutil.TrackGen import LoopingIncrementalIndexedArray, LoopingArray

midiGenerator = MidiGenerator(tempo=105)

sc = MINOR

mscale = buildScale(sc, 48, 80)
notes = LoopingArray([
	[mscale[x] for x in [0, 2, 4, 6]], # chord 1
	[mscale[x] for x in [3, 5, 7, 9]], # chord 2
	[mscale[x] for x in [5, 7, 11]] # chord 3
	], functioniterator=[('add', LoopingArray([1, 1, 2]))])
chord_beats = LoopingArray([(4, 4), (2, 2)])
notes_beats = LoopingArray([(0.25, 0.25)])
velocities = LoopingArray([120, 120])
note_skip = LoopingArray(
				[0, 1, 2, 3, 1], 
				functioniterator=[('add', LoopingArray([1, 2]))]
			)

midiGenerator.add_arpeggio(0, 0,
	chords_beat=chord_beats,
	notes_beat=notes_beats,
	chords=notes,
	velocities=velocities,
	note_skip=note_skip,
	length=32)

midiGenerator.write()
	
In this example, the chords inside the LoopingArray notes, are played note 
by note. The length of the chorded arpeggio is determined by chords_beat. The 
duration of the notes inside the arpeggio is determined by notes_beat. So in
this example, the arpeggio chords are held for 4 beat and then 2 beats. The 
notes inside the arpeggio are 1/4 in length.