Sonic Pi Confessions III - BadBadNotGood

confessions.rb

use_synth :tech_saws
use_bpm 120


# Base scale
song_scale = scale :cs3, :aeolian, num_octaves: 2

# There are two phrases played by the lead, x1, and x2.
# They are two different 16th note riffs.
x1 = [5,7,8,5,7,8,8,5,7,5,7,8,8,5,7,8]
x2 = [6,7,8,6,7,8,8,6,7,6,7,8,8,6,7,8]
# The lead cycles between repeating each phrase.
seqs = (ring x1, x1, x2, x2)

# The lead line live_loop.
# I used a live loop here so that all other threads can
# cue on :sax.
live_loop :sax do
  # Grab the next sequence to play.
  cs = seqs.tick
  # Loop through each note in the sequence.
  cs.size.times do |i|
    # Play this note.
    # We subtract one so that x1 and x2 can be written
    # in a 1-indexed fashion.
    n = cs[i] - 1
    # We cannot use play_pattern_timed since we want to make
    # the release and attack varied between each note.
    play song_scale[n], release: rdist(0.1, 0.4), attack: rdist(0.03, 0.05)
    # Sixteenth notes.
    sleep 0.25
  end
end

# This thread cues the song structure.
in_thread(name: :cuer) do
  # HOW DO WE MAKE THIS 4 INSTEAD?
  # We want the sax by itself for 4 measures.
  # We sync 3 times on sax since this thread "misses" the first cue.
  3.times do
    sync :sax
  end
  # Now Start the bass drum
  cue :bass_drum_cue
  4.times do
    sync :sax
  end
  # Now start the high hat.
  cue :highhat_cue
  4.times do
    sync :sax
  end
  # Now start the bass guitar.
  cue :bass_guitar_cue
end


# The rhythm of the bass drum and bass guitar.
bass_rhythm_spacing = [0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.25, 1.75, 2, 3.5]
# The odds that a particular note should be played in the bass rhythm.
play_note_odds = [1,1,0.7, 1, 1, 1, 0.7]

# What to play for each measure of the bass.
define :bass_drum_loop do
  at bass_rhythm_spacing, play_note_odds do |i, j|
    sample :drum_bass_soft if rrand(0,1) < j
  end
end

# Bass drum thread.
in_thread(name: :bass_loop) do
  # Wait for the cuer thread to start us.
  sync :bass_drum_cue
  loop do
    sync :sax
    bass_drum_loop
  end
end

# The bass guitar shares the same rhythm as the
# bass drum. but changes its root note, based on
# this sequence.
bass_notes = (ring 1, 1, 6, 6, 5, 5, 6, 6)

# Same structure as bass_drum_loop, except playing a note based on the bass_notes ring.
define :bass_guitar_loop do | note |
  at bass_rhythm_spacing, play_note_odds do |i, j|
    play note, release: rdist(0.1, 0.3), attack: 0.0 if rrand(0,1) < j
  end
end

# Bass guitar thread.
in_thread(name: :bass_guitar_loop) do
  use_synth :subpulse
  # Wait for the cueing thread to kick this off.
  sync :bass_guitar_cue
  loop do
    sync :sax
    bass_guitar_loop (song_scale[bass_notes.tick - 1] - 12 * 2)
  end
end

in_thread(name: :highhat_cue_loop) do
  sync :highhat_cue
  loop do
    sync :sax
    at [1, 3] do
      sample :drum_cymbal_pedal
    end
  end
end