Setting up TidalCycles in a VM

gistfile1.txt

This is a brief outline of the steps followed to setup TidalCycles inside a VM - I am using a Linux Host and  GnomeBoxes, however the basic procedure should translate mostly independendt of the host specs

1. Install clean Ubuntu 20.04 Gnome Box - I create a user called tidal during the install, but can use whatever you want

2. Boot the VM and perform all system updates that appear after first boot

3. Install main dependencies:
   a. sudo apt-get install build-essential cabal-install git jackd2 emacs-nox haskell-mode
       i. select "Yes" when asked about condifguring jackd for realtime process priority
       
4. Install Supercollider and sc3-plugins via the install scripts:
    a. git clone https://github.com/lvm/build-supercollider
    b. cd build-supercollider
    c. sh build-supercollider.sh
    d. sh build-sc3plugins.sh
    
5. Add your user to the audio group
    a. sudo usermod -aG audio $USER
    
6. Install SuperDirt:
    a. open SuperCollider IDE
    b. execute the following line from the IDE:
        i. Quarks.checkForUpdates({Quarks.install("SuperDirt", "v1.1.3"); thisProcess.recompile()})
        
7. Downlaod the tidal.el script and edit the .emacs config accordingly
    a. https://github.com/tidalcycles/Tidal/blob/main/tidal.el
    
8. Download the superdirt startup script (to allow starting from CLI)
    a.wget -q https://raw.githubusercontent.com/musikinformatik/SuperDirt/develop/superdirt_startup.scd -O ~/superdirt_start.scd
    
9. Start SuperDirt:
    a. sclang ~/superdirt_start.scd
    b. Should see "SuperDirt: listening to Tidal on port 57120" after it finishes
    
10. Start emacs by opening a tidal file, start tidal and test audio:
    a. emacs test.tidal
    b. start tidal via C-c C-s
    c. enter a line to play for an example: d1 $ s "bd"
    d. execute the line to test the audio: C-c C-c

After doing the above I was getting no sound from the executed code-

I tried the following:

Open qjackctl, go to Setup -> Settings -> Advanced -> Setou output device from (default) to hw:intel

Now when I execute a command from a tidal editor (tested both emacs and atom), I can hear it trying to play sounds, but the samples are all clipped/distorted.