MusicLang

Online interpreter using ohm.js that produce melody with Tone.js

Clone and runnpm install && npm run start or visit my github page.

Syntax

Header

Keywords are seperated by white spaces. First line must contain 'use' followed by avaible instrument including: bass-electric bassoon cello clarinet contrabass flute french-horn guitar-acoustic guitar-electric guitar-nylon harmonium harp organ piano saxophone trombone trumpet tuba violin xylophone"

Optionaly you can set BPM under instrument declaration by typing set bpm to followed by number.

Note encoding

Notes can be defined by their "pitch-octave" like C4 for middle C or C#4 Db5 and so on. Alternative is to declare notes as number which corresponds to their frequency (like 440 for middle C).

Time encoding

Specifies time for given event. It consist of at followed by one of avaible notation including:

• Number - A number will be evaluated as the time (in seconds) *1.2 = 1.2 seconds *3 = 3 seconds
• Notation - Describes time in BPM and time signature relative values *"4n" = quarter note *"8t" = eighth note triplet *"2m" = two measures *"8n." = dotted-eighth note
• Transport Time - Tempo and time signature relative time in the form BARS:QUARTERS:SIXTEENTHS *"32:0:0" = start of the 32nd measure *"4:3:2" = 4 bars + 3 quarter notes + 2 sixteenth notes *"1:2" = 1 bar + 2 quarter notes (sixteenth notes can be omitted)
• Frequency - Seconds can also be described in Hz *"1hz" = 1 second *"5hz" = 0.2 seconds
• Ticks - A time relative to the Transport's PPQ (Pulse Per Quarter). The number before the 'i' needs to be an integer *"1i" = 1 tick *"192i" = 1 quarter note at 192 PPQ

Event

Defines action to take. The avaible evetns are:

• SingleNote - defines single note. Consist of keyword SingleNote followed by note (for example C4), duration (which contains keyword for followed by duration in one of time signature) and velocity which is keyword velocity followed by float number in range of 0 - 1 which describes % of volume.

• SingleNote C4 for 0.5 velocity 1 - Middle C for duration of half second with full volume

• ManyNotes - defines multiple notes ranging from 2 to 4. It is similar to previous but it allows to set from 2 to 4 different notes at the same time.

• ManyNotes D4 C4 for 0.5 velocity 0.7 - Middle C and D4 for half second with 70% of volume.

Declaring Variable

Variables can be declared by using keyword let followed by any given identified which doesn't consist white spaces followed by keyword as and event declaration of body declaration. *let someVariable as SingleNote C4 for 0.5 velocity 0.3 - declares someVariable as middle C Body declaration consist many events. It starts with keyword Body followed by any number of events and closed with keyword end.

let someVariable as
begin
    SingleNote E4 for 0.5 velocity 0.5 at 2
    SingleNote G4 for 0.5 velocity 0.7 at 3
end

Statement

Statement decides what to do with given event. Event can be defined inline or it can be defined variable. There avaible 3 statements:

• Play - plays event once at given time *Play SingleNote E4 for 0.5 velocity 0.5 at 1 - Plays E4 at 1 second.
• Repeat - repeats event in specified time frame *Repeat someVariable every 5 since 1 for 11 - Repeats variable every 5 seconds since second 1 to second 11