boar-extras

Some extra programs to make using boar and boar-midi easier.

Build

cc semicolons.c -o semicolons
mv semicolons /usr/local/bin
chmod +x delay.sh
mv delay.sh /usr/local/bin/delay
chicken-install srfi-1
chicken-csc boar-composer.scm
mv boar-composer /usr/local/bin

semicolons

Input to boar programs is newline delimited, which can make specifying chords or multiple options a hassle. The semicolons command turns semicolons into newlines, so that a chord like

n60;n65;n69

is read as

n60
n65
n69

This functionality is effectively the same as tr, but I've found that its buffering behavior can gum up pipes. semicolons will flush after every command.

delay

I am not sure if it's my old synthesizer, my old computer, or both, but rapid MIDI output is ignored unless I delay it slightly. Running delay n in a pipe will hold off on echoing its input for n seconds. n can be fractional. Using an imperceptibly small value of n seems to do the trick.

boar-composer

Takes a S-expression of form:

((steps n) 
 (notes (list (chord ...) ...)))

and generates a looped score of boar note on/off events suitable for use with pop.

Syntax available in notes:

• Individual MIDI notes C0 .. Bb10. Sharps are not available due to the significance of # in Scheme. Just use flats.
• mj and mn chord functions for use against a single note. Also mj7 and mn7. Create more in the source code using these as templates.
• An arp function to break a chord into individual note events. You most likely want to flatten it with ,@.
• Rests can be represented with ∅ or the normal empty list '().
• Arbitrary strings (for non-note patch control) can be inserted into a sublist.

For example:

echo '((steps 4) (notes (list (mj C5) (mn Db5) (mj F5) (mj G5))))' | boar-composer

Recommended for use with Vim. Select parts of your score and pipe them into this program.

Example

Opening a repl that speaks to a synth on MIDI channel one, then playing a chord on it.

mkfifo synth
boar-midi 1 <> synth
rlwrap cat | semicolons | delay 0.001 > synth
n60;n65;n69
o60;o65;o69