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Core Language Concepts

OpenScofo scores describe three things:

  • What to listen for,
  • What to do,
  • When to do it.
NOTE C4 1
    sendto delay [1]

NOTE D4 1
    delay 1 tempo sendto granular [open]

flowchart LR
    performer[Performer] --> event[Event detected]
    event --> action[Action]
    action --> host[Pd / Max / Csound / SuperCollider]
    host --> result[Electronic Action]

Mental Model

Concept Question Reference
Event What should OpenScofo listen for? Musical Events
Action What should the computer do? Computer Actions
Time When the computer should do it? Computer Actions
Host Where does sendto go? Platform Integrations

Events

Events are the notated cues OpenScofo follows.

Event Use Example
NOTE Single pitched event NOTE C4 1
CHORD Simultaneous pitches event (chord) CHORD (C4 E4 G4) 2
TRILL Alternating pitches (trill, tremolo) TRILL (D4 E4) 4
REST Silence (rest) REST 1
PTECH Pitched extended technique events PTECH tongue-ram C4 1
UTECH Unpitched extended technique events UTECH jet-whistle 2

Durations are beats relative to the current BPM. See Pitch and Notation Conventions.

Actions

Actions are computer responses attached to musical events.

Action Use Example
sendto Send a message to the host sendto reverb [0.8]
delay ... sendto Schedule a message delay 1 tempo sendto delay [1]
luacall Run Lua logic (for complex actions) luacall(do_something_complex("A"))

Receivers commonly control delay, reverb, granular processing, video, projection, lights, freeze, or loop states.

Time

delay schedules an action.

Form Meaning Typical use
delay 500 ms Wait 500 milliseconds fixed technical cue
delay 2 sec Wait 2 seconds fixed media timing
delay 1 tempo Wait 1 beat at the estimated tempo echoes, lighting cues, musical answers

Use tempo when the response should stretch with the performer. For examples, see Examples.

Pitch

Pitches can be written as names or MIDI numbers.

Notation Meaning
C4 middle C
F#4, Bb3 accidentals
C+4, D-4 quarter-tone notation
60, 60.5 MIDI / microtonal MIDI

Use this page for the concept; use the Language Reference for syntax.