Finding a New Groove with Sonic Pi

Introductions & Stories
1

Hi ,

I’ve always been fascinated by making music, but I wanted to explore a different approach beyond just playing notes on a keyboard and ending up in the same place. Nothing wrong with that, but I am looking for fresh inspiration. I also used piano roll to get away from my keyboard, but recently, I discovered Sonic Pi and the world of programming music.

This discovery feels like reconnecting with a part of my childhood—when I first experimented with programming, creating my own software from a book on computer programming, and later tweaking ADSR settings on my Atari, my first fascination with sound I guess. Now, I’m excited to dive into this new way of composing, learning how to blend coding with other VSTs. The combination of these two worlds feels very live-performance oriented, and I’m eager to see where this journey takes me.

2

Hi,

you can send midi message from Sonic Pi to DAW and to opposite direction. Check section 11 and 12 of Sonic Pi tutorial (Sonic Pi - Tutorial). The idea is connect Sonic Pi and DAW using OSC protocol. If you get midi message in DAW you can use it in VST instruments and also record it in piano roll.

The big thing is randomization. It (for me) changes rules of composing.

Peter

3

thanks, much appreciated . Can you please help me understand if there is a window like the one you find in DAW’s where it shows you how much the computer is using resources, like CPU etc .. for the computation of these programmes when they are running? Much thanks again - Brian

4

I don’t know where (or even exist) it is in Sonic Pi. Try task manager.

Peter