When to use in_thread

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1

I’m just wondering when I should use in_thread ? I understand that it creates a new thread, but since I’m using live_loops , I don’t really see the need for it. What am I missing?

2

you might use it for example when wanting two or more bits of code to run once at the same time.
In the example below four identical threads play each delayed by 8 beats after the previous one starts.

# #four part Frere Jaques
with_fx :reverb,room: 0.9 do
  use_synth :tri
  use_bpm 180
  notes=[:c4,:d4,:e4,:c4]*2+[:e4,:f4,:g4]*2+[:g4,:a4,:g4,:f4,:e4,:c4]*2+[:c4,:g3,:c4]*2
  durations=[1,1,1,1]*2+[1,1,2]*2+[0.5,0.5,0.5,0.5,1,1]*2+[1,1,2]*2
  in_thread do
    play_pattern_timed notes,durations,amp: 0.2,pan: -1,release: 0.1
  end
  sleep 8
  use_synth :pulse
  in_thread do
    play_pattern_timed notes,durations,amp: 0.2,pan: -0.33,release: 0.1
  end
  
  sleep 8
  use_synth :pulse
  in_thread do
    play_pattern_timed notes,durations,amp: 0.2,pan: 0.33,release: 0.1
  end
  sleep 8
  use_synth :saw
  in_thread do
    play_pattern_timed notes,durations,amp: 0.2,pan: 1,release: 0.1
  end
end
2 Likes
3

Thanks for the reply and the example. But I rewrote it using live_loop. Would in_thread provide any benifits etc compared to the version with live_loop?

with_fx :reverb, room: 0.9 do
  use_bpm 180
  notes = [:c4, :d4, :e4, :c4] * 2 + [:e4, :f4, :g4] * 2 +
    [:g4, :a4, :g4, :f4, :e4, :c4] * 2 + [:c4, :g3, :c4] * 2
  durations = [1, 1, 1, 1] * 2 + [1, 1, 2] * 2 +
    [0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 1, 1] * 2 + [1, 1, 2] * 2
  
  
  live_loop :clock do
    
    sleep 1
    
  end
  
  
  live_loop :melody1 do
    sync :clock
    use_synth :tri
    play_pattern_timed notes, durations, amp: 0.2, pan: -1, release: 0.1
    sleep 8
    stop
  end
  
  live_loop :melody2 do
    sync :clock
    sleep 8
    use_synth :pulse
    play_pattern_timed notes, durations, amp: 0.2, pan: -0.33, release: 0.1
    stop
  end
  
  live_loop :melody3 do
    sync :clock
    sleep 16
    use_synth :pulse
    play_pattern_timed notes, durations, amp: 0.2, pan: 0.33, release: 0.1
    stop
  end
  
  live_loop :melody4 do
    sync :clock
    sleep 24
    use_synth :saw
    play_pattern_timed notes, durations, amp: 0.2, pan: 1, release: 0.1
    stop
  end
end
1 Like
4

in_thread is useful if you want to write loops of finite length – a piece with a beginning, middle and end. Of course you can do this by computing when to put a stop command in a live_loop, but in_thread is cleaner & more intuitive.

2 Likes
5

Often wondered about this myself. Superb explanations by Harry and Robin.

PD-Pi

6

thank you Robin @robin.newman for the example and explanation, I rediscover also in_thread! :cowboy_hat_face: