First Steps

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Overview: This tutorial will act as a guide about how to get started after installating Konduktiva. See how to install Konduktiva on the Konduktiva Github page

Things To Note: Only follow this tutorial after you have correctly followed the installation instructions.

Start the nodejs REPL in a terminal if you have installed Konduktiva globally (using the -g tag). If not navigate the the directory where you have installed Konduktiva using the cd command or using the file manager navigate to the location you have installed Konduktiva and open a terminal there.:

 node

Run the following line of code in the REPL which will load the Konduktiva library if you have installed it throught npm. For loading using other methods go to https://github.com/renickbell/konduktiva/blob/main/README.md#running-the-code|the Running The Code part of the Konduktiva Github page. :

const K = require('konduktiva')

After this is loaded, you will need to open one instance of MIDI output. Next, setup a default/example MusicalEnvironment with

let e = K.setUpMusicalEnvironment(0)

If you log ``e``, you will see that is a MusicalEnvironment class. It has some basic configurations for the new user to get started

you change the tempo(speed) like this

//Makes music go slower
e.changeTempo(80)
 
//Makes music go faster
e.changeTempo(180)

Before you can start playing music, you have to connect Konduktiva to your music synthesizer of choice. On Linux, I will be using Carla. I can use Carla to easily connect midi inputs and outputs. To do this open Carla and click the “Configure Carla” button and ensure it is using the right engine. If configure it to use the right engine:

If you did change the settings remember to restart the Carla engine. You can restart the Carla engine by clicking “Engine” on the top left and click the “stop” button. Next, click the “Engine” button again and click the “start” button.

Next click the “Patchbay” button. It is located towards the upper left part of your screen. It is on the same line as and between two other buttons, “Rack” and “Logs”:

IMG

Scroll around the Patchbay and look for the midi bridges, the should have red tags in them indicating they are midi.

IMG

In one of the midi bridges, you should see “Midi Through:(capture_0) Midi Through Port-0”. Ensure that it says capture not playback. The pointy part of the red tag should also be facing left:

IMG

If you use your mouse to hold down in the “Midi Through:(capture_0) Midi Through Port-0” red tag, then move your mouse. You should see a line coming out. Use that line to connect to the input of the your music synthesizer. In this example I am using a music synthesizer called Yoshimi:

GIF

Next configure you music synthesizer to listen to the correct channel. These are the correct channels for the these players. exampleMidiPlayer1: 1, exampleMidiPlayer2: 2, exampleMidiPlayer3: 3, exampleMidiPlayer4, 4. If you do not understand what player are don't worry right now. They will be explained in due time and you will also be reminded to change the channel later. For now just know how to do it. This is an example of changing it in Yoshimi:

Now you can start playing some beats. Try this command to allow one player to start playing.

e.play('exampleMidiPlayer1')

You should here something like this: You can also restart the node session by cressing CTRL + D in the terminal and typing node again. Then you might want to try some of these other functions:

let e = K.setUpMusicalEnvironment(0)
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer1')
//OR
let e = K.setUpMusicalEnvironment(1)
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer1')
//OR
let e = K.setUpMusicalEnvironment(3)
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer1')

REMEMBER to restart nodejs everytime you run one of those functions. As you learn more about Konduktiva, you will learn other ways to do this so you do not have to restart node every single time.

Konduktiva can send MIDI messages to more than one music synthesizer session. Try opening another session of your music synthesizer then try this function:

let e = K.setUpMusicalEnvironment(2)
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer1')
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer2')

You should here both your music synthesizer sessions playing different things. It should sound something like this:

Next open 2 more music synthesizer session. 4 in total and run the code below:

let e = K.setUpMusicalEnvironment(4)
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer1')
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer2')
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer3')
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer4')

This might sound something like this:

You can allow multiple players to play simultaneously:

e.play('exampleMidiPlayer3')
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer4')
e.play('exampleMidiPlayer2')

All the exampleMidiPlayers should be playing now.

After each line you should here an extra layer of sound.

It might sound something like this:

To stop a specific session. This will stop exampleMidiPlayer3 player:

e.stop('exampleMidiPlayer3')

To stop all players:

e.stopAll()

Explanation of K.setUpMusicalEnvironment function:

Argument 0 is for the most basic. Argument 1 is for slightly more complex than the most basic Argument 2 is for two players. Argument 3 is for more complex and longer single player Argument 4 is for 4 players

All the variables that control the music can be set by using the beginner friendly musicalEnvironment configuration objects. Example configuration objects can be found in the file example-melodies-data.js and documentation on the musicalEnvironment configuration objects can be found in the file Konduktiva-documentation.md.

Recommended reading Conceptual Overview

The sound output can be easily changed by simply switching the data the player looks at without creating any new data.

This will cause the notes to loop between 0 to 3.

e.players.exampleMidiPlayer1.noteMap = 'default'
//To look at the information being used:
console.log(e.noteMaps.default)

This will cause the chord progression form ionian, to phrygian, then to mixolydian.

e.players.exampleMidiPlayer1.modeMap = 'default'
//To look at the information being used:
console.log(e.modeMaps.default)

This will cause the player to cycle between the notes 0 to 3.

e.players.exampleMidiPlayer1.noteMap = 'default'
//To look at the information being used:
console.log(e.noteMaps.default)

To play chords another action function will have to be used. To switch action functions do this:

e.players.exampleMidiPlayer1.action = 'sendChordMidiInfo'

Or click here to learn more about action functions.

The recommended way to change specific variables in the MusicalEnvironment is to use the addMap method because it checks for many different types of errors and common mistakes when coding quickly. However, if you are confident and need more speed you can choose to directly interact with the MusicalEnvironment object. Here are some examples

For example, if I wanted to change the octaves of exampleMidiPlayer4 without changing timing I would do this:

//Identify which octave map exampleMidiPlayer4 is looking at:
e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.octaveMap
//Next (the safer way):
 e.addMap('octaveMaps', 
    e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.octaveMap, 
    e.octaveMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.octaveMap].keyspan,
    e.octaveMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.octaveMap].keys, 
    [[ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ]]
)
//to see the changes:
console.log(e.octaveMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.octaveMap].values)
 
//OR do this the less safe way but potentially faster with more control:
e.octaveMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.octaveMap].values =[[ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ], [ 6 ]]
 
//to see the changes:
console.log(e.octaveMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.octaveMap].values)

Example changing rhythmMap for exampleMidiPlayer4 without changing timing. Similar to changing octave.

//Recommended safe way:
e.addMap('rhythmMaps', 
    e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.rhythmMap, 
    e.rhythmMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.rhythmMap].values[0].keyspan, 
    e.rhythmMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.rhythmMap].values[0].keys, 
    [2, 4, 6]
)
//other potentially faster way:
e.rhythmMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.rhythmMap].values[0].values = [2, 4, 6]

Example of changing notes played for exampleMidiPlayer4 Similar to changing octave.:

//Recommended way
e.addMap('noteMaps', 
    e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.noteMap, 
    5, 
    [0, 1, 2, 3, 4], 
    [ [40],[50], [60], [70], [80]]
)
//OR
e.noteMaps[e.players.exampleMidiPlayer4.noteMap] = new QuantizedMap(5, [0, 1, 2, 3, 4], [ [40],[50], [60], [70], [80]])