ORCΛ PLΛY

OrcaPlay is a combination of the esoteric programming language Orca and the synthersizer companion app Pilot with some extensions.

This application is a synthesizer and a livecoding environment capable of playing synths and samples by ToneJS and sending MIDI to your audio/visual interfaces, like Ableton, Renoise, VCV Rack or SuperCollider.

Install & Run

Run in Browser

OrcaPlay

Run in Electron

If you wish to use Orca inside of Electron, follow these steps:

git clone https://github.com/karstenj/orca-play.git
git submodule init
git submodule update
cd orca-play/desktop/
npm install
npm start

Operators

To display the list of operators inside of Orca, use CmdOrCtrl+G.

A add(a b): Outputs sum of inputs.
B subtract(a b): Outputs difference of inputs.
C clock(rate mod): Outputs modulo of frame.
D delay(rate mod): Bangs on modulo of frame.
E east: Moves eastward, or bangs.
F if(a b): Bangs if inputs are equal.
G generator(x y len): Writes operands with offset.
H halt: Halts southward operand.
I increment(step mod): Increments southward operand.
J jumper(val): Outputs northward operand.
K konkat(len): Reads multiple variables.
L less(a b): Outputs smallest of inputs.
M multiply(a b): Outputs product of inputs.
N north: Moves Northward, or bangs.
O read(x y read): Reads operand with offset.
P push(len key val): Writes eastward operand.
Q query(x y len): Reads operands with offset.
R random(min max): Outputs random value.
S south: Moves southward, or bangs.
T track(key len val): Reads eastward operand.
U uclid(step max): Bangs on Euclidean rhythm.
V variable(write read): Reads and writes variable.
W west: Moves westward, or bangs.
X write(x y val): Writes operand with offset.
Y jymper(val): Outputs westward operand.
Z lerp(rate target): Transitions operand to input.
* bang: Bangs neighboring operands.
# comment: Halts a line.

IO

: midi(channel octave note velocity length): Sends a MIDI note.
% mono(channel octave note velocity length): Sends monophonic MIDI note.
! cc(channel knob value): Sends MIDI control change.
? pb(channel value): Sends MIDI pitch bench.
; pilot(channel value): Sends Pilot note.
= pilot(channel value): Sends Pilot effect/sample.
$ self: Sends ORCA command.

Pilot Synthesizer/Sampler/Player

Pilot has 17 synthesizer voices, 13 sampler voices, 13 drum banks with 16 drum samples and 8 effects.

MIDI

See description in Orca

Advanced Controls

Some of Orca's features can be controlled via its own command-line interface. To activate the command-line prompt, press CmdOrCtrl+K. The prompt can also be used to inject patterns or change settings.

Project Mode

You can quickly inject orca files into the currently active file, by using the command-line prompt — Allowing you to navigate across multiple files like you would a project. Press CmdOrCtrl+L to load multiple orca files, then press CmdOrCtrl+B and type the name of a loaded .orca file to inject it.

Commands

All commands have a shorthand equivalent to their first two characters, for example, write can also be called using wr. You can see the full list of commands here.

play Plays program.
stop Stops program.
run Runs current frame.
bpm:140 Sets bpm speed to 140.
apm:160 Animates bpm speed to 160.
frame:0 Sets the frame value to 0.
skip:2 Adds 2, to the current frame value.
rewind:2 Removes 2, to the current frame value.
color:f00;0f0;00f Colorizes the interface.
find:aV Sends cursor to string aV.
select:3;4;5;6 Move cursor to position 3,4, and select size 5:6(optional).
inject:pattern;12;34 Inject the local file pattern.orca, at 12,34(optional).
write:H;12;34 Writes glyph H, at 12,34(optional).
time Prints the time, in minutes seconds, since 0f.
midi:1;2 Set Midi output device to #1, and input device to #2.
udp:1234;5678 Set UDP output port to 1234, and input port to 5678.
osc:1234 Set OSC output port to 1234.

Base36 Table

Orca operates on a base of 36 increments. Operators using numeric values will typically also operate on letters and convert them into values as per the following table. For instance Do will bang every 24th frame.

0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	A	B
0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N
12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35

Transpose Table

The midi operator interprets any letter above the chromatic scale as a transpose value, for instance 3H, is equivalent to 4A.

0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	A	B
_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	A0	B0
C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N
C0	D0	E0	F0	G0	A0	B0	C1	D1	E1	F1	G1
O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
A1	B1	C2	D2	E2	F2	G2	A2	B2	C3	D3	E3

Extras

This application supports the Ecosystem Theme.
See the License file for license rights and limitations (MIT).
Pull Requests are welcome!

karstenj / orca-play