Menu
write limut DSL code to produce music in a style requested by the user
Install with Codex or Claude Copy this prompt, paste it into Codex, Claude, or another assistant, and let it review the skill page and install it for you.
Based on SOC occupation classification
| name | write-music |
| description | write limut DSL code to produce music in a style requested by the user |
Write limut DSL code to produce music. Read the CLAUDE.md in the project root for full DSL reference. Below are practical patterns learned from examples.limut and the full index.html documentation.
A piece typically has:
set bpm=N (common: 80-150)set scale=NAME (minor, phrygian, dorian, mixolydian, lydian, penta, major, etc.)set root=N to transposeset ch=... for shared chord progressionsEach line defines one player: ID TYPE PATTERN, param=value, param=value
Limut is case insensitive; piano, Piano, and PIANO are all treated the same.
// line comment/* ... */ block commentid synth pattern, params - define a playerset id params - override player paramsset var=value - set global varpreset name synth, params - create a synth presetinclude 'url' - include a limut source fileCommands can span multiple lines. A new command starts when the beginning of a line matches set , preset , or id type pattern.
Use play type with letter patterns. Each character is a 1-beat hit; . is rest.
Each letter maps to a sample folder. Multiple samples exist per letter (selected via sample=N).
| Char | Sound | Char | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
x | Bass drum | X | Heavy kick |
v | Soft kick | V | Hard kick |
o | Snare drum | O | Heavy snare |
u | Soft snare | i | Jungle snare |
I | Rock snare | D | Dirty snare |
- | Hi hat closed | = | Hi hat open |
: | Hi-hats | + | Clicks |
* | Clap | H | Clap |
h | Finger snaps | # | Crash |
~ | Ride cymbal | s | Shaker |
S | Tambourine | t | Rimshot |
T | Cowbell | e | Electronic Cowbell |
k | Wood shaker | K | Percussive hits |
l | Robot noise | L | Noisy percussive hits |
m | 808 toms | M | Acoustic toms |
r | Metal | R | Metallic |
p | Tabla | P | Tabla long |
d | Woodblock | n | Noise |
a | Gameboy hihat | A | Gameboy kick drum |
b | Noisy beep | B | Short saw |
c | Voice/string | C | Choral |
E | Ringing percussion | f | Pops |
F | Trumpet stabs | g | Ominous |
G | Ambient stabs | J | Ambient stabs |
N | Gameboy SFX | w | Dub hits |
W | Distorted | y | Percussive hits |
Y | High buzz | z | Scratch |
Z | Loud stabs | q | Ambient stabs |
Q | Electronic stabs | U | Misc. Fx |
| | Hangdrum | / | Reverse sounds |
\ | Lazer | % | Noise bursts |
$ | Beatbox | @ | Gameboy noise |
& | Chime | ! | Yeah! |
1 | Vocals (One) | 2 | Vocals (Two) |
3 | Vocals (Three) | 4 | Vocals (Four) |
kd play X., room=0.1 // four-on-floor kick
kd play (Xv)., room=0.1 // kick with ghost note chord
kd play X..X.X.., room=0.1 // syncopated kick
sd play ..O., room=0.1 // backbeat snare
sd play ..(OH*)., room=0.2 // snare with clap layer
hh play -, echo=1/4, amp=2 // 8th note hats
hh play -[--]-[.-], fold, amp=2 // breakbeat-style hats
hh play .[::], echo=1/8 // hat pattern with tight hats
(...) = chord (play all simultaneously)[...] = subsequence (fit multiple events into one dur)<...> = supersequence (cycle through alternatives each pattern repeat)Examples:
X<...[.v]> = first time X then ..., second time X then .v[XX] = two kicks in one beat (double time)(OH) = snare and clap together. = rest (silence)_ = continuation/tie (extends previous note, NOT rest)0# = sharp0b = flat0= = extend duration by 50%0! = shorten duration by 33%0^ = 50% louder0v = 33% quieterx^ = 50% louder (non-numeric, for play synth)0a = other chars after digits become params; eg t tri 01g23, glide=this.g/2`01 23` = backtick pattern literal; whitespace is ignored, contents treated as literal
01 loop 2 = play pattern only N times then stop0123 crop 2 = crop pattern to N steps (repeats if needed)1 + 2 = concatenate two patterns1 * 2 = repeat pattern N timesnow 01 = play starting on next beat instead of from beat 0follow p1 = follow another player's patterngamepad = generate notes from gamepad controllermidi = generate notes from MIDI controllerplay - sample player (letters/symbols for samples). Duration defaults to 1/2perc - sampled percussion. Duration defaults to 1/4, has choke groupsaw - sawtooth wave, oct=4sine - sine wave, oct=4square - square wave, oct=4tri - triangle wave, oct=4pulse - pulse wave, oct=3wave - waveform specified by wave paramping - sine wave ping, oct=5, simple envelopenoise - white noise pad (AudioWorklet)dsaw - detuned sawtooth, oct=4dsine - detuned sine pad, oct=4dsquare - detuned square, oct=4dtri - detuned triangle, oct=4dbass - detuned sawtooth bass, oct=2dpulse - detuned pulse, oct=3dwave - detuned waveform specified by wave paramswell - detuned triangle pad, oct=4fm - FM base synth; configure operators with op1 to op6 params
op1={ratio:5.19,target:3,wave:'saw',depth:0.8,att:0.01,rel:0.1}fmbass - FM bass, oct=2bell - FM bellglock - FM glockenspiel, oct=4glass - FM glass/chime, oct=5xylo - FM xylophone, oct=4ethereal - FM pad, oct=5epiano - DX7-style electric pianoaudiosynth - base type; use play param for custom audio node graphpiano - sampled pianopwm - pulse width modulation (AudioWorklet). pwm=1/2 for pulse widthprophet - PWM with LFO pulse-width (AudioWorklet)supersaw - 7-oscillator supersaw lead, oct=4ambi - ambient drone, multiple sinesmultiwave - multiple oscillators: wave1={'saw',amp:[0:1]n,detune:wow}pitchedperc - synthesised percussion (click/hit/body/rattle components)
click={1}, hit={0,sample:'^',index:1,rate:3/2}body={1,att:5ms,dec:400ms,freq:55hz,boost:150hz,wave:'sine',saturation:0}rattle={1,att:0ms,dec:30ms,rate:1,filter:'lowpass',freq:55hz,boost:205hz,q:18}bd - preset kick drum based on pitchedperc. Params: accent, tone, tune=55io808 - TR-808 simulation. type='bd' selects sound. Params: level, tone, decay, snappy, tuningimpulse - single pulsesample - pitched sample player. Use sample param for URL, start for playback offsetexternal - microphone/line input. track=1, channel=1crackle - crackly soundsnoisefloor - slowly varying noise floorbus - audio mix bus (plays continuously, all params per-frame). Implicit main bus exists! / stop / none - stop/remove a playerScale degrees (0-indexed): 0 = root, 1 = 2nd, 2 = 3rd, etc. Negative numbers go down.
// Melodic bass line
db dbass 0[.0][10]_, dur=1/2, lpf=[200:2000]s8, att=0, oct=(1,2)
// Arpeggio
arp dsaw 02435167, dur=1/2, sus=1/4, echo=3/4, lpf={[500:1500]l7,q:22}, att=0
// Chord stab
stab dsaw (0246), dur=[3,3,2]/4, att=0, sus=1/4, echo=3/4, lpf={[500:1700]l5,q:20}
// Pad
pad ethereal (024)(035), dur=4, room=0.7, oct=4
Basic structure: value{modifiers}@interval
1 - constant number0dB - decibel value (converted to gain; 0dB=1, +6dB100ms - milliseconds; 1s - seconds; 1Hz/1cps - Hertz; 1kHz = 1000Hz1b - beats; 1cpb - cycles per beat; 1kcpb = 1000cpb; 1cpm - cycles per minute1 (eg monochrome same as monochrome=1)[1,2] - sequence, one per event[] - equivalent to [0,1][1,2]t3 - timed sequence, each value lasts 3 beats[1:12,2:4]t - timed sequence with variable timing per value[0:3]t1 - expanded timed sequence = [0,1,2,3]t1[1,2]l3 - linear interpolated sequence over 3 beats[1:12,2:4]l - linear interpolated with variable timing[1,2]s3 - smooth (S-curve) interpolated sequence over 3 beats[1,2]e - interpolated over event duration[1,2]e1 - interpolated starting at event start, 1 beat per value[0:!300ms,1:_[1/4b:1/2b]r,0]e - piecewise envelope with mixed timing[1:!200ms,0]e@s - segment-based (more accurate timing for envelopes)[]r - random 0 to 1 each event[1,4,7]r - random choice from list[:9]r or [0:9]r - random float from range[0,1:7]r - weighted random (1 is 7x more likely than 0)[1,2]r4 - random, hold for 4 beats[1:3]r{seed:1,per:4} - deterministic seeded random[]n - smooth Perlin noise 0 to 1[1:2]n4 - noise between 1-2, period ~4 beats[]n{seed:1,per:4} - deterministic noise[v1:i1t1, v2:i2t2, ...]{p, repeat:0} - interpolate between values with custom control parameter
:/ :\ linear, :_ const/step, :~ smooth bezier, :! exponential, :^4: power curve+, -, *, /, %, ^ (power), - (unary minus)
(1,2,4) - play simultaneously| - concatenate chords: 1|2 = (1,2), (1,2)|(3,4) = (1,2,3,4)?? - "if then": this.foo??5 returns 5 if foo is truthy, nothing if not (short circuits)?: - "or else": this.foo?:5 returns foo if present, else 5 (short circuits)this.foo>1 ?? 2 ?: 3==, !=, <, >, <=, >=
{x:0,y:1} - map with key-value pairs{2,y:1} - map with main value plus subparams (eg chop={2,wave:'tri'}){r:0,g:1,b:0,a:1} (RGBA), {h:1,s:1,v:1,a:1} (HSV), {labh:1,c:1,l:1} (LabLCH)#f00f (RGBA short), #ff0000ff (RGBA long), #f00 / #ff0000 (RGB, alpha=1)'abc' - string value (single line; use \n for line breaks)p1.amp - player param lookup (returns chord of all playing events)p1.amp.0 - chord index (wraps around)p1.pulse.max - chord aggregator: max, min, first, last, rand, count, sum, avgthis.value - current event paramthis.freq - current note frequency{foo:2}.foo - map field lookup([0,1]t1@f).accum - smoothly accumulate values{time:time*2+8} - modify the time expression{per:8} - repeat sequence every 8 beats{per:8,0:7,2:3} - force values at specific beat positions within repeat{step:1/2} - advance time in discrete steps[]r@f{seed:1} = []r{seed:1}@f@e - evaluate once per event@f - evaluate per frame (~60fps) for smooth animationthis.foo@e applies @e to foo only; use (this.foo)@e for the whole lookupfoo - lookup global var named foo; returns string 'foo' if no var existsfoo{x:2} - call var as function with named paramsdur=N - duration in beats (1/4=16th, 1/2=8th, 1=quarter, 2=half, 4=whole)dur=[3,3,2]/4 - common shuffle/swing patterndelay=N - event start time offset in beatsdelay={1/2,add:2} - delay with param overrides on delayed eventsstutter=N - split event into N evenly-spaced sub-eventsswing=N - swing amount (50=straight, 58-66=swung, 75=max dotted)swing={66,period:1/2} - swing with custom period (default 1/4)amp - player amplitude (defaults to event vel)vel - event velocity (default 3/4; controls amp and usually brightness)voice - voice index within a chordtime - current time in beats this event has been playingidx - pattern index of this eventexists - 1 if player is definedplaying - 1 if player is currently soundingpulse - rise/fall value as note plays (pre-multiplied by vel)player - name of current playerfreq - note frequency in Hz (set by tonal synths)rate - playback rate for samples, animation rate for visualsatt - attack time (default unit: beats). att=0 for sharp attackdec - decay timesus - sustain time. sus={level:0.5} for sustain level (default 0.8)rel - release timeenvelope - type: 'full' (ADSR), 'simple' (ADR), 'organ' (ASR), 'pad' (cosine crossfade), 'linpad' (linear crossfade), 'percussion' (R only). Or custom expression: envelope=[1:!300ms,0]e@soct=N - octave (1=sub bass, 2=bass, 3=low, 4=mid, 5=high)oct=(2,3) - chord across octavesadd=N - add scale degrees to pitch (per-event only)add={0,#:1} - sharpen; add={0,b:1} - flattenaddc=N - add continuous semitones (per-frame, fractional). addc=wow for pitch driftdetune=N - oscillator detuning in semitonesvib=RATE - vibrato rate (default unit: cpb)vib={2,depth:1} - vibrato depth in semitones (default 0.4)vib={2,delay:1} - delay before vibrato starts (default 1/2 beat)glide=N - portamento time in beats. glide={1/3,curve:4} for curve shape (default curve:1)root=N - override root for this player onlyscale=NAME - override scale for this playerlpf=FREQ - low pass filter. lpf={400,q:20} for resonance (default q:5). lpf={400,poles:4} for 24dB/octhpf=FREQ - high pass filter. Same subparams as lpfbpf={FREQ,q:20} - band pass filter (default q:1). Multiple parallel: bpf1, bpf2 etcnf={FREQ,q:20} - notch filter (default q:1)apf1={FREQ,q:2} - allpass filter. Multiple apf1, apf2 etc (parallel, allowing phase cancellation)psf={f1:300,f2:2300,q:0.7} - phaser stage filter. Multiple psf1, psf2 etc (series)low=-6dB - low shelf EQ. low={-8db,freq:400} (default freq:200Hz)mid=-6dB - mid EQ. mid={-8db,freq:400,q:10} (default freq:600Hz, q:5)high=-6dB - high shelf EQ. high={-8db,freq:400} (default freq:1100Hz)lpf={[200:2000]l8,q:15}room=N - freeverb (0.1-2). room={2,hpf:300,mix:1/4} (default mix:1/2)reverb=N - convolution reverb duration in beats. reverb={2,curve:3,hpf:300,mix:1/4} (default mix:1/2, curve:5)echo=TIME - echo delay. echo={1,feedback:0.8} (default feedback:0.35). Bus echo: echo={1,max:2}chorus=N - stereo chorus. chorus={1,mix:1/4}phaser=RATE - phaser (default unit: cpb). phaser={1/3,mix:1/4}flanger=RATE - flanger (default unit: cpb). flanger={1/3,mix:1/4}chop=N - tremolo/gating (default unit: cpb). chop={2,wave:'triangle',mix:1/4} (waves: sine, square, triangle, saw)ring=FREQ - ring modulation (default unit: Hz). ring={32,wave:'saw',mix:1/4} (default wave: triangle)drive=N - overdrive/soft clip (1/32=gentle, 1/4=distortion, 1=fuzz). drive={1,gain:2,mix:1/4}fold=N - wavefolder. fold={1,gain:2,mix:1/4}clip=N - hard clipping. clip={1,gain:2,mix:1/4}noisify=N - distort into noise. noisify={1,gain:2,mix:1/4}bits=N - bitcrusher (1=very distorted, 32=clean, 0=off). bits={4,gain:2,mix:1/4}suck=N - scale down small amplitudes (gated tail effect). suck={1,gain:2,mix:1/4}compress=RATIO - compression. compress={12,gain:2,threshold:-40dB,knee:10dB,att:0.1,rel:0.2}pan=N - stereo position (-1 to 1)pan=(-1,1) - hard pan left and rightmono - force signal to monochoke=GROUP - choke group (string); notes cut off others in same group across playerssample=N - with play: choose sample set. With sample synth: URL of audio filesample={32,pitch:261.6} - specify original sample pitch (default 261.6Hz = C4)start=N - sample playback start time (default unit: seconds)wave=NAME - waveform: sine, square, sawtooth/saw, triangle/tri, pulse, plus many more: ah, bass, brass, buzzy, celeste, ethnic, organ, piano, trombone, wurlitzer, etc. (hyphenated names need quotes)bus=ID - mix to specified bus player (default: main)cutoff - filter cutoff 0-1 (for presets that support it)resonance - filter resonance (for presets that support it)blank - solid colourclouds - moving cloudskal - kaleidoscopeswirl - psychedelic swirljulia - Julia set fractallines - twisting linesblob - morphing 3D blobstreetlight - passing streetlightsgrid - square gridglow - additive glowstars - exploding starsbits - bitwise fractal patternsxor - bitwise xor patternsgradient - simple y gradientshadertoy - shadertoy shader (use id param; must be public+api)image - online image (use url param; must support CORS)webcam - webcam feed. device param for device index/label. width/height for resolutiontext - text display. text={'Hello',font:'times',size:'144',linesize:0.7,y:1/4,x:2/3,style:'bold italic'}buffer - render target. Other synths render into it with buffer=IDscope - audio waveform displayscopefft - frequency spectrum displayreadout - digital value displaydmx - DMX lighting output. channel, set, lights, addl, mul, min, max paramsadd - add to pattern valuezorder - draw order (default: line number / 1000)fade - brightness fadeouttime - override shader time (default unit: beats; overrides rate and sway)rate - shader time progression ratepulse - audio signal effect on visual valuesway - audio signal effect on visual timeloc - position/size: {x:0,y:0,w:2,h:2} for fullscreen. Coords: (-1,-1) bottom-left to (1,1) top-rightwindow - display only portion matching screen positionscroll - scroll shader: {x:0,y:0}repeat - repeat shader section. repeat={1/2,x:0.1,y:-0.05}zoom - zoom: {x:1,y:1}rotate - rotation in full turns (1/2 = 180 degrees)mirror=N - number of mirror planes. mirror={10,rotate:1/4,fan:1}fore - foreground colourmid - middleground colour (defaults to midway between fore and back)back - background colourpixellate=N - pixellate to N pixels in x. pixellate={10,y:20}perspective=N - perspective warp (negative to invert). perspective={-1,shade:1/2}tunnel - tunnel/slitscan warpripple - ripple distortion. ripple={1,scale:1/4}additive - additive blendblend - blend mode: additive, subtractive, average, multiply, invert, min, maxmonochrome - 0=normal, 1=monochromevignette - edge fadeout. vignette={1/2,aspect:4/3,cutoff:0.95}vhs - VHS tape effectrecol - recolour: oil, hue, fire, sunset, neon, titaniumcontrast - power contrast curve (0=none)buffer=ID - render to a buffer synthrez=N - buffer render target resolution scale (default 1/2)feedback - buffer video feedback. feedback={zoom:1.01,ripple:1/32,contrast:0.005}bpm - beats per minute (resets unless set every update)scale - scale name (resets unless set every update)root - root pitch offset in semitones (fractional OK for tuning nudges)beat.readouts - beat counter display: beat.readouts=(3,12) (default: (12,16,32), max 3)time - current time in beatswow - smooth random pitch drift for analog feel; eg addc=wowtg - trance gate signal (flips on/off every quarter beat)drop6_2 through drop63_1 - predefined on/off drop patterns (eg [1,0]t[6,2])tile_full, tile_tl/tr/bl/br/m, tile_h1-h5, tile_v1-v5 - visual locationsfullscreen - full screen tiletile_random/tile_rand - random location tilesparkle - small random location tiledroplet - small tile falling down screenspark - small tile flying outwardsgravity - accelerating downward motion (combine: spark+gravity)firefly - random insect-like motiontransparent, black, darkgray, gray, lightgray, white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, neonpink, neongreenrandom - random colourrainbow - colour cycling through rainbowabs{-1} - absolute valuesign{-1} / sgn - sign (-1, 0, 1)pitch{1} - frequency for scale degree. pitch{4#} sharp. pitch{0,oct:3,scale:minor,root:2}eventpitch{} - frequency based on current event paramsfloor{1.5} / ceil{1.2} / round{1.7} - rounding. floor{1.7,to:1/2} rounds to precisionaccum{1} - accumulate value over time (only rises)smooth{[]r@f} - smooth a value. smooth{x,att:4,dec:4} or smooth{x,2} combined raterate{[0:1]l1@f} - rate of change in units per beatfirst{3,1,2} / last{3,1,2} - first/last argumentmin{3,1,2} / max{3,1,2} - min/max of argumentscount{3,1,2} / sum{3,1,2} / avg{3,1,2} - count/sum/averagerand{3,1,2} - random choice from argumentsrand - pseudo-random 0-1 (time-hashed; respects step/per modifiers)euclid{3,from:8} - Euclidean rhythm generator. euclid{3,from:8,offset:1} for rotationsin{x} / cos{x} / tan{x} - trig functions (radians)time - current time in beats (respects modifiers)For building custom audio graphs with >> connect operator and audiosynth:
osc{'sawtooth',freq:440,phase:0} - oscillator nodeconst{1} - constant value nodegain{1} - gain nodedelay{1/4b,feedback:...,max:1b} - delay nodepanner{0} - stereo panner (-1 to 1)sample{sample:'url',start:0s,rate:1} - sample player. Also: sample{sample:{x}->...,length:0.2s} function-generatedsample{sample:'url',loopstart:1,looplen:2} - looping samplebiquad{'lowpass',freq:440Hz,q:5} - biquad filter (lowpass/highpass/bandpass/notch/lowshelf/highshelf/peaking)compress{ratio:0,threshold:1/316,knee:100,attack:0.01s,release:0.25s} - compressorconvolver{env:{x}->...,length:1s} - convolver reverb. Stereo: convolver{env:{l:{x}->...,r:{x}->...},length:1s}shaper{{x}->...,samples:2,oversample:'2x'} - wave shaper ('2x', '4x', 'none')series{...,count:2} - repeat chain in seriesloop{...,feedback:...} - audio feedback loop (must contain delay)mix{...,mix:1/2} - dry/wet mix. Also mix3 through mix8 for fixed ratiosstereo{l:...,r:...} - split/process/join stereo channelsflipper - swap L/R channelsidnode / dry / thru - pass-through nodeinclude 'lib/nodes.limut')Helper functions wrapping node functions (all args can be positional):
lpf{freq,q:5} / hpf{freq,q:5} / bpf{freq,q:5} / nf{freq,q:5} / apf{freq,q:5} - filterslpf4{freq,q:5} - 4-pole low passlsf{gain,freq:1100Hz} / hsf{gain,freq:1100Hz} / pkf{gain,freq:1100Hz} - shelf/peak EQlfo{freq,wave:'triangle',lo:0,hi:1,phase:0} - LFO (any frequency)osc.sin{freq} / osc.saw{freq} / osc.square{freq} / osc.tri{freq} / osc.pulse{freq} - typed oscillatorsdrive{amount:1/2} - overdrive waveshaperstanh{gain:3/2} - tanh saturation (alias for shaper.tanh)shaper.tanh{gain} / shaper.atan{gain} / shaper.poly{gain} / shaper.pow{curve} / shaper.asym{gain,bias} / shaper.diode{gain,pos,neg} - waveshaperscompressor{...} / limiter{...} - dynamicsinclude 'lib/effects.limut')Wet-path effects (wrap in mix{} for dry signal):
echo{time:1/8b,feedback:0.7,max} - echo with feedback and dry pathpingpong{time:1/4b,feedback:0.7} - stereo ping-pong delayreverb{length:1b,curve:3} - convolution reverbflanger{control:[0,1]l8@f,feedback:0,lo:0.0005,hi:0.007} - flangerphaser{control:[0,1]l4@f,lo:300Hz,hi:2600Hz,stages:4,q:1/2} - phasershifter{ratio,length:0.03} - pitch shiftershimmer{ratio:2,length:2s} - shimmer reverbtape{wow:1,cut:-10db} - cassette tape effectairverb{delay:1/2b} - airy reverb with flanger and stereo pingponggrain{ratio,length:0.03,phase:0} - granular resynthesis graindemon{} - demon voice effect (for vocals/mic)ultracomb{f:...,p:...,s:...,stages:6} - ultracomb filter (growling sounds)slider{0.1} - on-screen slider. slider{name:'Foo',min:-5,max:5,curve:2}gamepad{1} - gamepad axis (-1 to 1). gamepad{button:0} (0-1). gamepad{'lsh'} left stick horizontal. gp is aliasmidi{70} - MIDI control/note (0-1). midi{36,9,1} (control 36, channel 9, port 1)midi{'bend'} - pitch bend (-1 to 1). midi{'notes'} - chord of playing notes. midi{'vel'} - velocitylist - list all player base types including presetslist audio - list filtered by stringinclude 'preset/synthwave.limut')Audio: moroder, blade, laserharp, synlead, synpluck, synbass, chiparp, softpad, space, blues, basspluck, bloom, pick, softkeys, epiano, lushpad, stringpad, oxy, vambi, cybass, cydist, cyborg, hiss, blips, chime, play80s
Visual: neongrid, neonbars, neonbits, neonlines, neonsine, neonheart, neonshapes, skybars, sun, sunsetsky, vhsbuffer
Many support cutoff param (0-1, default 1/2). Some support decay param.
include 'preset/808.limut')Individual: bd808, sd808, oh808, ch808, cb808, cp808, ma808, ht808, mt808, lt808, hc808, mc808, lc808, cl808, rs808, cy808
Combined: tr808 (all-in-one; pattern chars select sound: x/v=bd, o/i/u=sd, h/*=cp, -/:/a=ch, ==oh, ~=cy, k=cl, m=mt, t=rs, s=ma, p=mc, e=cb; ^ flag for accent), h808 (hihats; o flag for open), t808 (toms; h/l flags), c808 (congas; h/l flags)
include 'preset/909.limut')Synthesized: bd909 (level, tune, attack, decay), sd909 (level, tune, tone, snappy), h909 (level, chdecay, ohdecay; o flag for open), cp909 (level), cc909 (level, tune), rc909 (level, tune), t909 (level, tune, decay; l/h flags), rs909 (level)
Sampled (lighter CPU): bds909, sds909, hs909, cps909, ccs909, rcs909, ts909, rss909
All: event value gives accent.
include 'preset/303.limut')tb303 - acid bass. Controls: wave ('saw'/'square'), cutoff, resonance, envmod, decay, accent (all 0-1, default 1/2). Pattern flags: a accent, u up octave, d down octave, s slide.
Example: b tb303 `0a2u2b0d 0u0a2d3 00u0a0d 0da4ua5a6u`, cutoff=[1/4:1]n3, resonance=0.8, accent=1
include 'preset/trance.limut')trance - classic supersaw lead (default add=(0,2)). Controls: cutoff, decay, detune (all 0-1).
include 'preset/techno.limut')Includes 909, 303, trance libraries. Audio: hollow, tinbass (cutoff), sweep (cutoff), robot, techbass (cutoff, decay), growl
include 'preset/house.limut')Includes 909, 303, trance libraries. Audio: m1organ (cutoff), reese (cutoff, detune), donk (cutoff, decay), didgeridoo
chromatic, major, minor, pentatonic/penta, minorpentatonic/minorpenta, mixolydian, dorian, phrygian, lydian, locrian, harmonicminor, harmonicmajor, melodicminor, melodicmajor, diminished, egyptian, blues, wholetone, chinese, hungarianminor, romanianminor, halfwhole, wholehalf, bebopmaj, bebopdorian, bebopdom, bebopmelmin, majorpentatonic, aeolian, dorian2, yu, zhi, prometheus, indian, locrianmajor, lydianminor, minmaj, susb9, lydianaug, lydiandom, melmin5th, halfdim, altered
set (p1,p2,p3) room=0.7, echo=3/4 // apply params to multiple players
set p* amp=0 // wildcard: all players starting with p
set !p* add+=7 // all players NOT starting with p
set * swing=58 // all players
set ch=[0,2,4,3]t8 // define shared variable
add+=N - add to existing valueamp*=N - multiply existing valueoct+=N - shift octaveThere is an implicit main bus. Players can route to named buses:
fx bus 0, echo=1/2, room=0.5
bass dbass 0, bus=fx
Override main bus: set main echo=1/2
set bpm=130
set scale=phrygian
kd play X., room=0.1
hh play -, echo=1/4, amp=2
sd play ..(H*)., room=0.2
db dbass 0, dur=1/4, lpf={[150:800]r,q:12}, att=0, amp=2
pad dsaw (0246), dur=8, envelope=pad, lpf=[500:3000]l16@f, oct=(3,4), amp=1/2
set bpm=125
set scale=minor
kd play X., room=0.1
hh play .[::], echo=1/4
sd play ..O., room=0.3
bass fmbass 0[.0][.0][0.], dur=1/2, sus=1/2, lpf={[300:800]n4,q:8}, oct=(2,3), att=0, amp=0.8
pad prophet (0246), dur=8, oct=(2,3), amp=1/2, room=0.7
set bpm=70
set scale=penta
pad ethereal (024)(035), dur=4, room=2, oct=(3,4), amp=1/3, pan=[-1:1]r
pi piano 0, dur=[2,4], add=[-2:3]n1/4, amp=[0:1]n6, room=0.7, oct=5
n noise 0, dur=8, amp=1/16, lpf=[800:1200]n4, pan=(-1,1), room=2
set bpm=170
set scale=minor
kd play X..X.X.., room=0.1
sd play ..O., room=0.1
hh play -[--]-[.-], amp=2, echo=1/4
db dbass 0, dur=1/4, lpf=[200:1000]l8, att=0, oct=(1,2), amp=2
set bpm=127
set scale=phrygian
kd play X., room=0.1
hh play -, amp=2
b saw 00[43]-707[-32]-4, dur=1/2, oct=2, amp=2, echo=3/4, lpf={this.freq*[2:50]n4,q:25}
set bpm=100
set scale=minor
kd play X.v., room=0.2
sd play ..O., room=0.2
hh play -===---=, dur=1/4, amp=2
db dbass 0, dur=1/4, lpf={[200:1400]n8,q:15}, amp=1+wow, room=0.2
pad blade (024)(035), dur=4, oct=3, add=[0,4,5,6]t8
arp synpluck 02479742, dur=1/4, echo=3/4, lpf=[500:3000]l11
set bpm=132
set * swing=58
kd play V., room=0.1
hh play [.-]-[.-][--], fold, amp=2
sd play ..*., fold, room=0.1
b saw .0, dur=1/2, oct=2, lpf={[200:1500]l8,q:12}, flanger=1/7, amp=3/2
lpf={[300:2000]l8,q:15} adds movement and interest.echo=3/4 (dotted quarter) or echo=1/2 creates rhythmic interest.set ch=[0,2,4,3]t8 and use add=ch on multiple players.pan=(-1,1) or pan=[-1/2:1/2]r.amp=1-kd.pulse.min makes things duck with the kick.set overrides and commented lines for live arrangement.oct=(2,3) or oct=(3,4,5) for thickness.addc=wow adds subtle pitch drift to pads/leads.set * swing=58 gives a nice groove (50=straight, 66=heavy triplet swing).amp=[0:1]n4 for perlin noise dynamics, amp=[]r for random.chop=2 or chop=4 for rhythmic gating on pads.dsf dsquare follow ds - layer the same pattern with a different synth.main busAlmost every finished piece ends with one of these on set main:
set main compress={2,gain:2}, drive=1/32 // gentle glue + warmth
set main compress={2,gain:2}, drive=1/64, reverb={1,mix:1/4} // + tail
set main compress={3/2,gain:3/2}, drive=1/96, amp=3/2 // heavy techno glue
drive 1/96 → 1/16 trades subtle warmth for audible saturation. compress ratio 2-3 with gain:2-3 is the sweet spot.
Separate buses per stem so each can be shaped independently:
set p* bus='bp' // all perc → bp
set !p* bus='blead' // everything else → blead
bp bus 0, compress={2,gain:2}, drive=1/32, amp=2/3
blead bus 0, compress={2,gain:2}, reverb={2,mix:1/3}, amp=1/2
Common bus names: bp/bperc, bb/bbass, blead/bl, be (external).
delay|=[...]t[N,M])Adds occasional delay throws without changing every event:
set p* delay|=[(),[1,3]r/4]t[14,2] // 14 bars dry, 2 bars random throws
set p* delay|=[(),[1,3,5]r/4]t[13,3]
delay=[0,(0,[1/4,3/4]r)]t[7,1] // single-player form
|= (concat-assign) appends to existing delay rather than overwriting.
crop and +b reese 0_7 crop 14 + 89 // 14 beats of 0_7, then 89
ps sd909 ..0 crop 16
t trance 72. crop 14 + 89
pulseamp=2/3+kd.pulse.0/3 // pad swells with kick
contrast=3-2*bs.pulse.max // visual reacts to bass
zoom=1+smooth{main.pulse,att:1/2,dec:1/2} // smoothed pulse for visuals
vk kal 1, buffer='vb', blend=max, contrast=3, fore=neonpink
vb buffer 0, feedback={fore:0.95,zoom:1.01,rotate:0.001}
Common feedback knobs: fore:0.85-0.97 (decay), zoom:1.001-1.05, rotate, ripple, scroll, mirror. Reactive: feedback={fore:0.85+0.15*pk.pulse.0,zoom:1.02}.
vw webcam 0, vignette=0, buffer='vb', recol=neon, blend=max
vb buffer 0, loc=tile_tr, feedback={fore:0.9,zoom:1.02}
v kal 0, vhs, vignette={1/2,aspect:4/3}, contrast
vb vhsbuffer 0, feedback={fore:0.85}
riserriser is typically a slider ramp. Pieces stash a "drop" block as comments:
// set (b*,p*) hpf=10000-10000*riser^3 // sweep filters open
// set t cutoff=riser^3 // open lead filter
// f sd909 2, level=riser^6 // snare roll fades in
Define with set riser=slider{0,name:'Riser'}.
ph h909 0, o=euclid{16,from:[19,23]t4}-1 // open-hat pattern
b tb303 0, amp=euclid{32,from:53}-7/8 // sparse 303 line
o m1organ 0, dur=euclid{7,from:16}/4 // polymeter via dur
now ... loop 1boom play now [(vx)(vX)(VXM)] loop 1, room=2, echo=0.46
whoosh dsaw now (047) loop 1, envelope=simple, att=1/2, rel=3
now starts on next beat (not beat 0); loop 1 plays once.
Layer a delayed copy with different params on the same event:
delay=(0,{1/4,oct:3}) // dry + delayed-up-an-octave
delay=(0,{3/4,oct:2,addc:19}) // detuned/octave-shifted
delay=(0,{1/2,add:1,stutter:2}) // multiple overrides
set ch=...set ch=[(0,2,4,7),(0,3,5,7),(1,3,5b,7),(1,3,4,6#)]t4
p dsaw 0, add=ch, glide=2/3
l sine 0, add=ch.rand, oct=5 // .rand picks a voice
b bass 0, add=ch.0 // .0 picks first voice
set !p*set !p* add+=[2,-1,1,0]t4
set !p* bus='blead'
bd909, sd909, h909, cp909, t909, rs909, cc909, rc909): pass attack flag to bd909 for pitch-envelope click. Params: level, tune, decay, tone, snappy.bds909, sds909, hs909, cps909, ts909, rss909, ccs909, rcs909): much lighter CPU — prefer for dense patterns.h909/hs909: pattern char o = open hat. Drum char letters in patterns also pick variations.tb303 flags: a=accent, u=up oct, d=down oct, s=slide.Typical improv file:
include 'preset/synthwave.limut' // or techno/house
set scale=minor
set bpm=120
set main compress={2,gain:2}, drive=1/64
vk kal 0, buffer='vb', blend=max, contrast
vb buffer 0, feedback={fore:0.95,zoom:1.01}
pk bd909 0..., attack
ph h909 ..0, swing=54
ps sd909 ..0., swing=58
b tb303 0, cutoff=[0:1]n4, resonance=7/8
// l trance 0_7, decay=5, reverb=2 // bring in lead
// pad softpad (024), dur=4
// set (p*,b) amp=0 // drop block
// set t cutoff=riser^3
Internals of the limut DSL parser, lambda/user-function machinery, player overrides, pattern timing, and sections. Use when modifying anything under expression/ (especially parse-expression.js, parse-var.js, parse-map.js, lookupOp.js), section/sections.js, player/callstack.js, player/standard.js, player/player.js, parse-line.js, or pattern/pattern.js — or when debugging issues with lambdas/user-defined functions, `set` overrides not taking effect, `dur` timing oddities, chord/stutter/delay expansion, or sections (active/next tracking, section params).
Run the limut in-browser test suite from a shell using headless Chrome. Use when the user asks to run, check, or verify tests without opening a browser, or when validating a change touched testable code.
Verify audio-graph wiring changes (fx chains, connectable construction, node-function output) in limut by driving the running app in headless Chrome and inspecting the constructed Web Audio graph. Use when modifying play/player-fx.js, play/nodes/graph.js, play/effects/*, play/synth/bus.js, expression/connectOp.js, expression/connectableOps.js, or anything else whose effect is "the audio node graph wires up differently."
Internals of the limut audio node graph, lifecycle, and parameter evaluation. Use when modifying anything under play/, expression/connectOp.js, expression/connectableOps.js, play/nodes/, play/effects/, play/envelopes.js, play/player-fx.js, or play/eval-audio-params.js — or when debugging audio leaks, "_destructor is undefined" errors, fx chain bugs, or Web Audio API constraint violations.