# ORCΛ Orca is an [esoteric programming language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esoteric_programming_language) designed to quickly create procedural sequencers, in which every letter of the alphabet is an operation, where lowercase letters operate on bang, uppercase letters operate each frame. This application **is not a synthesizer, but a flexible livecoding environment** capable of sending MIDI, OSC & UDP to your audio/visual interfaces, like Ableton, Renoise, VCV Rack or SuperCollider. If you need help, visit the chatroom or the forum. - [Download builds](https://hundredrabbits.itch.io/orca), available for **Linux, Windows and OSX**. - Use directly [in your browser](https://hundredrabbits.github.io/Orca/), requires **webMidi**. - Use on a [raspberry pi](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/orca-c#raspberry-pi), a lightweight **C99 version**. ## Install & Run If you wish to use Orca inside of [Electron](https://electronjs.org/), follow these steps: ``` git clone https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca.git cd Orca/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. - `;` **udp**: Sends UDP message. - `=` **osc**(*path*): Sends OSC message. - `$` **self**: Sends [ORCA command](#Commands). ## MIDI The [MIDI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI) operator `:` takes up to 5 inputs('channel, 'octave, 'note, velocity, length). For example, `:25C`, is a **C note, on the 5th octave, through the 3rd MIDI channel**, `:04c`, is a **C# note, on the 4th octave, through the 1st MIDI channel**. Velocity is an optional value from `0`(0/127) to `g`(127/127). Note length is the number of frames during which a note remains active. See it in action with [midi.orca](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/blob/master/examples/basics/_midi.orca). ## MIDI MONO The [MONO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monophony) operator `%` takes up to 5 inputs('channel, 'octave, 'note, velocity, length). This operator is very similar to the default Midi operator, but **each new note will stop the previously playing note**, would its length overlap with the new one. Making certain that only a single note is ever played at once, this is ideal for monophonic analog synthetisers that might struggle to dealing with chords and note overlaps. ## MIDI CC The [MIDI CC](https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/continuous-controller/) operator `!` takes 3 inputs('channel, 'knob, 'value). It sends a value **between 0-127**, where the value is calculated as a ratio of 36, over a maximum of 127. For example, `!008`, is sending **28**, or `(8/36)*127` through the first channel, to the control mapped with `id0`. You can press **enter**, with the `!` operator selected, to assign it to a controller. By default, the operator sends to `CC64` [and up](https://nickfever.com/Music/midi-cc-list), the offset can be changed with the [command](#commands) `cc:0`, to set the offset to 0. ## MIDI PITCHBEND The [MIDI PB](https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/pitch-bend/) operator `?` takes 3 inputs('channel, 'lsb, 'msb). It sends two different values **between 0-127**, where the value is calculated as a ratio of 36, over a maximum of 127. For example, `?008`, is sending an MSB of **28**, or `(8/36)*127` and an LSB of 0 through the first midi channel. ## MIDI BANK SELECT / PROGRAM CHANGE This is a command (see below) rather than an operator and it combines the [MIDI program change and bank select functions](https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/6-what-msb-lsb-refer-for-changing-banks-andprograms/). The syntax is `pg:channel;msb;lsb;program`. Channel is 0-15, msb/lsb/program are 0-127, but program will automatically be translated to 1-128 by the MIDI driver. `program` typically correspondes to a "patch" selection on a synth. Note that `msb` may also be identified as "bank" and `lsb` as "sub" in some applications (like Ableton Live). `msb` and `lsb` can be left blank if you only want to send a simple program change. For example, `pg:0;;;63` will set the synth to patch number 64 (without changing the bank) ## UDP The [UDP](https://nodejs.org/api/dgram.html#dgram_socket_send_msg_offset_length_port_address_callback) operator `;` locks each consecutive eastwardly ports. For example, `;hello`, will send the string "hello", on bang, to the port `49160` on `localhost`. In commander, use `udp:7777` to select the **custom UDP port 7777**, and `ip:127.0.0.12` to change the target IP. UDP is not available in the browser version of Orca. You can use the [listener.js](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/blob/master/resources/listener.js) to test UDP messages. See it in action with [udp.orca](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/blob/master/examples/basics/_udp.orca). ## OSC The [OSC](https://github.com/MylesBorins/node-osc) operator `=` locks each consecutive eastwardly ports. The first character is used for the path, the following characters are sent as integers using the [base36 Table](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca#base36-table). In commander, use `osc:7777` to select the **custom OSC port 7777**, and `ip:127.0.0.12` to change the target IP. OSC is not available in the browser version of Orca. For example, `=1abc` will send `10`, `11` and `12` to `/1`, via the port `49162` on `localhost`; `=a123` will send `1`, `2` and `3`, to the path `/a`. You can use the [listener.js](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/blob/master/resources/listener.js) to test OSC messages. See it in action with [osc.orca](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/blob/master/examples/basics/_osc.orca) or try it with [SonicPi](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/blob/master/resources/TUTORIAL.md#sonicpi). ## Advanced Controls Some of Orca's features can be **controlled externally** via UDP though port `49160`, or 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. ### Default Ports | UDP Input | OSC Input | UDP Output | OSC Output | | ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | -----------| | 49160 | None | 49161 | 49162 ### 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](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/blob/master/desktop/sources/scripts/commander.js). - `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 | ## Companion Applications - [Pilot](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/pilot), a companion synth tool. - [Aioi](https://github.com/MAKIO135/aioi), a companion to send complex OSC messages. - [Estra](https://github.com/kyleaedwards/estra), a companion sampler tool. - [Gull](https://github.com/qleonetti/gull), a companion sampler, slicer and synth tool. - [Sonic Pi](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/using-orca-to-control-sonic-pi-with-osc/2381/), a livecoding environment. - [Remora](https://github.com/martinberlin/Remora), a ESP32 Led controller firmware. ## Links - [Overview Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaI_TuISSJE) - [Orca Podcast](https://futureofcoding.org/episodes/045) - [Ableton & Unity3D](https://www.elizasj.com/unity_live_orca/) - [Japanese Tutorial](https://qiita.com/rucochanman/items/98a4ea988ae99e04b333) - [German Tutorial](http://tropone.de/2019/03/13/orca-ein-sequenzer-der-kryptischer-nicht-aussehen-kann-und-ein-versuch-einer-anleitung/) - [French Tutorial](http://makingsound.fr/blog/orca-sequenceur-modulaire/) ## Extras - This application supports the [Ecosystem Theme](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Themes). - Download and share your patches on [PatchStorage](http://patchstorage.com/platform/orca/). - Support this project through [Patreon](https://patreon.com/100). - See the [License](LICENSE.md) file for license rights and limitations (MIT). - Pull Requests are welcome!