Welcome

Tidal Cycles, also known as Tidal, is a language for algorithmic pattern, and though it is most commonly used for making music, it can be used for any kind of pattern making activity, including weaving.

Tidal was first implemented as a library written in the Haskell functional programming language, and by itself it does not make any sound. To make sound, it has to be connected to a sound engine, and by default this is a SuperCollider plugin called SuperDirt. As such, it can be difficult for first-time users to install both Tidal Cycles and SuperDirt, as there are many small details to get right.

Try clicking the play icon below:

s("bd sd")

Then edit the text so it reads s("bd sd cp hh") and click the refresh icon.

Show me some demos!

You can also browse through the examples here.

samples({
bd: ['bd/BT0AADA.wav','bd/BT0AAD0.wav','bd/BT0A0DA.wav','bd/BT0A0D3.wav','bd/BT0A0D0.wav','bd/BT0A0A7.wav'],
sd: ['sd/rytm-01-classic.wav','sd/rytm-00-hard.wav'],
hh: ['hh27/000_hh27closedhh.wav','hh/000_hh3closedhh.wav'],
}, 'github:tidalcycles/dirt-samples');
stack(
s("bd,[~ <sd!3 sd(3,4,2)>],hh*8") // drums
.speed(perlin.range(.7,.9)) // random sample speed variation
,"<a1 b1*2 a1(3,8) e2>" // bassline
.off(1/8,x=>x.add(12).degradeBy(.5)) // random octave jumps
.add(perlin.range(0,.5)) // random pitch variation
.superimpose(add(.05)) // add second, slightly detuned voice
.note() // wrap in "note"
.decay(.15).sustain(0) // make each note of equal length
.s('sawtooth') // waveform
.gain(.4) // turn down
.cutoff(sine.slow(7).range(300,5000)) // automate cutoff
,"<Am7!3 <Em7 E7b13 Em7 Ebm7b5>>".voicings('lefthand') // chords
.superimpose(x=>x.add(.04)) // add second, slightly detuned voice
.add(perlin.range(0,.5)) // random pitch variation
.note() // wrap in "note"
.s('sawtooth') // waveform
.gain(.16) // turn down
.cutoff(500) // fixed cutoff
.attack(1) // slowly fade in
)
.slow(3/2)

Please note that this project is still in its experimental state. In the future, parts of it might change significantly. This tutorial is also far from complete.

What’s next?

Head on over to the Notes page.