DrumLace Tutorial

Step 1: Describing Drum Patterns

To create a pattern you can either copy one from the examples section of the Documentation. Or by describing it yourself. To do so follow the following steps:

Step 1.1: Choosing a name

you have to name your patterns so that you can use them later, notice that the patterns can only have letters on the name. Let's name our pattern "Pattern".
We then start by writing:

"Pattern = {}"
And we will descibre our rhythm within the brackets

Step 1.2 Choosing a Time Signature and a Tempo

Now that we named our rhythm we need to specify the starting Time signature and the Tempo, we do this by adding them in the form "N1/N2;Tempo=N3"
Let's say our pattern will be played in 4/4 at 120 BPM
To continue the previous step we get:

"Pattern = {4/4;Tempo=120;}"
Notice that the ";" is needed.

Step 1.3 describing instrument lines

All that's left to do is to describe what the intruments are playing.
To achieve this we write the name of the instrument and then the notes. the notes can be described by indicating the duration, such as 1/4 and then a hit "X", a pause "." or a dotted note "d".
Let's add a simple hi hat(hh) rhythm to our pattern

"Pattern = {4/4;Tempo=120;
hh 1/8 |XXXX| 1/4 |X.XXX.Xdd|;}"

Identation, or things such as spaces, tabs and new lines are irrelevant, write the way you think is best.
Notice how you can change note duration and group notes with the same duration.
We can then add as many instrument lines as we like, let's say i want to add a bass drum(bd) and a snare drum(sn) rhythm. We can then write:

"Pattern = {4/4;Tempo=120;
hh 1/8 |XXXX| 1/4 |X.XXX.Xdd|;
bd 1/4 |X.X.X.X.X.X.|;
sn 1/4 |.X.X.X.X.X.X|;}"

The list of instruments is avaiable at the Instruments and how to call them section of the Documentation

Step 2: Creating Patterns from Other Patterns

Now that we have one or more patterns we can create new ones using the functions and algebraic expressions metioned in the Documentation.
Let's say we want to create, from the pattern described in section 1, a new pattern called inverse that's equal to Pattern but played back to front.We then add:

"Inverse = rev(Pattern)"

And if we want to create a result pattern that consists on Pattern followed by Inverse:

"Result = Pattern + Inverse"

Step 3: Exporting Files

All that's left to do is to say what pattern you want to export by simply writing Export(Result), since our final pattern is named Result

And we get the full program

Pattern = {4/4;Tempo=120;
hh 1/8 |XXXX| 1/4 |X.XXX.Xdd|;
bd 1/4 |X.X.X.X.X.X.|;
sn 1/4 |.X.X.X.X.X.X|;}

Inverse = rev(Pattern)

Result = Pattern + Inverse

export(Result)

And you simply press Render.
If the sound player doesn't change try refreshing the page a couple times.