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seq~

Signal-driven event sequencer

Description

seq~ is an event sequencer that is driven by a signal input. seq~ can be used to create looping sequences of control data that are synchronized to a phasor~. It is optimized for continuous ramp input, but any signal passing through any range of values will work. Sequence events can be recorded in real-time or inserted with the add message. seq~ can contain any number of sequences, but only one at a time is active for playback and recording.

Arguments

None.

Messages

bang Causes information about the seq~ object's current sequence number, mode of operation (record, overdub, play) and total number of current events to be printed in the Max window.
int input [int]
 Same as anything.
float input [float]
 Same as anything.
list input [list]
 Same as anything.
anything input [list]
 The seq~ object is used to record and play back messages. All events received in the inlet are stored according to the current value of the input signal. Any message can be sequenced except for commands to the seq~ object itself. The example shows a simple way to work around this limitation.
Note: seq~ can be used to sequence MIDI data if the MIDI input stream is converted into lists of MIDI events. This conversion is necessary to avoid outputting a corrupted MIDI stream which would occur if only the raw int messages of a MIDI stream were sequenced individually and the seq~ object were not doing a simple forward linear playback.
add sequence-name (symbol) start time (float) optional end time (float) and Max-Event (message) [list]
 The word add, followed by an int, a float and a message, inserts a Max event specified by the message at the time specified by the float for the sequence number specified by the int. (e.g., add 2 0.5 honk will insert the message honk to be played at the halfway point of sequence 2.)
clear The word clear, followed by the name of a sequence, erases the sequence. The message clear all erases all current sequences.
erase Synonym for clear.
delete sequence-number (int) time (float) and Max-Event (message) [list]
 The word delete, followed by an symbol that specifies a sequence name, a float and a message, deletes a Max event or events specified by the message at the time specified by the float for the sequence name specified by the symbol. An additional end time may also be specified. Here are some examples:

delete mysequence 5.: delete all the events at time 5 in mysequence.
delete mysequence 6.5 8.: delete all the events between time 6.5 and 8 in mysequence.
delete mysequence -1. 99. explosion: delete only the event explosion wherever it occurs.
dump sequence-number (int) [int]
 Causes the contents of the current stored event sequence to be sent out the right outlet. The word dump, followed by a number, outputs only the sequence designated by the number.
play playback-enable-flag (0 or 1) [int]
 The word play, followed by 1, causes seq~ to begin Max event playback of the current sequence (set by the seqnum message) at the point of the loop specified by the current value of the signal input. play 0 turns off playback. By default, playback is off.
offset number-to-offset-sequence-numbering [int]
 The word offset followed by a number will offset the numbering of sequences by the specified number.
overdub overdub-enable-flag (0 or 1) [int]
 The word overdub, followed by 1, causes seq~ to begin Max event recording of the current sequence (set by the seqnum message) in "overdub" mode. Recording begins at the current point of the loop and wraps around at the point where the input signal reaches 1, continuing to record as the signal passes its original value. The message overdub 0 turns off overdub mode.
seq sequence (int or symbol) [int]
 Performs the same function as seqnum.
seqnum sequence (int or symbol) [int]
 The word seqnum, followed by a number or symbol, sets the current Max event sequence being recorded or played back.
read filename [symbol]
 Reads a text file containing Max event sequences created using the seq~ object's write message into the memory of the. seq~ object. If no symbol argument appears after the word read, a standard open file dialog is opened showing available text files. The word read, followed by a symbol, reads the file whose filename corresponds to the symbol into the seq~ object's memory without opening the dialog box.
record playback-enable-flag (0 or 1) [int]
 The word record, followed by 1, causes seq~ to begin recording events into the current sequence (set by the seqnum message) at the point of the loop specified by the current value of the signal input. record 0 turns off playback. By default, recording is off.
signal An input signal whose output is between 0. and 1.0 (usually the output of a phasor~) is used to drive the event sequencer.
symbol input [symbol]
 Same as anything.
write filename [symbol]
 Saves the contents of all current Max event sequences into a text file. A standard file dialog is opened for naming the file. The word write, followed by a symbol, saves the file, using the symbol as the filename, in the same folder as the patch containing the seq~ object. If the patch has not yet been saved, the seq~ file is saved in the same folder as the Max application.

Information for box attributes common to all objects

Output

any message: Out left outlet: When playback is enabled with the play 1 message, the seq~ object outputs all events recorded at the time specified by the input signal.
list: Out right outlet: The dump message will cause the seq~ object to output the contents of a specified sequence to be output in the form of a list consisting of an int which specifies the sequence number, a float which specifies the signal value associated with that point in time, and the int, float, symbol or list to be output at that time.

Examples

See Also

Name Description
phasor~ Sawtooth wave generator
techno~ Signal-driven step sequencer