SCAMP For Airports (Writing Ambient Music with Python and Scamp)

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#1

i made a little video that i think it may be cool to share here
really beginner stuff, but with cool results

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#2

Hello Pedro

I meticulously typed in your script for ambient Airport.py (see video). When playing, I get syntax errors. Can you scan my py file (below): where is it wrong?
I also have a question why you are under “while True” random.choice (durs) twice. Shouldn’t the last random.choice in the line be: wait_time?
where does the sound come from? from a connected synth (not mentioned in the script) or through the computer sound?
FYI: I am using Python on iMac MacOs 14.14.6.
Thanks
Paul

script:

from scamp import *
import random

s= Session()
inst = s.new_part(“synth str”)

def play_ambient(inst, pitch, dur, wait_time):
wait(wait_time)
inst.play_note(pitch,[0,2,0,8,0,3], dur)

pitches = [36,48,51,55,58,60,63,67,70,72,75]
durs = [3 + (0,5 * x) for x in range(10)]

while True:
s.fork(play_ambient, args= [inst, random.choice(pitches), random.choice(durs), random.choice(durs)]
s.fork(play_ambient, args= [inst, random.choice(pitches), random.choice(durs), random.choice(durs)]
s.fork(play_ambient, args= [inst, random.choice(pitches), random.choice(durs), random.choice(durs)]
s.fork(play_ambient, args= [inst, random.choice(pitches), random.choice(durs), random.choice(durs)]
s.fork(play_ambient, args= [inst, random.choice(pitches), random.choice(durs), random.choice(durs)]
s.fork(play_ambient, args= [inst, random.choice(pitches), random.choice(durs), random.choice(durs)]
wait_for_children_to_finish()

#3

the problem is here: it should be 0.5 and not 0,5

as for the random.choice(durs), the functionplay_ambient takes four arguments: the instrument, a pitch, a duration and a wait time
i’m choosing a duration at random with random.choice(durs) AND i’m choosing the wait_time at random, choosing from the same list of durations

and the sound is the default soundfount on my computer
for a list of your available sounds, do:

from scamp import *
s.print_default_soundfont_presets()

#4

Thanks for sharing this Pedro, and for making these videos!

#5

Thanks Pedro.
0.5 OK
“SyntaxError: invalid syntax” at line 16
s.fork(play_ambient, args= [inst, random.choice(pitches), random.choice(durs), random.choice(durs)]

Note: in your videopresentation you typed two time durs after ‘random.choice’. The error stays while changing the last (durs) by (wait_time).

Thanks for your effort.

Paul

#6

Paul, you’re missing the last closing parenthesis on the line you posted.

s.fork(play_ambient, args= [inst, random.choice(pitches), random.choice(durs), random.choice(durs)])

Yes, you should use (durs), because that’s the list of durations. I’m picking a wait time from the available durations, that’s why there are two calls of random.choice(durs).
The syntax error is indeed the missing parenthesis at the end of the line.

#7

Hello Pedro, Great. It works now. I can start to change some subtile values. etc. and to adjust the script into my aspiration. Many thanks for this help.
How I can connect the script to my MIDI keyboard f.e. Roland Go:Keys in stead of the computer sound?
Is it possible?

Thanks in advance.
Paul