Tutorial

I recommend that you keep a copy of the list of operators handy, 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.

Basics

Orca operates on a base of 36 increments, operators will convert alphanumeric values into values ranging from 0 to 36. Special characters are used to handle platform and client specific interactions.

This section will teach the basics of playing a note and a sequence of notes.

Send a midi note

• D8, will send a bang, every 8th frame.
• :03C, will send the C note, on the 3rd octave, to send C#, use the lowercase c3.

D8...
.:03C

Play a random note

• aRG, will output a random value between A & G, the rightside uppercase letter indicates an uppercase output.

D8.aRG.
.:03D..

Make a melody

• 04TCAFE, will create a track of 4 notes, and output its first value.

D814TCAFE
.:03A....

Play the melody

• 8C4, will count from 0 to 3, at 1/8th speed.

.8C4.....
D804TCAFE
.:03C....

Logic

This section will teach the basics of automating logic decisions and changing the values of operators dynamically.

Play every second note

• 2I6, will increment to 6 at a rate of 2.

.2I6.......
D846TCAFEDG
.:03D......

Play a note with an offset

• 1AC, will add 1 to C, to output D. To get D#, use the lowercase d, like 1Ac.

D8.1AC.
.:03D..

Play a sequence back and forth

• 2B8, will count from 0 to 7, and back down to 0, at half speed.
• 5AC, will increment the value so the sequence starts at the note C.

..2B8..
D2.5AC.
.:03H..

Play a note at a specific interval

• .I4, will increment to 4, at a rate of 1.
• .F2, will bang only if leftside input is equal to 2.

I4.....
3F2.1AC
..:03D.

Projectors

This section will teach the basics of creating new operators procedurally.

Halt a moving operator

• E, will travel further eastward, every frame.
• H, will stop a E from moving.

..H
E..

Read an operator at position

• 22O, will get the operator E at the offset 2,2.

22O...
..E..H
.....E

Write an operator at position

• 22X, will output the operator E at the offset 2,2.

22XE.
.....
.....
....E

Animate a projector

• B8, will bounce between 0 and 8.

B4..........
1XE.........
........:03C
........:03D
........:03E
........:03F

Variables

This section will teach the basics of storing accessing and combining that stored data.

Write a variable

• aV5, will store 5 in the variable a.

aV5

Read a variable

• Va, will output the value of the variable a. Notice how variables always have to be written above where they are read.

.....Va
.......
aV5..Va
.....5.
.......
aV6..Va
.....6.

Read 3 variables

• 3Kion, will output the values of i, o & n, side-by-side.

iV0.oV3.nVC
...........
3Kion......
.:03C......

Carry a value horizontally and vertically

• Y, will output the west input, eastward.
• J, will output the north input, southward.

3..
J..
3Y3

Carry a bang

• This method will allow you to bring bangs into tight spots.

D43Ka...
.Y.:03C.

I hope this workshop has been enlightening, if you have questions or suggestions, please visit the forum, or the chatroom. Enjoy!

Golf

Here are a few interesting snippets to achieve various arithmetic operations.