MFunc | SuperCollider 3.13.0 Help

Description

MFunc is a proxy for multiple, modal functions which can replace a single function with easily configurable flexible behavior.

It contains a dictionary of named functions (i.e. a behavior repertoire), an ordered list of the function names, lists of combinations of functions, and lists of the currently active functions and names.

The MFunc's behavior can be reconfigured at any time:

functions can be added to or removed from the repertoire
known functions can be enabled and disabled individually by name
combinations of functions can be stored as named modes, both
- additively/polyphonically, i.e. the list of function names is activated in addition to any active functions,
- or exclusively/modally, i.e. a mode knows which other functions to turn off when activated.

MFunc is intended for use in modal interfaces, so for example, when a single slider has an MFunc as its action, it can have functions that

record control values for looping,
log control values in a file,
send control values to any number of destinations, in parallel or exclusively
send control values by network
or whatever other behavior is desired.

This is intended to replace complicated cascades of if-statements (which easily accumulate when coding modal user interface functions). Instead of setting flags for modes and reading them in control structure logic, one can use MFuncs to switch between modes by a. enabling the functions desired in the new mode, b. disabling the ones that should be off in the new mode, and c. keeping all other functions independent by leaving them untouched.// first a real example with a modal slider ///////////// // make an empty MFunc m = MFunc(); // slider uses the MFunc: e = EZSlider(nil, 300@30, "MFunc test", nil, m, 0.5); // basic tests posts slider values m.add(\test, { |sl| "test: %\n".postf(sl.value) }); // now slider also sets Ndef(\a), using a global spec Ndef(\a, { |freq = 200| LFPulse.ar(freq * [1, 0.1, 0.01]).product * 0.1 }).play; m.add(\set_a, { |sl| Ndef(\a).set(\freq, \freq.asSpec.map(sl.value)) }); // stop the posting, keep \set_a m.disable(\test); // slider also sets Ndef(\b) Ndef(\b, { |freq = 200| SinOsc.ar(freq * [1, 0.1, 0.01]).product * 0.3 }).play(1); // use setUni to let Ndef(\b) decide on mapping m.add(\set_b, { |sl| Ndef(\b).setUni(\freq, sl.value) }); // change Ndef(\b)'s spec for freq - this requires JITLibExtensions Ndef(\b).addSpec(\freq, [200, 2000, \exp]); // turn off setting a m.disable(\set_a); // slider now also sets Ndef(\c) Ndef(\c, { |freq = 200| LFSaw.ar(freq * [1, 0.1, 0.01]).product * 0.1 }).play(0); m.addFirst(\set_c, { |sl| Ndef(\c).setUni(\freq, sl.value) }); // range is reversed here Ndef(\c).addSpec(\freq, [2000, 20, \exp]); // slider movement could be recorded like this // (see KtlLoop quark for actual recording) m.addFirst(\record, { |sl| "fake rec/log: ['test', %]\n".postf(sl.value.round(0.001)) }); // or could be sent via network m.addFirst(\netSend, { |sl| "fake netSend/broadcast: [\sl1, %]\n".postf(sl.value.round(0.001)) }); // prepare for modal use with modeLists: // define the three set functions as a modeList. // this can be used for mutually turning the others off, m.modeLists.put(\abc, [\set_a, \set_b, \set_c]); // like this by hand: m.modes.put(\a_only, (on: \set_a, off: \abc)); m.modes.put(\b_only, (on: \set_b, off: \abc)); m.modes.put(\c_only, (on: \set_c, off: \abc)); // or use the shorthand method for it: m.makeExclusiveModes(\abc_exc, [\set_a, \set_b, \set_c]); // prepare a polyphonic mode too, where a b and c are controlled m.modes.put(\abc, (on: \abc_exc)); // now switch betwee single control destinations ... m.mode_(\a_only); m.mode_(\b_only); m.mode_(\c_only); // ... and polyphonic control for all three m.mode_(\abc); For more discussion of details, removing/adding variants etc. see examples below!

Class Methods

.new

make a new MFunc, like this:( m = MFunc([ \ada, { "ada".postln }, \bob, { "bob".postln }, \dada, { "dada".postln }, \ede, { "ede".postln } ], modes: ( ada: (on: \ada, off: [\bob, \ede]), bob: (on: \bob, off: \triplet) ), initMode: \ada, modeLists: (\triplet: [\ada, \bob, \ede]) ) )

Instance Methods

.activeNames

the names of the currently active funcs

.mode

get name of the currently active mode, set currently active mode by name.

.modes

the available modes

.modeLists

the modeLists

.funcDict

the repertoire of all functions

.orderedNames

the ordered names of all available functions

.activeFuncs

the currently active functions

.value

calls .value on the activeFuncs, returns a list of the return values.

.enable

.disable

enable and disable functions by name(s)

.add

add or replace a function by name, optionally relative to another name.

Arguments:

name	name by which to store func
func	the func to store
active	flag whether the func should become active
addAction	optional addAction, default is \addLast
otherName	addActions \addBefore, \addAfter need a name relative to which to add.

.remove

fully remove functions by name or names

.addFirst

.addLast

.replace

short methods indicating where to add or replace

.addBefore

.addAfter

short methods for adding relative to another name

Arguments:

name	the name for the new func
func	the new func to add
active	flag whether active
otherName	the name relative to which to add

.useTry

get and set flag whether to use .tryValue istead of .value

.tryValue

wrap all function evaluations in try { }, so that if one fails, it posts good info, and all later functions in the list will still be evaluated.

Examples

// make an MFunc
(
m = MFunc([
    \ada, { "ada".postln },
    \bob, { "bob".postln },
    \dada, { "dada".postln },
    \ede, { "ede".postln },
])
);
)

// its internals
m.funcDict;                   // the repertoire
m.orderedNames;               // the order of evaluation of all funcs
m.activeNames.postcs;        // currently active names
m.activeFuncs.postcs;"";    // currently active funcs
m.modes;                    // modes to select from - see below

// evaluates all activeFuncs,
// returns a list of return values collected from each active function.
m.value;
m.disable(\ada);
m.value;
m.enable(\ada);
m.value;

// useTry mode handles errors nicely:
// only the broken function fails,
// but it posts its name and code,
// and all other functions are still evaluated.
// It is less efficient than regular mode,
// but useful for debugging.

// replace a func so that it fails
m.add(\bob, { \fail.becauseOfError });
m.value;        // fails with a loud error
m.tryValue;        // just says what the error is,
                // and still does the other functions!
m.useTry;        // flag for useTry mode
m.useTry = true; // turn useTry mode on ...
m.value.cs;        // and now .value uses try

// add and remove functions, always by name
m.add(\cicely, { "cicely".postln }); // adds to tail
m.orderedNames;
m.value;

m.remove(\ada);
m.orderedNames;
m.value;

// adding at existing names keeps the name order
m.add(\ada, {"ada*ada".postln });
// bob remains at index 1
m.add(\bob, {"bob*eve".postln });
m.value;

m.addFirst(\abacus, { "abacus" });
m.orderedNames;            // the order of evaluation
m.activeNames.postcs;""; // cuurently active names
m.activeFuncs.postcs;"";    // cuurently active funcs
m.value;

m.addAfter(\alaska, { "alaska" }, true, \cicely);
m.orderedNames;
m.activeNames;
m.value;

m.add(\abacus, { "abacus".postln }).orderedNames;

// cant enable missing functions
m.enable(\cicada);

// USING MODES:

// define a mode to be used :
m.modes.put(\ada, (on: [\ada], off: [\bob, \dada]))

// mode ada switches off bob and dada,
// leaves rest untouched
m.mode_(\ada);
m.activeNames

// select a combination - all is there by default
m.mode_(\all);
m.activeNames;

// bob excludes three others, abacus and cicely are untouched
m.modes.put(\bobOnly, (on: [\bob], off: [\ada, \dada, \ede]));

//
m.mode_(\bobOnly);
m.activeFuncs.postcs;
m.activeNames;
m.value;

m.modes[\all];
m.modes[\all].on; // always the full list

// exclude all others, only keep \cicely
m.modes.put(\cicelyOnly, (on: [\cicely], off: \all));
m.mode_(\cicelyOnly);
m.activeNames;
m.value;

// define a set of mutually exclusive functions
m.modeLists.put(\triplet, [\ada, \bob, \dada]);
// and exclusive modes
m.modes.put(\ada3, (on: \ada, off: \triplet));
m.modes.put(\bob3, (on: \bob, off: \triplet));
m.modes.put(\dada3, (on: \dada, off: \triplet));

// or do the same thing in short:

m.makeExclusiveModes(
    \triplet, // name of exclusive List
    [\ada, \bob, \dada],  // names of the funcs
    [\ada3, \bob3, \dada3]); // names of the modes if different from the funcs

// see which funcs are on in which mode

m.mode_(\all).activeNames;
m.mode_(\ada3).activeNames;
m.mode_(\bob3).activeNames;
m.mode_(\dada3).activeNames;

///////// MFdef is a named MFunc. /////

(
MFdef(\m,
        [
            \ada, { "ada".postln },
            \bob, { "bob".postln },
            \dada, { "dada".postln },
            \ede, { "ede".postln },
]);
)

MFdef(\m) === MFdef(\m);
MFdef(\m).value;

// can't set an MFdef with new args after its creation for now;
// maybe this should be supported later?
MFdef(\m, []);

helpfile source: HelpSource/Classes/MFunc.schelp
link::adclib/Classes/MFunc::

MFuncExtension

Description

Class Methods

.new

Instance Methods

.activeNames

.mode

.modes

.modeLists

.funcDict

.orderedNames

.activeFuncs

.value

.enable

.disable

.add

Arguments:

.remove

.addFirst

.addLast

.replace

.addBefore

.addAfter

Arguments:

.useTry

.tryValue

Examples

MFunc
Extension