Script Patterns

Script patterns let you define custom pattern types as classes. Any class with a query(cycle) method can be used as a pattern by assigning it to a track.

Defining a Script Pattern

A script pattern is a class with a query(cycle) method that returns notes, arrays, or patterns:

class Stepper {
    let notes;
    let idx;

    fn new(notes) {
        this.notes = notes;
        this.idx = 0;
    }

    fn query(cycle) {
        let note = this.notes[this.idx % this.notes.length];
        this.idx = this.idx + 1;
        return note;
    }
}

let p = Stepper(#[C4, D4, E4, F4, G4]);
track(1, p);

When p is assigned to a track, Resonon detects the query() method and wraps the instance in a ScriptPattern. Each cycle, query() is called with the current cycle number, and the return value becomes the pattern output.

How It Works

Each cycle, the script pattern:

1. Recomputes from cycle 0 to determine the current state (like streams)
2. Calls query(cycle) with the cycle number
3. Converts the return value to pattern events
4. Delivers events to the track

Because state is recomputed from the initial values each time, script patterns are seekable and deterministic — querying cycle 100 always produces the same result.

State Persistence

Field mutations persist across cycles via recomputation. When you write this.idx = this.idx + 1 inside query(), the updated value carries forward to the next cycle:

Cycle	this.idx before	query() returns	this.idx after
0	0	notes[0] = C4	1
1	1	notes[1] = D4	2
2	2	notes[2] = E4	3
3	3	notes[3] = F4	4
4	4	notes[4] = G4	5
5	5	notes[0] = C4	6

Note

Fields are captured when the instance is assigned to a track. Changes to the original instance after assignment have no effect on the pattern.

Return Types

The query() method can return any value that converts to a pattern:

Return type	Result
Note (C4)	Single note filling the cycle
Number (60)	MIDI note number as a single note
Array (#[C4, E4, G4])	Sequence distributed across the cycle
Pattern ([C4 E4 G4])	Pattern queried for the cycle
Rest (~)	Silence for that cycle

Helper Methods

Script pattern classes can define helper methods that query() calls:

class BoundedWalk {
    let pos;
    let lower;
    let upper;

    fn new(start, lower, upper) {
        this.pos = start;
        this.lower = lower;
        this.upper = upper;
    }

    fn step(cycle) {
        let delta = choose(cycle, #[-2, -1, 1, 2]);
        return this.clamp(this.pos + delta);
    }

    fn clamp(val) {
        if val < this.lower { return this.lower; }
        if val > this.upper { return this.upper; }
        return val;
    }

    fn query(cycle) {
        this.pos = this.step(cycle);
        return this.pos;
    }
}

let walk = BoundedWalk(60, 48, 72);
track(1, walk);

Cycle-Dependent Logic

The cycle parameter lets you build time-varying patterns without mutable state:

class ChordProgression {
    let chords;

    fn new(chords) {
        this.chords = chords;
    }

    fn query(cycle) {
        let idx = cycle % this.chords.length;
        return this.chords[idx];
    }
}

let prog = ChordProgression(#[
    #[C4, E4, G4],
    #[D4, F4, A4],
    #[G4, B4, D5],
    #[C4, E4, G4],
]);
track(1, prog);

Built-in Variables

Inside query(), these variables are available automatically:

Variable	Description
cycle	The cycle parameter you defined
cps	Current tempo in cycles per second

Plus any variables from the surrounding scope that were visible when the instance was assigned to a track.

Callback Restrictions

Script patterns use a restricted evaluator for thread-safety and determinism. The rules:

• Supported: let, if/else, match, return, for, loop, arithmetic, array access, user-defined functions, rand(), choose()
• Not supported: PRINT/PUT, audio/MIDI operations, native functions

Comparison

	Script Pattern	Stream
Defined as	Class with query()	stream(init, fn(prev, cycle) { ... })
State	Multiple named fields	Single value (prev)
State mutation	this.field = value	Return next state
Encapsulation	Methods, fields, helpers	Closure only
Seekable	Yes (O(N) replay)	Yes (O(N) replay)
Best for	Complex stateful logic with multiple state variables	Single-value walking patterns

Musical Examples

Ascending Arpeggiator

class Arpeggiator {
    let chord;

    fn new(chord) {
        this.chord = chord;
    }

    fn query(cycle) {
        return this.chord[cycle % this.chord.length];
    }
}

let arp = Arpeggiator(#[C4, E4, G4, B4]);
track(1, arp);

Euclidean Stepper

A pattern that steps through a scale using Euclidean-distributed accents:

class EuclidStepper {
    let notes;
    let idx;
    let accents;

    fn new(notes, hits, steps) {
        this.notes = notes;
        this.idx = 0;
        this.accents = euclid(hits, steps, [1]);
    }

    fn query(cycle) {
        let note = this.notes[this.idx % this.notes.length];
        this.idx = this.idx + 1;
        return note;
    }
}

let stepper = EuclidStepper(#[C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, B4], 5, 8);
track(1, stepper);

See Also

• Classes — Class syntax and semantics
• Streams — Single-value stateful patterns
• Pattern Methods — Transform pattern output