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Notes and lengths

In this section we will cover how pitches and timing are written in BeatBax — notes, step lengths, rests, and sustains — before we attach instruments in the next section. The main tokens are:

TokenMeaning
C4, E5, G#5A note — letter, optional sharp (#) or flat (b), then octave (scientific pitch). Default length is 1 step.
C4:4Length — hold the same note for 4 steps
.Rest — silence; also cuts the previous note
_ or -Sustain — keep the previous note sounding for one more step. C4 _ _ _ is the same as C4:4

A step is one timing slot at the song’s bpm:

  • a bare note (E5) or rest (.) lasts 1 step
  • an explicit length (C3:8) lasts that many steps
C3:16 # hold C3 for 16 steps
E5 . G5 C6 . G5 E5 . # one-step notes and rests
C4 _ _ _ # same duration as C4:4

Next

Continue with Instruments — give Tutorial Groove its pulse, wave, and noise voices.