https://github.com/jstrait/beats

A command-line drum machine. Convert a beat notated in YAML into a *.wav file.
https://github.com/jstrait/beats

audio cli command-line drum drum-machine music ruby sound

Last synced: 6 months ago
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A command-line drum machine. Convert a beat notated in YAML into a *.wav file.

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/jstrait/beats
• Owner: jstrait
• License: mit
• Created: 2009-10-04T17:46:35.000Z (about 16 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2020-12-31T22:46:08.000Z (almost 5 years ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-03-30T08:09:26.869Z (7 months ago)
• Topics: audio, cli, command-line, drum, drum-machine, music, ruby, sound
• Language: Ruby
• Homepage: https://beatsdrummachine.com
• Size: 28.4 MB
• Stars: 430
• Watchers: 13
• Forks: 27
• Open Issues: 4
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.markdown
  • License: LICENSE

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README

          
Beats Drum Machine

------------------

Beats is a command-line drum machine written in pure Ruby. Feed it a song notated in YAML, and it will produce a precision-milled *.wav file of impeccable timing and feel. Here's an example song:

    Song:

      Tempo: 105

      Flow:

        - Verse:  x4

        - Chorus: x4

      Kit:

        - bass:     house_2_1.wav

        - snare:    roland_tr_909_2.wav

        - hihat:    house_2_5.wav

        - cowbell:  big_beat_5.wav

        - deep:     house_2_2.wav

    Verse:

      - bass:     X..X...X..X.....

      - snare:    ....X.......X...

      - hihat:    ..X...X...X...X.

    Chorus:

      - bass:     X..X...X..X.....

      - snare:    ....X.......X...

      - hihat:    XXXXXXXXXXXXX...

      - cowbell:  ....XX.X..X.X...

      - deep:     .............X..

And [here's what it sounds like](https://beatsdrummachine.com/media/beat.mp3) after getting the Beats treatment. What a glorious groove!

For more, check out [beatsdrummachine.com](https://beatsdrummachine.com)

Installation

------------

To install the latest stable version (2.1.2) from [rubygems.org](https://rubygems.org/gems/beats), run the following from the command line:

    gem install beats

Note: if you're installing using the default version of Ruby that comes with macOS, you might get a file permission error. If that happens, use `sudo gem install beats` instead. If you're using a version manager such as rbenv, chruby, or RVM, plain `gem install beats` should work fine.

Once installed, you can then run Beats from the command-line using the `beats` command.

Beats is not very useful unless you have some sounds to use with it. You can download some example sounds from [https://beatsdrummachine.com](https://beatsdrummachine.com/download#drum-kits).

Usage

-----

Beats runs from the command-line. Run `beats -h` to see the available options. For more detailed instructions, visit .

Check out [this tutorial at beatsdrummachine.com](https://beatsdrummachine.com/tutorial/) to see an example of how to create a beat from scratch.

What's New in v2.1.2

--------------------

The latest version of Beats is 2.1.2, released on December 18, 2019. It contains these changes:

* Several confusing/unhelpful errors shown due to an error in an input file have been improved. For example, if a pattern has the invalid name "4", the error message will now be `Pattern name '4' is not valid. It must be a value that will be parsed from YAML as a String.`, instead of `undefined method 'downcase' for 4:Integer`.

For info about previous releases, visit https://github.com/jstrait/beats/releases.

Local Development

-----------------

First, install the required dependencies:

    bundle install

To run Beats locally, use `bundle exec` and run `bin/beats`, to avoid using any installed gem executable. For example:

    bundle exec bin/beats -v

To run the tests:

    bundle exec rake test

Found a Bug? Have a Suggestion? Want to Contribute?

---------------------------------------------------

Contact me (Joel Strait) by opening a GitHub issue.

License

-------

Beats Drum Machine is released under the MIT license.