Record Tape

Record Tape

This skill captures the current live coding session as a tape — a replayable pair of files that preserve the musical idea.

What is a tape?

A tape is two files in tapes/:

• <name>.scd — Executable SuperCollider code. The source of truth.
• <name>.md — Documentation for Claude. Describes the musical content so future sessions can understand, modify, or remix the tape without parsing SC code.

Recording process

Step 1: Gather session state

Use the MCP tools to capture what's currently playing:

1. cc_status (action: status) — Get tempo, playing Pdefs/Ndefs, active synths
2. cc_status (action: routing) — Get effects routing, sidechain configuration
3. cc_execute to inspect individual Pdefs/Ndefs if needed (e.g., Pdef(\kick).source.postcs)

Ask the user for:

• Name for the tape (used as filename, kebab-case)
• Genre/vibe description (one sentence)
• Key (e.g., Dm, Ebm, or atonal)
• Chord progression if tonal (chords + cycle length)
• Any notes about the session they want preserved

Step 2: Write the .scd file

Write tapes/<name>.scd following this structure:

// <Title> - <one-line description> at <BPM> BPM in <key>
// <Chord progression if applicable>

// 1. Clear and set tempo
~cc.clear;
~cc.tempo(<bpm>);

// 2. <Element name> - <musical role>
Pdef(\<name>, Pbind(
    ...
)).play(quant: 4);

// ... more elements ...

// N. Effects
~cc.fx.load(\<effect>);
~cc.fx.set(\<slot>, <params>);
~cc.fx.route(\<source>, \<slot>);

// N+1. Sidechain
~cc.fx.sidechain(\<name>, <threshold>, <ratio>, <attack>, <release>);
~cc.fx.route(\<source>, \<name>);
~cc.fx.routeTrigger(\<trigger>, \<name>, true);

Rules for .scd files:

• Always start with ~cc.clear and ~cc.tempo
• Number each block with a comment: // 1., // 2., etc.
• Use play(quant: 4) on Pdefs for aligned playback
• Repo samples OK — samples from the samples/ directory (committed to the repo) can be loaded and used. System-specific sample paths are still not allowed.
• NO MIDI setup — playback-time decision
• NO hardware output routing (routeToOutput) — system-specific
• NO server boot/reboot commands — handled by playback
• NO absolute file paths
• Drums always need \freq, 48
• Use \instrument, \cc_<synthname> — never dynamically construct the prefix
• Prefer \degree + \scale + \root + \octave for tonal parts (more readable than raw midinote)
• Group: drums first, then bass, then melodic/harmonic, then effects, then sidechain

Step 3: Write the .md file

Write tapes/<name>.md following this structure:

---
name: <Human Readable Name>
tempo: <BPM>
key: <key or "atonal">
scd: <name>.scd
---

> **IMPORTANT:** This tape has a companion script at `<name>.scd`. Execute each block from that file verbatim via `cc_execute` — do not improvise the patterns.

# <Title>

<One sentence: genre, tempo, key, vibe.>

## Chord Progression

<Chords> (<cycle length>)

## Elements

- **<Name>** (<synth>) - <musical role and character>
- ...

## Effects

- **<Effect>** on <targets> (<key params>)
- ...

## Sidechain

- **<Name>** — <params> -> <targets>, trigger: <source>

## Notes

<Anything unusual or worth knowing>

## Playback

Execute each block from `<name>.scd` verbatim via `cc_execute`. Run blocks in order — do not rewrite or improvise the patterns.

Rules for .md files:

• key is always present in frontmatter — use atonal if no key center
• tempo is always present
• Omit the Chord Progression section if atonal
• Omit the Effects section if there are none (note this in Notes instead)
• Omit the Sidechain section if there is none
• Element descriptions should focus on musical role, not implementation details
• Repo sample names (from samples/) can be mentioned in element descriptions. Do NOT include system-specific sample names.
• The synth in parentheses is the default voice used in the .scd, not a requirement

What NOT to record

These are playback-time decisions, not part of the tape:

• System-specific samples — samples outside the repo's samples/ directory
• MIDI routing — which devices, channels, CC mappings
• Audio device / hardware output routing — system-specific
• Server boot configuration — device, num outputs, etc.
• Arrangement / ordering — how to introduce elements over time (this is a separate concern)

Fixing existing tapes

If asked to fix or update an existing tape, apply these same rules. Common fixes:

• Remove system-specific sample references (replace with built-in synths or repo samples)
• Remove system-specific sample names from the .md element list (repo samples/ names are OK)
• Add missing key to frontmatter (use atonal if appropriate)
• Remove any device/routing setup