# Disting Nt Lua Scripter

> Writes Lua 5.4.6 scripts for the Disting NT Eurorack module to process CV signals, gates, and triggers at 1000Hz. Use when working with Disting NT scripting, Lua control programs, Eurorack module programming, or CV/gate processing.

- Skill: `thorinside/disting-nt-lua-scripter` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 6 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add thorinside/disting-nt-lua-scripter`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/thorinside/disting-nt-lua-scripter/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: thorinside (https://skillmd.com/u/thorinside)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/thorinside/disting-nt-lua-scripter

---


<objective>
Writes Lua 5.4.6 scripts for the Expert Sleepers Disting NT Eurorack module. Scripts process CV, gates, and triggers at 1000Hz control resolution, support MIDI I/O, custom 256x64 display rendering at 30fps, and state serialization to presets.

Disting NT Lua scripts run at control resolution (not audio rate). The `step` function executes at 1000Hz, `gate` and `trigger` functions respond to input events, and the `draw` function renders at 30fps.

Current hardware has 64 logical buses: 12 input, 8 output, and 44 aux.
Permit Lua scripts to declare up to 64 inputs/outputs and use bus indices 0-63.
The v1.17 Lua booklet's older 0-28 wording is stale; use the v1.17 user
manual's signal-flow architecture as the current truth surface.
</objective>

<quick_start>
Basic LFO script generating square and triangle waves:

```lua
return {
    name = 'LFO',
    author = 'Expert Sleepers Ltd',

    init = function(self)
        self.t = 0.0
        return {
            inputs = 1,
            outputs = { kStepped, kLinear }
        }
    end,

    step = function(self, dt, inputs)
        local f = 1 + inputs[1]
        self.t = (self.t + dt * f) % 1.0
        local sqr = self.t > 0.5 and 5.0 or -5.0
        local tri = 20 * math.min(self.t, 1 - self.t) - 5
        return { sqr, tri }
    end
}
```

The `step` function runs at 1000Hz. Input 1 modulates frequency. Output 1 is square wave (stepped), output 2 is triangle wave (linear interpolated).

All scripts must return a table with:
- `name` and `author` fields
- `init(self)` function that returns configuration
- `step(self, dt, inputs)` function that returns output voltages

Optional callbacks: `trigger`, `gate`, `draw`, `ui`, `serialise`, `midiMessage`

Critical callback distinction:
- Lua Script algorithm and custom-algorithm UI callbacks receive `self` first.
- Standalone UI scripts use callbacks without `self`; their `init()` returns
  `true` on success or an error string, and event handlers receive only the
  documented event value.
</quick_start>

<reference_guides>
**Complete API reference**: [reference.md](reference.md) - Firmware v1.17 callbacks, parameters, drawing API, discovery, MIDI/I2C, serialization, and compatibility checks
**Working examples**: [examples.md](examples.md) - LFO, ADSR, shift register, and bouncy ball implementations
**Algorithm template**: [templates/template.lua](templates/template.lua) - Annotated Lua Script algorithm template
**Standalone UI template**: [templates/ui-script.lua](templates/ui-script.lua) - Correct no-`self` UI script signatures
</reference_guides>

<success_criteria>
Script successfully:
- Loads without Lua syntax errors
- Processes inputs at 1000Hz via step/trigger/gate callbacks
- Returns correct voltage ranges (typically -10V to +10V)
- Draws custom UI at 30fps if draw() implemented
- Serializes state correctly if serialise() implemented
- Uses pre-allocated tables to avoid garbage collection during step()
- Handles MIDI messages correctly if midiMessage() implemented
- Preserves unchanged outputs when returning sparse output tables
- Uses integer coordinates for integer drawing primitives and floating-point
  coordinates only for `drawSmoothLine`/`drawSmoothCircle`
- Uses the correct callback signature for algorithm versus standalone UI scripts
</success_criteria>