Introduction

React treats UI as a function of state. What if React’s declarative programming model could be applied to music as well?

This library aims to treat music as a function of state, rendering sound instead of UI. Reactronica can play complex musical sequences with web synths, samples and audio effects.

Your own UI components live side by side with Reactronica, sharing the same state and elegantly kept in sync.

Uses ToneJS under the hood. Inspired by React Music.

Warning: Highly experimental. APIs will change.

Demos

Digital Audio Workstation

Early prototype of a browser based Digital Audio Workstation. Inspired by Ableton Live, Cubase and Logic Pro, this experiment comes complete with multi-track sequencing, browser synths, drums and web audio effects.

https://reactronica.com/daw

Music chord/scale toolbox

Improve your understanding of music theory with this chord, scale and progression finder.

https://music-toolbox.now.sh

Install

$ npm install --save reactronica tone

Note: Use React version >= 16.8 as Hooks are used internally.

Examples

Drum Pads

Have a hit a tap out a beat.

import { Song, Track, Instrument } from 'reactronica';
// Simplified Drum Pads
const DrumPads = () => {
  const [notes, setNotes] = React.useState(null);
  return (
    <>
      <button
        onMouseDown={() => setNotes([{ name: 'C3' }])}
        onMouseUp={() => setNotes(null)}
      >
        Kick
      </button>
      {/* ...other pads */}
      {/* Reactronica Components */}
      <Song>
        <Track>
          <Instrument
            type="sampler"
            notes={notes}
            samples={{
              C3: '/drums/kick.wav',
              D3: '/drums/snare.wav',
              E3: '/drums/hat.wav',
            }}
          />
        </Track>
      </Song>
    </>
  );
};

Piano Roll

Classic piano roll step sequencer. Try editing the notes and come up with different chords and melodies.

import { Song, Track, Instrument } from 'reactronica';
// Simplified Piano Roll
const PianoRollExample = () => {
  const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = useState(false);
  const [currentStepIndex, setCurrentStepIndex] = useState(0);
  const [steps, setSteps] = useState([
    ['C3', 'E3', 'A3'],
    null,
    ['C3', 'E3', 'G3', 'B3'],
    null,
    ['C3', 'F3', 'A3'],
    null,
    ['D3', 'G3', 'B3'],
    null,
  ]);
  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={() => setIsPlaying(!isPlaying)}>
        {isPlaying ? 'Play' : 'Stop'}
      </button>
      <PianoRoll
        currentStepIndex={currentStepIndex}
        onClick={(steps) => setSteps(steps)}
      />
      {/* Reactronica Components */}
      <Song isPlaying={isPlaying}>
        <Track
          steps={steps}
          // Callback triggers on every step
          onStepPlay={(stepNotes, index) => {
            setCurrentStepIndex(index);
          }}
        >
          <Instrument type="polySynth" />
        </Track>
      </Song>
    </>
  );
};

Ukulele Tablature

Interactive tablature for ukulele. Have a play and try changing the notes while the song is playing. Arrow keys should work as well.

import { Song, Track, Instrument } from 'reactronica';
const UkuleleTab = () => {
  const [tab, setTab] = React.useState(defaultTab);
  const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = React.useState(false);
  const [currentIndex, setCurrentIndex] = React.useState(0);
  const steps = tabToSteps(tab);
  return (
    <>
      <button onClick={() => setIsPlaying(!isPlaying)}>
        {isPlaying ? 'Stop' : 'Play'}
      </button>
      <Tab
        tab={tab}
        currentIndex={currentIndex}
        onUpdate={(newTab) => {
          setTab(newTab);
        }}
      />
      {/* Reactronica Components */}
      <Song isPlaying={isPlaying} bpm={90}>
        <Track
          steps={steps}
          subdivision={'8n'}
          onStepPlay={(_, i) => {
            setCurrentIndex(i);
          }}
        >
          <Instrument
            type="sampler"
            samples={{
              C4: `/ukulele/uke_060.wav`,
              'C#4': `/ukulele/uke_061.wav`,
              // ... D4 - A#5 samples
              B5: `/ukulele/uke_083.wav`,
              C6: `/ukulele/uke_084.wav`,
            }}
          />
        </Track>
      </Song>
    </>
  );
};

Usage

import React from 'react';
import { Song, Track, Instrument, Effect } from 'reactronica';
const Example = () => {
  return (
    // Top level component must be the Song, with Tracks nested inside
    <Song bpm={90} isPlaying={true}>
      <Track
        // Array of several types
        steps={[
          // Note in string format
          'C3',
          // Object with note and duration
          { name: 'C3', duration: 0.5 },
          { name: 'D3', duration: 0.5 },
          // Array of strings for chords
          ['C3', 'G3'],
          null,
          null,
          // Array of objects for chords
          [
            { name: 'C3', duration: 0.5 },
            { name: 'G3', duration: 0.5 },
          ],
          null,
        ]}
        volume={80}
        pan={0}
        // Callback for every tick
        onStepPlay={(step, index) => {
          doSomething(step, index);
        }}
      >
        <Instrument type="polySynth" />
        {/* Add effects chain here */}
        <Effect type="feedbackDelay" />
        <Effect type="distortion" />
      </Track>
      <Track>
        <Instrument
          type="sampler"
          samples={{
            C3: 'path/to/kick.mp3',
            D3: 'path/to/snare.mp3',
            E3: 'path/to/hihat.mp3',
          }}
          // Add some notes here to play
          notes={[{ name: 'C3' }]}
        />
      </Track>
    </Song>
  );
};

Documentation

`Song`

This component wraps around all Reactronica components, providing top level control of the audio.

bpm number - Speed or pace of the song. Short for beats per minute.
isPlaying boolean - Whether the song is playing or not. Defaults to false.
volume number - Volume of entire song
isMuted boolean - Mute the whole song

`Track`

Tracks make up the layers of audio within a Song. Each individual Track has independent volume, pan, steps and effects.

volume number - Volume of track
pan number - Panning of track
steps StepType[] - An array of steps to play. Can be string or { name: string, duration: number, velocity: number }.
onStepPlay function - Callback that runs on every step.

`Instrument`

Should be wrapped by a Track and becomes its audio source.

Props

type amSynth | duoSynth | fmSynth | membraneSynth | metalSynth | monoSynth | pluckSynth | sampler | synth - Instrument type
notes NoteType[] - An array of notes ({ name: string, velocity: number }) to trigger Instrument, useful for auditioning sounds or live performance.
samples object - Only for sampler instrument type
polyphony number - Maximum number of notes played at the same time. Only for some synth types.
oscillator { type: 'triangle' | 'sine' | 'square' } - A repeating waveform shape. Only for some synth types.
envelope { attack: number, decay: number, sustain: number, release: number }

`Effect`

Audio effects such as feedbackDelay, distortion and freeverb. Add as children of Track, with multiple Effects allowed.

Props

type autoFilter | autoPanner | autoWah | bitCrusher | distortion | feedbackDelay | freeverb | panVol | tremolo - Effect type
wet number - How much the effect is mixed with the original source. 1 = 100%, 0 = none.