# Learning Tidalcycles course **URL:** https://uzu.lurk.org/c/course/14.md [Latest](https://uzu.lurk.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://uzu.lurk.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://uzu.lurk.org/tags.md) --- ## [Weeks 5-8 - Index](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/weeks-5-8-index/1345)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [7 June 2020 07:55 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/weeks-5-8-index/1345 "2020-06-07T07:55:11Z")
Here's a thread linking together all the materials from the second four-week block of the Learning TidalCycles course. The lessons for each week are posted in the below thread. Plus, live stream archives: General cat… --- ## [About the Learning Tidalcycles course category](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/about-the-learning-tidalcycles-course-category/804)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 0
The tidal club "Learning TidalCycles" course. Indexes: Weeks 1-4 | Weeks 5-8. Or see everything in date order. --- ## [Weeks 1-4 - index](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/weeks-1-4-index/395)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [12 April 2020 20:02 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/weeks-1-4-index/395 "2020-04-12T20:02:16Z")
Now in reverse order by date! Here's the complete, growing list of lessons for the first four weeks of the course - videos and other material. For weeks 5-8, see here. Challenges Lessons Live Sessio… --- ## [Week 2 lesson 1 - starting out with effects](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-2-lesson-1-starting-out-with-effects/463)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [21 October 2025 01:14 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-2-lesson-1-starting-out-with-effects/463 "2025-10-21T01:14:12Z")
Ok, time to start exploring some effects! In this video I introduce some of the many effects available with superdirt.. and begin to explain how Tidal goes about combining two or more such patterns into one. We'll return… --- ## [Week 1 lesson 2 - Loading sample packs](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-1-lesson-2-loading-sample-packs/341)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [5 October 2025 21:10 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-1-lesson-2-loading-sample-packs/341 "2025-10-05T21:10:52Z")
Ok so in some parts of the world, it's already 11th April, so the course has officially started! We'd better get on with the next lesson - how to add extra sounds. It's important to do that now, as I've made a pack of ex… --- ## [Week 4, lesson 3 - random marathon part 2: randcat, stripe, degrade, sometimes, someCycles, randslice + more](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-4-lesson-3-random-marathon-part-2-randcat-stripe-degrade-sometimes-somecycles-randslice-more/690)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [6 September 2025 19:07 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-4-lesson-3-random-marathon-part-2-randcat-stripe-degrade-sometimes-somecycles-randslice-more/690 "2025-09-06T19:07:54Z")
Continuing on from part one of the random marathon.. 0:08 - randcat - picking patterns from a list 3:51 - wrandcat - picking patterns from a list, with different probabilities/weightings 6:35 - stripe … --- ## [Week 2 lesson 3 - Combining patterns with arithmetic, plus the 'hurry' function](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-2-lesson-3-combining-patterns-with-arithmetic-plus-the-hurry-function/489)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [31 July 2025 18:47 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-2-lesson-3-combining-patterns-with-arithmetic-plus-the-hurry-function/489 "2025-07-31T18:47:47Z")
Here's another video as promised. To tell the truth, I'm super tired at the moment, so despite a couple of takes the video ended up a bit "non-linear", with an explanation of the 'hurry' function dropped in the middle of… --- ## [Week 2 lesson 2 - manipulating time with setcps, cps patterns and fast/slow functions](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-2-lesson-2-manipulating-time-with-setcps-cps-patterns-and-fast-slow-functions/466)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [8 October 2024 07:23 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-2-lesson-2-manipulating-time-with-setcps-cps-patterns-and-fast-slow-functions/466 "2024-10-08T07:23:20Z")
Hi all, here's a new video, exploring ways of manipulating time. I enjoyed this one! 1:19 - Changing tempo with setcps, and converting between bpm and cps 4:44 - Patterning tempo changes with the cps effe… --- ## [Week 5, lesson 3 - adding and using superdirt synths](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-5-lesson-3-adding-and-using-superdirt-synths/1115)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [3 October 2024 08:58 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-5-lesson-3-adding-and-using-superdirt-synths/1115 "2024-10-03T08:58:36Z")
Here's a run through of adding and using SuperDirt synths: 1:12 - finding and running supercollider synths 3:18 - playing supercollider synths in tidal 3:48 - applying 'standard' superdirt effects 4:32 - … --- ## [Week 7 Lesson 1 - Composing patterns together with overlay, stack, append, cat, seqPLoop and seqP](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-7-lesson-1-composing-patterns-together-with-overlay-stack-append-cat-seqploop-and-seqp/1323)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [5 June 2024 21:02 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-7-lesson-1-composing-patterns-together-with-overlay-stack-append-cat-seqploop-and-seqp/1323 "2024-06-05T21:02:32Z")
Sorry a bit of a late start to the week. Here's a starter, looking at different ways of composing patterns together. I'll continue this in the next video with a look at the ur function for composing patterns of patterns. … --- ## [Week 1 lesson 5 - mini-notation part 3](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-1-lesson-5-mini-notation-part-3/449)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [5 May 2024 18:07 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-1-lesson-5-mini-notation-part-3/449 "2024-05-05T18:07:48Z")
In which I find out I really can't say the word "mininotation".. This video is a few things lumped together - a run through the tasks on the last worksheet, how to upgrade tidal, and finally how to use the "Euclidean no… --- ## [Week 1 lesson 4 - mini-notation part 2](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-1-lesson-4-mini-notation-part-2/416)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [3 May 2024 11:52 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-1-lesson-4-mini-notation-part-2/416 "2024-05-03T11:52:55Z")
Ok lets go deeper into the mini-notation! Here's a video. I experimented with fitting more things in a 'lesson', making a longer video accordingly.. But I think I was flagging by the end! I put a clarification or two in… --- ## [Week 5, lesson 2 - chords, arpeggios and.. Algoraoke](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-5-lesson-2-chords-arpeggios-and-algoraoke/913)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [26 March 2024 13:12 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-5-lesson-2-chords-arpeggios-and-algoraoke/913 "2024-03-26T13:12:18Z")
Ok warming up now! Here's a video exploring chords, arpeggios and the emerging form of Algoraoke, which I think was a term coined at the first live coding conference in Leeds by Ash Sagar. This video contains a preview o… --- ## [Week 5 lesson 1 - musical notes](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-5-lesson-1-musical-notes/891)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [14 January 2024 19:01 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-5-lesson-1-musical-notes/891 "2024-01-14T19:01:31Z")
Ok we're back with a surprisingly long video about how to play notes, giving them as numbers or names, and controlling samples and synths.. With a sidetrack about how to look at the actual values inside (the first cycle … --- ## [Week 4 lesson 2 - random marathon: rand, irand, mininotation randomness, scramble, shuffle, choose + more](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-4-lesson-2-random-marathon-rand-irand-mininotation-randomness-scramble-shuffle-choose-more/685)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [13 December 2023 18:45 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-4-lesson-2-random-marathon-rand-irand-mininotation-randomness-scramble-shuffle-choose-more/685 "2023-12-13T18:45:39Z")
Continuing from our look at waveforms including random ones, here's the first of a two-parter looking at a wide range of random functions.. Starting with a bit of armchair philosophising about the nature of randomness in… --- ## [Tidal Club live stream #1 with Heavy Lifting, 9am BST, Sat 18/Apr/2020](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/tidal-club-live-stream-1-with-heavy-lifting-9am-bst-sat-18-apr-2020/434)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [16 August 2023 09:41 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/tidal-club-live-stream-1-with-heavy-lifting-9am-bst-sat-18-apr-2020/434 "2023-08-16T09:41:43Z")
Ok members of @cycle0, we've scheduled the first live stream at 9am BST (GMT+1), Saturday 18th April 2020. To find the time in your local timezone, click through to the video and it should give it for you on youtube: … --- ## [Live stream #8 - TidalCycles x DAWs with Jack Armitage](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/live-stream-8-tidalcycles-x-daws-with-jack-armitage/1495)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [17 October 2021 17:51 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/live-stream-8-tidalcycles-x-daws-with-jack-armitage/1495 "2021-10-17T17:51:26Z")
Commissioned live stream coming up! @jarm was going to record a video about linking TidalCycles with DAWs, but decided to do it as a live stream instead.. 2020-06-26T20:00:00Z (UTC) If this is past your bed time, feel … --- ## [Week 6, lesson 4 - controlling Tidal with MIDI](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-6-lesson-4-controlling-tidal-with-midi/1260)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [10 August 2021 20:54 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-6-lesson-4-controlling-tidal-with-midi/1260 "2021-08-10T20:54:37Z")
Here's the basics covered with controlling Tidal from MIDI. There's a bit more to cover here in terms of tips and tricks, so I think I'll do another video soon.. In the meantime feel free to ask questions, as it'll help … --- ## [Challenge: slicing speech](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/challenge-slicing-speech/617)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [16 June 2021 20:18 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/challenge-slicing-speech/617 "2021-06-16T20:18:53Z")
Right @cycle0, it's definitely time for another challenge! Some really great stuff in the last one, nice one, + for for those joining later/catching up, more submissions always very welcome! Your challenge this week is … --- ## [Challenge: Recording pieces at different tempos](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/challenge-recording-pieces-at-different-tempos/492)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [7 June 2021 21:36 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/challenge-recording-pieces-at-different-tempos/492 "2021-06-07T21:36:35Z")
Ok here's challenge number one - record two pieces! Wondering how to record? In supercollider, just click on the numbers on the bottom right.. You should see a menu with 'start recording' and 'stop recording' - that's w… --- ## [Challenge: Algoraoke!](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/challenge-algoraoke/931)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [2 April 2021 14:41 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/challenge-algoraoke/931 "2021-04-02T14:41:36Z")
We haven't had a new challenge in a while, so, ALGORAOKE time (a portmanteau of Algorithm and Karaoke). This follows from the week 5 lesson 2 video, but if you're earlier in the course, please feel free to join in! The… --- ## [Week 3 lesson 2 - cut vs legato](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-3-lesson-2-cut-vs-legato/515)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [25 February 2021 12:17 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-3-lesson-2-cut-vs-legato/515 "2021-02-25T12:17:38Z")
Hi @cycle0! Here's the first of three videos sharing techniques for dealing with longer samples, this time looking at the 'cut' and 'legato' control patterns, and the difference between them. Here's a cou… --- ## [Thoughts on the course](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/thoughts-on-the-course/235)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [5 February 2021 05:12 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/thoughts-on-the-course/235 "2021-02-05T05:12:03Z")
Thanks again for signing up for the first four week block of "tidal club" course activities. I'm pretty astonished that there are over 200 registrations! Especially as I haven't promoted it very much, and didn't give a l… --- ## [FOTW#2 - snowball](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/fotw-2-snowball/1273)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [29 January 2021 20:02 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/fotw-2-snowball/1273 "2021-01-29T20:02:38Z")
Ok @cycle1, time for Function of the Week #2! Ok a bit over time sorry.. It's the curious "Snowball" function. I thought @kindohm had a look at this in a recent live stream but I can't find it archived.. Snowball has a … --- ## [Week 3 lesson 1 - exploring the 'every' function, including tackling the meaning of '$'](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-3-lesson-1-exploring-the-every-function-including-tackling-the-meaning-of/502)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [27 December 2020 21:00 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-3-lesson-1-exploring-the-every-function-including-tackling-the-meaning-of/502 "2020-12-27T21:00:44Z")
Before getting on to working with longer samples, here's something about the every function. It's a nice clear example of how functions work, and gives us the opportunity to start to get a feel for how parenthesis and $ … --- ## [Function of the week nominations](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/function-of-the-week-nominations/1090)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [23 December 2020 18:17 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/function-of-the-week-nominations/1090 "2020-12-23T18:17:51Z")
I thought it would be good to have a 'function of the week', where we pick a function to look at in detail, and how it fits with other functions. If you'd like to understand a Tidal function more, or share your experimen… --- ## [Week 8, Lesson 3 - fitting values to patterns with 'fit'](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-8-lesson-3-fitting-values-to-patterns-with-fit/2236)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [18 December 2020 22:27 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-8-lesson-3-fitting-values-to-patterns-with-fit/2236 "2020-12-18T22:27:30Z")
Ok after some delay, I'm back to finish off week 8 finally! Here's a look at the fit function. I'd be happy to see your thoughts and questions about this one! Here's the worksheet: -- Lets fit things fro… --- ## [Week 4 lesson 1 - continuous patterns - sine, square, tri, saw and random functions](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-4-lesson-1-continuous-patterns-sine-square-tri-saw-and-random-functions/608)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [16 December 2020 15:27 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/week-4-lesson-1-continuous-patterns-sine-square-tri-saw-and-random-functions/608 "2020-12-16T15:27:45Z")
Ok, lets have a look at some continuous functions! This is quite a large topic (hence the longer video, partly also because I got sidetracked playing with binary patterns) but will help for getting stuck into randomness … --- ## [Some thoughts on sharing and constructive feedback](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/some-thoughts-on-sharing-and-constructive-feedback/499)
**Author:** [@heavy.lifting](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/heavy.lifting)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [12 December 2020 22:42 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/some-thoughts-on-sharing-and-constructive-feedback/499 "2020-12-12T22:42:37Z")
I wanted to come up with some guidelines to support us all to give each other constructive feedback in a positive way. I hope this will encourage people to share their practice exercises and what they are working on, eve… --- ## [Live stream #6 - Tidal 1.5.0 release party and Q+A](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/live-stream-6-tidal-1-5-0-release-party-and-q-a/1152)
**Author:** [@yaxu](https://uzu.lurk.org/u/yaxu)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [7 December 2020 21:34 UTC](https://uzu.lurk.org/t/live-stream-6-tidal-1-5-0-release-party-and-q-a/1152 "2020-12-07T21:34:36Z")
Hi @cycle0 and @cycle1, lets have a TidalCycles 1.5.0 release party! Lets talk about how to upgrade, and go through what's new.. (Quite a lot has changed, so safest not to upgrade if you've got a gig coming up!) 2020-0… [Next page](https://uzu.lurk.org/c/course/14.md?page=1)