norns script reference

Scripts are located in ~/dust/code/, and are what make norns do things. A script consists of at least a Lua file but can additionally also contain supporting Lua libraries, SuperCollider engines and data.

directory structure

myscript/
  myscript.lua -- main version, shows up as MYSCRIPT
  mod.lua -- alt version, shows up as MYSCRIPT/MOD
  README.md -- main docs/readme
  data/
    myscript-01.pset -- pset, loaded via params:read(1) or via menu
  lib/
    somelib.lua -- arbitrary lib, imported via require 'lib/somelib'
    some-engine.sc -- engine file
    some-engine.lua -- engine lib, require lib/some-engine'
  docs/ -- more documentation, won't be shown in SELECT
    more-docs.md

basic script

-- scriptname: short script description
-- v1.0.0 @author
-- llllllll.co/t/22222

engine.name = 'PolySub'

function init()
  -- initialization
end

function key(n,z)
  -- key actions: n = number, z = state
end

function enc(n,d)
  -- encoder actions: n = number, d = delta
end

function redraw()
  -- screen redraw
end

function cleanup()
  -- deinitialization
end

libraries

Lua libraries can be used by using include("path/to/library"), remember not to include .lua in the library name.

local libraries

include() will first look in the directory of the current script. This allows using relative paths to use libraries local to the script. For example, with the following structure:

myscript/
  myscript.lua
  lib/
    somelib.lua

myscript.lua can include somelib.lua using:

include("lib/somelib")

third-party libraries

Third party libraries can be included using their full path starting from the ~/dust/code/ directory. For example, with the following structure in ~/dust/code/:

myscript/
  myscript.lua
  lib/
    somelib.lua
otherscript/
  otherscript.lua
  lib/
    otherlib.lua

myscript.lua can include otherlib.lua using:

include("otherscript/lib/otherlib")

engine

Specify an engine at the top of your script, see the engine docs for more details.

engine.name = 'PolySub'

If you want to use an engine from another project make sure to install that project first. If the engine comes with an accompanying Lua file make sure to import it:

engine.name = 'R'

local R = require 'r/lib/r'

engine.list_commands() shows the commands.

For example to set the command cutoff to 500:

engine.cutoff(500)

To see a list of all locally installed engines:

tab.print(engine.names)

screen

The screen API handles drawing on the norns screen, see the screen docs for more details.

function redraw()
  screen.clear()
  screen.move(10,10)
  screen.text("hello world")
  screen.update()
end

metro

The metro API allows for high-resolution scheduling, see the metro docs for more details.

re = metro.init()
re.time = 1.0 / 15
re.event = function()
  redraw()
end

re:start(), starts metro.
re:stop(), stops metro.

paramset

The paramset API allows to read and write temporary data and files, see the paramset docs for more details.

A parameter can be installed with the following:

params:add{type = "number", id = "someparam", name = "Some Param", min = 1, max = 48, default = 4}

params:set(index, value), writes a parameter.
params:get(index), reads a parameter.

devices

grid

grid.connect(n) to create device, returns object with handler, see the grid docs for more details.

g = grid.connect()

g:led(x, y, val), sets state of single LED on this grid device.
g:all(val), sets state of all LEDs on this grid device.
g:refresh(), update any dirty quads on this grid device.
g.key(x, y, state), key event handler function.

arc

arc.connect(n) to create device, returns object with handler, see the arc docs for more details.

a = arc.connect()

a:led(ring, x, val), sets state of single LED on this arc device.
a:all(val), sets state of all LEDs on this arc device.
a:segment(ring, from, to, level), creates an anti-aliased point to point arc - segment/range on a specific LED ring.
a:refresh(), updates any dirty quads on this arc device.
a.delta(n, delta), encoder event handler function.

midi

midi.connect(n) to create device, returns object with handler, see the midi docs for more details.

m = midi.connect()

m:note_on(value,velocity,channel), sends note_on message.
m:note_off(value,velocity,channel), sends note_off message.
m.event, midi event handler function.

hid

hid.connect(n) to create device, returns object with handler, see the hid docs for more details.

h = hid.connect()

osc

osc.send(to, path, args), sends osc event.
osc.event(path, args, from) handler function called when an osc event is received.

crone

pdf version