Bird Notation

Bird is a musical notation designed for composition of modern electronic music. Think of it as Markdown for music.

File Structure

A .bird file has three sections, in order:

Global channel definitions — declare channels with their instruments, effects, and channel strips
Arrangement — define the section order and bar counts
Section definitions — write the musical content for each section

# 1. Global channel definitions
ch 1 kick
  plugin kick
  strip console1

ch 2 bass
  plugin mini
  fx delay

ch 3 lead
  plugin jup8

# 2. Arrangement
arr
  intro 4
  verse 8
  chorus 8

# 3. Section definitions
sec intro
  ch 1 kick
    p x _ x _ x _ x _
    v 100 - 80 - 90 - 85 -
    n C1

sec verse
  ch 2 bass
    p q q q q
    v 90 70 80 60
    n C2 - Eb2 G2

Tokens Reference

Structure

Token	Purpose	Syntax	Example
`ch`	Define a channel	`ch <number> <name>`	`ch 1 kick`
`plugin`	Assign instrument plugin	`plugin <keyword>`	`plugin mini`
`fx`	Assign insert effect	`fx <keyword>`	`fx delay`
`strip`	Assign channel strip	`strip <keyword>`	`strip console1`
`type`	Set track type	`type midi` or `type audio`	`type audio`
`arr`	Start arrangement block	`arr` then indented entries	see below
`sec`	Start section definition	`sec <name>`	`sec verse`
`b`	Set global bar count	`b <bars>`	`b 4`
`key`	Set key signature	`key <root> [mode]`	`key Eb min`
`cont`	Continue pattern phase across section boundary	`cont`	`cont`

Arrangement

The arr block lists sections with their bar lengths, indented:

arr
  intro 4
  verse 8
  chorus 8
  verse 8
  chorus 8
  outro 4

Key Signature

Sets the musical key for the project. Supports all 12 roots with sharps/flats, major and minor:

key C            # C major
key Eb min       # Eb minor
key F# minor     # F# minor
key Bb           # Bb major

Pattern (`p`)

Defines the rhythmic grid. Each token is one note slot. Positive = note-on, _ = rest.

Duration Tokens

Token	Duration	Ticks
`ww`	Double whole note	768
`w`	Whole note (1 bar in 4/4)	384
`qq`	Half note	192
`q`	Quarter note (1 beat)	96
`xx`	Eighth note	48
`x`	Sixteenth note	24

Dotted (1.5× duration) — append d:

Token	Duration	Ticks
`wd`	Dotted whole	576
`qd`	Dotted quarter	144
`xxd`	Dotted eighth	72
`xd`	Dotted sixteenth	36

Triplet (⅔× duration) — append t:

Token	Duration	Ticks
`wt`	Whole triplet	256
`qt`	Quarter triplet	64
`xxt`	Eighth triplet	32
`xt`	Sixteenth triplet	16

Rests

_ — rest of the same length as the previous duration
_w, _q, _x, _xx etc. — explicit rest durations (same naming as above, prefixed with _)

Timing Rule

All p lines in a section must sum to the same total bar length. A 4/4 bar = 384 ticks = 4 quarters = 8 eighths = 16 sixteenths. Mismatched lengths cause desync.

Examples

p q q q q          # 4 quarter notes = 1 bar
p x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x   # 16 sixteenths = 1 bar
p qq _ qq _        # half note, rest, half note, rest = 1 bar
p q _ q q          # quarter, rest, quarter, quarter
p qd xx q q        # dotted quarter + eighth + two quarters = 1 bar

Velocity (`v`)

Sets the MIDI velocity (0–127) for each note slot. Cycles through values when the pattern repeats.

Syntax	Meaning	Example
`80`	Absolute velocity	`v 80`
`-`	Repeat previous velocity	`v 80 - - -`
`+N` / `-N`	Relative offset from previous	`v 80 +10 -20`

Values are clamped to 0–127. The velocity list cycles independently of the pattern length.

v 100 60 80 40      # cycling 4 velocities
v 90 -               # alternating: 90, 90, 90, ...
v 80 +10 +10 -30    # 80, 90, 100, 70, 80, 90, ...

Notes (`n`)

Specifies pitches for each pattern slot. Supports multiple formats that can be mixed.

Formats

Format	Example	Description
MIDI number	`n 60`	Middle C
Note name	`n C4`	Middle C (with octave)
Chord name	`n @Cm7`	C minor 7th chord (all notes play simultaneously)
Repeat	`n 60 -`	Repeat previous pitch
Relative offset	`n 60 +7 +5`	Add/subtract semitones from previous
Simultaneous notes	`n 60 64 67`	All on one line = chord (C major triad)

Note Names

Standard note names with optional accidentals and octave:

C4  D4  E4  F4  G4  A4  B4     # naturals
C#4 D#4 F#4 G#4 A#4            # sharps
Db4 Eb4 Gb4 Ab4 Bb4            # flats

Octave 4 starts at MIDI 60 (Middle C). Omitting octave defaults to 4.

Chord Names

Prefix with @. Optionally prefix octave before root letter.

Chord	Syntax	Notes
Major	`@C`, `@Cmaj`, `@CM`	C E G
Minor	`@Cm`, `@Cmin`, `@C-`	C Eb G
Dominant 7th	`@C7`, `@Cdom7`	C E G Bb
Major 7th	`@Cmaj7`, `@CM7`	C E G B
Minor 7th	`@Cm7`, `@Cmin7`, `@C-7`	C Eb G Bb
Diminished	`@Cdim`, `@Co`	C Eb Gb
Diminished 7th	`@Cdim7`, `@Co7`	C Eb Gb A
Half-diminished	`@Cm7b5`, `@Cø`	C Eb Gb Bb
Augmented	`@Caug`, `@C+`	C E G#
Augmented 7th	`@Caug7`, `@C+7`	C E G# Bb
Suspended 2nd	`@Csus2`	C D G
Suspended 4th	`@Csus4`, `@Csus`	C F G
Dominant 9th	`@C9`	C E G Bb D
Minor 9th	`@Cm9`, `@Cmin9`	C Eb G Bb D
Major 9th	`@Cmaj9`, `@CM9`	C E G B D
Power chord	`@C5`, `@Cpower`	C G

Octave prefix: @3Cm7 = C minor 7th starting at octave 3.

Simultaneous Notes (Chords)

Multiple plain notes on one n line play simultaneously as a chord:

n 41 48 53 56       # MIDI numbers = chord
n E2 C3 F3 Ab3      # note names = chord

Sequential Notes

When using -, +N, or @chords, each token is a separate step that cycles with the pattern:

n C4 - Eb4 G4       # step 1: C4, step 2: C4, step 3: Eb4, step 4: G4
n 60 +7 +5 -12      # step 1: 60, step 2: 67, step 3: 72, step 4: 60
n @Cm7 @Fm7 @G7     # step 1: Cm7 chord, step 2: Fm7, step 3: G7

Layering

Multiple velocity + note groups can share one pattern (multi-layer voicings):

p w _ w _
  v 70 90 100
    n @Cm7 @Fm7 @G7
  v 60
    n +7 +7 +8        # second layer at different velocity
  v 30
    n +12              # third layer (higher octave, soft)

Swing (`sw`)

Adds groove by shifting every other note later. Applied per channel per section.

sw <percent> [~<humanize>]

Value	Feel
`50`	Perfectly straight (default)
`55`	Light swing
`60`	Medium swing
`67`	Triplet swing (classic MPC feel)
`75`	Heavy swing

The optional ~N adds random ±N ticks of jitter to all notes for extra humanization.

sw 60           # medium swing
sw 67 ~5        # triplet swing + ±5 tick humanize
sw 50 ~3        # straight timing + slight random jitter

Per-Note Timing (`t`)

Fine-grained timing offsets per pattern slot. Values are in ticks (1 tick ≈ 1/96 of a beat). Cycles like velocity.

t <offset> <offset> ...

Positive = late (behind the beat / laid back)
Negative = early (ahead of the beat / pushing)
0 = on grid

p x  x  x  x
v 90 60 80 50
n C4 Eb4 G4 Bb4
t 0  +5 -3  0       # C4 on grid, Eb4 late, G4 early, Bb4 on grid

One tick = 1/24 of a sixteenth note = 1/96 of a quarter note.

Automation

Step-Based Automation

Any unrecognized keyword inside a channel block is treated as a step automation macro. Values cycle with the pattern.

brightness 80 40 60 90     # brightness cycles: 80, 40, 60, 90
cutoff 100 50 75 25        # cutoff cycles similarly

Continuous Automation (Ramp)

Use ramp for time-based sweeps across a section:

brightness ramp 0.0 1.0     # sweep brightness from 0% to 100% over 1 bar
drive ramp 0.5 0.8          # subtle drive increase

Plugin Keywords

Instruments

Keyword	Plugin	Type
`synths`	Pigments	General synth
`mini`	Mini V3	Analog mono synth
`cs80`	CS-80 V4	Poly synth
`prophet`	Prophet-5 V	Poly synth
`jup8`	Jup-8 V4	Poly synth
`dx7`	DX7 V	FM synth
`buchla`	Buchla Easel V	West coast
`surge`	Surge XT	Open source synth
`kick`	Kick 3	Kick drum synth
`drums`	Heartbeat	Drum machine
`bass`	Mini V3	Bass (uses Mini V)
`sublab`	SubLabXL	Sub bass
`monoment`	Monoment Bass	Bass synth

Effects

Keyword	Plugin
`delay`	Tube Delay
`valhalla`	ValhallaRoom
`widener`	Softube Widener
`soothe`	soothe2
`tube`	Dist TUBE-CULTURE

Channel Strips

Keyword	Plugin
`console1`	Console 1

Automation Macro Names

Semantic macro names are mapped to real plugin parameter names automatically. Use these in step or ramp automation.

Synth Macros

Macro	Controls
`brightness` / `cutoff`	Filter cutoff frequency
`resonance`	Filter resonance
`attack`	Amp/filter attack time
`decay`	Amp/filter decay time
`release`	Amp/filter release time

Drum/Bass Macros

Macro	Controls
`pitch`	Oscillator/sound pitch
`decay`	Sound decay time
`volume`	Output level
`drive`	Distortion/harmonics amount

Effect Macros

Macro	Controls
`mix`	Wet/dry mix
`decay`	Reverb decay / delay feedback
`width`	Stereo width

Channel Strip Macros (Console 1)

Macro	Controls
`input_gain`	Input gain
`comp_thresh`	Compressor threshold
`comp_ratio`	Compressor ratio
`eq_mid_gain`	EQ mid band gain
`low_cut`	High-pass filter

`cont` — Pattern Continuity

Use cont in a section to continue a channel’s pattern phase from the previous section (rather than restarting from beat 1):

sec verse
  ch 1 arp
    cont
    p x x x x x x x x
    v 80 60 70 50
    n C4 E4 G4 C5

Without cont, each section resets the pattern/note/velocity counters to 0. With cont, the counters pick up where the previous section left off, creating seamless transitions.

Track Types

Type	Description
`midi`	MIDI track (default) — plays notes through instrument plugin
`audio`	Audio track — plays audio samples or Lyria-generated audio

ch 4 pad
  type audio

Complete Example

key Eb min
b 4

ch 1 kick
  plugin kick
  strip console1

ch 2 hihat
  plugin drums

ch 3 bass
  plugin mini
  fx delay

ch 4 chords
  plugin jup8
  strip console1

arr
  intro 4
  verse 8
  chorus 8

sec intro
  ch 1 kick
    p q _ q _
    v 100 - 80 -
    n C1

  ch 2 hihat
    sw 60
    p x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
    v 60 40 80 40 60 40 80 40 60 40 80 40 60 40 80 40
    n F#2

sec verse
  ch 1 kick
    p q _ q q
    v 110 - 90 100
    n C1

  ch 2 hihat
    sw 60 ~3
    p x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
    v 70 40 90 40 70 40 90 50 70 40 90 40 70 40 90 50
    n F#2
    t 0 +3 -2 0 +1 +4 -1 0 0 +2 -3 0 +1 +3 -2 0

  ch 3 bass
    p xx xx _ xx xx xx _ xx
    v 100 80 - 90 85 100 - 70
    n Eb2 - - Gb2 Ab2 Bb2 - Eb2
    brightness ramp 0.3 0.8

  ch 4 chords
    p w _ w _
    v 70
    n @Ebm7 - @Abm7 @Bb7

sec chorus
  ch 1 kick
    p q q q q
    v 120
    n C1

  ch 3 bass
    cont
    p xx xx xx xx xx xx _ xx
    v 110 90 100 80 110 90 - 70
    n Eb2 Gb2 Ab2 Bb2 Eb3 Bb2 - Gb2

  ch 4 chords
    p qq qq qq qq
    v 85 75 90 80
    n @Ebm7 @Abm7 @Bb7 @Gbmaj7

Tick Reference

All timing in Bird is based on a 384-tick bar (96 ticks per beat in 4/4):

Unit	Ticks
Whole note (bar)	384
Half note	192
Quarter note (beat)	96
Eighth note	48
Sixteenth note	24
One `t` tick	1

The sw and t timing features operate in this tick space.

Getting Started

Core Concepts

Bird

Bird Notation

File Structure

Tokens Reference

Structure

Arrangement

Key Signature

Pattern (`p`)

Duration Tokens

Rests

Timing Rule

Examples

Velocity (`v`)

Notes (`n`)

Formats

Note Names

Chord Names

Simultaneous Notes (Chords)

Sequential Notes

Layering

Swing (`sw`)

Per-Note Timing (`t`)

Automation

Step-Based Automation

Continuous Automation (Ramp)

Plugin Keywords

Instruments

Effects

Channel Strips

Automation Macro Names

Synth Macros

Drum/Bass Macros

Effect Macros

Channel Strip Macros (Console 1)

`cont` — Pattern Continuity

Track Types

Complete Example

Tick Reference

Getting Started

Core Concepts

​Bird Notation

​File Structure

​Tokens Reference

​Structure

​Arrangement

​Key Signature

​Pattern (p)

​Duration Tokens

​Rests

​Timing Rule

​Examples

​Velocity (v)

​Notes (n)

​Formats

​Note Names

​Chord Names

​Simultaneous Notes (Chords)

​Sequential Notes

​Layering

​Swing (sw)

​Per-Note Timing (t)

​Automation

​Step-Based Automation

​Continuous Automation (Ramp)

​Plugin Keywords

​Instruments

​Effects

​Channel Strips

​Automation Macro Names

​Synth Macros

​Drum/Bass Macros

​Effect Macros

​Channel Strip Macros (Console 1)

​cont — Pattern Continuity

​Track Types

​Complete Example

​Tick Reference

Bird Notation

File Structure

Tokens Reference

Structure

Arrangement

Key Signature

Pattern (`p`)

Duration Tokens

Rests

Timing Rule

Examples

Velocity (`v`)

Notes (`n`)

Formats

Note Names

Chord Names

Simultaneous Notes (Chords)

Sequential Notes

Layering

Swing (`sw`)

Per-Note Timing (`t`)

Automation

Step-Based Automation

Continuous Automation (Ramp)

Plugin Keywords

Instruments

Effects

Channel Strips

Automation Macro Names

Synth Macros

Drum/Bass Macros

Effect Macros

Channel Strip Macros (Console 1)

`cont` — Pattern Continuity

Track Types

Complete Example

Tick Reference