SuperCollider Live Coding with ClaudeCollider

This skill enables live music synthesis using SuperCollider via the ClaudeCollider MCP server.

Quick Reference

Key Rules

1. Drums need \freq, 48 - IMPORTANT Without it, drums sound wrong
2. Use Pdef for rhythms - Patterns that repeat
3. Use Ndef for continuous - Pads, drones, textures
4. Symbols not strings - \kick not "kick"
5. Semicolons between statements - No trailing semicolon
6. NEVER Synth() inside Ndef - Causes infinite spawning

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CC API Reference

The main entry point stored in ~cc. Access subsystems via ~cc.synths, ~cc.fx, ~cc.midi, ~cc.samples, ~cc.recorder, ~cc.state.

CC - Main Class

| Method | Description | | ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | tempo(bpm) | Get/set tempo in BPM | | stop | Stop all Pdefs and Ndefs | | clear | Full reset: free all synths, patterns, effects, samples | | status | Get formatted status string | | reboot(device, numOutputs, onComplete) | Restart the server |

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~cc.synths - Synth Definitions

27+ pre-built synths with cc_ prefix.

| Method | Description | | --------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | list | Comma-separated list of synth names | | describe | Detailed descriptions with params | | play(name, ...args) | One-shot synth playback |

Usage

~cc.synths.play(\cc_kick, \freq, 48, \amp, 0.8);

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~cc.fx - Effects System

18 built-in effects with routing, chaining, and sidechaining.

| Method | Description | | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | load(name, slot) | Load effect (slot defaults to fx_<name>) | | set(slot, ...args) | Set effect parameters | | bypass(slot, bool) | Bypass/re-enable effect | | remove(slot) | Remove effect | | route(source, target) | Route Pdef/Ndef to effect | | connect(from, to) | Chain effect output to another effect | | sidechain(name, threshold, ratio, attack, release) | Create sidechain compressor | | routeTrigger(source, sidechainName, passthrough) | Route trigger to sidechain | | routeToOutput(source, channels) | Route to hardware outputs | | list | Available effect names | | describe | Effect descriptions with params | | status | Current effects and routing |

Usage

~cc.fx.load(\reverb);
~cc.fx.route(\bass, \fx_reverb);
~cc.fx.set(\fx_reverb, \mix, 0.5, \room, 0.9);

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~cc.midi - MIDI Control

| Method | Description | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- | | listDevices | List available MIDI devices | | connect(device, direction) | Connect device (\in or \out) | | connectAll | Connect all MIDI inputs | | disconnect(direction) | Disconnect (\in, \out, or \all) | | play(synthName, channel, mono, velToAmp, ccMappings) | Play synth via MIDI | | stop | Stop current MIDI synth | | status | Get MIDI status |

Usage

~cc.midi.connectAll;
~cc.midi.play(\lead, nil, false, true, (
  1: \cutoff,                           // CC1 -> cutoff
  74: (param: \res, range: [0.1, 0.9])  // CC74 -> res with range
));

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~cc.samples - Sample Management

Samples from ~/.claudecollider/samples.

| Method | Description | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------ | | load(name) | Load sample buffer into memory | | at(name) | Get buffer (nil if not loaded) | | play(name, rate, amp) | One-shot playback | | free(name) | Free buffer | | reload | Rescan directory for new files | | names | Array of sample names | | list | Comma-separated list |

Usage

~cc.samples.load(\kick);
~cc.samples.play(\kick, 1, 0.8);
Pdef(\samp, Pbind(\instrument, \cc_sampler, \buf, ~cc.samples.at(\kick), \dur, 1)).play

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~cc.recorder - Audio Recording

Records to ~/.claudecollider/recordings.

| Method | Description | | ----------------- | ----------------------------------- | | start(filename) | Start recording (auto-names if nil) | | stop | Stop recording, returns path | | status | Recording status | | isRecording | Boolean |

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~cc.state - Bus Management

Named control/audio buses stored in current environment.

| Method | Description | | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- | | bus(name, numChannels, rate) | Get or create bus (also sets ~name) | | setBus(name, value) | Set bus value | | getBus(name) | Get bus by name | | freeBus(name) | Free bus | | clear | Free all buses |

Usage

~cc.state.bus(\cutoff, 1, \control);
~cc.state.setBus(\cutoff, 2000);
Synth(\cc_acid, [\cutoff, ~cutoff.asMap]);  // Map bus to param