Stratus Composer Platform
Stratus (STRuctured sectionAl Token mUSic) is an opinionated song composition and livecoding platform focused on Composition over Configuration.
The platform was first introduced in the GoTools app suite (pre-alpha Wave 4).
It is also of one GoSuraj's instruments, following Temutone, Vinidoz Synth, Chimers/Fluidbox, Achos E-harp, TEEQ Sequencer, and GoMester. Together, these form GoSuraj's Instrument suite.
Videos
All Videos
Livecoding full song from scratch (all parts + export)
This is video shows all livecoding parts and export for the "Soaring With Stratus" song.
It shows the Stratus Composer platform and livecoding the full song from start to finish (this video also increases the zoom so code is easier to see).
Soaring With Stratus (original song)
"Soaring with Stratus v1" is an original song by GoSuraj, in the genres of techno, trance, and synthwave. It was created with an early build of the Stratus Composer livecoding platform.
The song features an upbeat mood with melodies inspired by techno, trance, and synthwave. This includes bright synth leads and sharp chords that contrast with a DnB beat and hollow sounding synths.
Export to Virtual Band
In this video, we're trying out the new MIDI song export feature in the Stratus Composer livecoding platform. We export the file and play it using the separate midi2jam2 program.
There's some instrument bugs in the demo as this is an experimental feature and Stratus needs some more upgrades for its compiler and synth.
Generating Melodies (Stratus Console)
In this video, we test out Stratus' new livecoding console. It comes in handy when creating catchy melodies on the fly.
Synth Bass
This video shows how to livecode a synth bass, using early build of the Stratus Composer livecoding platform.
Livecoding Melodies
This video shows how easy livecoding drums from scratch is, with an early build of the Stratus Composer livecoding platform.
Drums
This video shows how easy livecoding drums from scratch is, with an early build of the Stratus Composer livecoding platform.
Sneak Peak
In this video, we test out Stratus' new livecoding console. It comes in handy when creating catchy melodies on the fly.
What is Stratus?
Status is a music composition platform created by GoSuraj. It consists of several components including the Stratus app, language (StratusScript), compiler (StratusC), and a simplified Vinidoz synth (StratusSynth) that uses MIDI integration from GoMester.
For additional functionality, the platform incorporates additional tools such as a song sequencer (via TEEQ), command console (StratusCmd), a guide, docs, and problems panel.
Although Stratus includes basic effects and playback, these features are to aid the creative process. Therefore, Stratus it is not a performative platform. Instead, Stratus is designed specifically for composing a MIDI song file that can be played by other MIDI compatible software.
Why use Stratus?
Stratus includes StratusScript, which is a declarative music programming language that is designed to be simple, spartan, canonically preset-based, and opinionated.
The eponymous StratusScript aims to streamline music composition to allow musicians to focus on rapidly creating structured compositions with minimal friction or sound design.
Stratus divides compositions into Fluid components and Rigid components:
- Fluids: These are uniquely defined by the user, to allow for creative freedom (e.g.,
key,leads, etc.) - Rigids: These are selected by the user (and created on-the-fly by the Stratus engine), to accompany Fluids (e.g.,
instrument,pattern, etc.)
Stratus includes many canonically preset Rigids including scales, instruments, and patterns.
Stratus Notation
The leads Fluid voice consists of a list of variations sequence patterns that use Stratus Notation. This is a notation provided by StratusScript, and includes note and progression dialects.
It is an evolution of Temutone's TemScript, that also draws inspiration from other notations including It is also inspired by Achos, TEEQ, TidalCycles/Strudel, Sonic Pi, and Foxdot.
StratusNotation is designed to balance visual notation of Achos and TEEQ with the expressive notation of Temutone and TidalCycles, whilst remaining compatible with standard MIDI.
This means melodies can be easily written in 32 characters, using only intervals, spaces, and rests. It also supports basic inline effects like pitch bends, velocity shifts, and additive vibrato.
How to use Stratus?
This is the Stratus composition workflow
- Enter code into the Stratus composer
- Click the play button
- The code is compiled by the Stratus engine
- The music is played by the Stratus synth
- The music can optionally be exported to MIDI