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  1. Compose
  2. Operators

Motif

Purpose

Section titled “Purpose”

Motif writes a melodic line. It generates a short theme by contour, then varies it phrase after phrase with transposition, inversion, retrograde, sequencing, and thinning, while aiming at chord tones on strong beats. The result is a singable lead that grows over time instead of repeating, making it the top line of a generative band.

TouchDesigner Use

Section titled “TouchDesigner Use”

Wire a timeline clock into Input 0 and a scale into Input 1, then optionally add a chord so the melody lands on chord tones. Choose a Contour and a Develop mode, set the Rate, and route the voices output to a lead instrument such as Synth. The melodic contour also works as a control source for gesture-driven visuals.

Inputs And Outputs

Section titled “Inputs And Outputs”
  • Input 0: timeline timeline clock. Required.
  • Input 1: scale scale context. Optional but recommended for staying in key.
  • Input 2: chord_state current chord. Optional, used to target chord tones.
  • Output 0: voices emits the melodic line as note voices.

Main Controls

Section titled “Main Controls”
  • Contour: shape of the seed phrase. arch, rise, fall, or wander.
  • Celllen: length of the motif cell in notes.
  • Develop: how the motif evolves. none, transpose, invert, retrograde, sequence, thin, or auto.
  • Rate: note speed from whole to sixteenth.
  • Rootnote and Octave: starting pitch and register.
  • Density: how many notes of the cell actually play.
  • Chordlock: how strongly notes pull toward chord tones on strong beats.
  • Variation: how much the motif changes between phrases.
  • Gatelen, Velocity, Accent: note length, level, and emphasis.
  • Seed: makes the whole generated line reproducible.

Notes

Section titled “Notes”
  • auto lets Motif choose its own development moves for hands-off variation.
  • Raise Chordlock when you want the melody to clearly outline the harmony.
  • A fixed Seed regenerates the exact same line, which is useful for repeatable sets.

Parameters

Section titled “Parameters”

This operator does not expose user parameters in the extracted schema.

Catalog metadata

Roles

  • transform
  • mixer
  • generator
  • composer

Tags

  • motif
  • melody
  • lead
  • theme
  • development
  • generative
  • jam

Search groups

  • timeline
  • control
  • scale
  • harmony
  • midi
  • compose
  • melody