Purpose

Orbit generates polyphonic note patterns by stepping through number sequences instead of a written melody. Each voice follows a modular, multiplicative, sieve, or bitwalk path across scale degrees, producing interlocking lines that evolve in a structured but non-obvious way. It is a generative pitch engine for algorithmic and Xenakis-style composition.

TouchDesigner Use

Wire a timeline clock into Input 0 and a scale into Input 1, choose a Mode, and set the orbit numbers. Voicecount sets how many lines run at once, and the out voices drive a polyphonic instrument. Adjust Modulus, Multiplier, and Orbitstep to reshape the pattern while it plays.

Inputs And Outputs

• Input 0: timeline timeline clock. Required.
• Input 1: scale scale context. Optional, keeps the orbit in key.
• Output 0: out emits the generated note voices.

Main Controls

• Mode: orbit type. modular, multiply, sieve, or bitwalk.
• Rootnote: base pitch for the orbit.
• Voicecount: number of simultaneous voices, up to eight.
• Orbitstep: degree step size for the walk.
• Voiceoffset: degree spacing between voices.
• Multiplier and Modulus: the core numbers that shape multiplicative and modular orbits.
• Density and Gate: how many steps fire and note length.
• Velocity: output level.
• Octavefold: number of octaves the pattern folds across.
• Seed: repeatable random elements.

Notes

• Small changes to Modulus or Multiplier can reshape the whole pattern, so explore them in small steps.
• Use Octavefold to keep a wide orbit inside a playable register.
• Pair with a scale so every generated note stays musical.

Parameters

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

Catalog metadata

Roles

• transform
• mixer
• source
• generator
• composer

Tags

• modular
• sieve
• orbit
• polyphony
• scale-degree

Search groups

• timeline
• control
• scale
• midi
• music
• composer