| Feature | MIDI | Bytebeat | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Discrete events (Note On, Note Off) | Continuous function (Time variable t ) | | Timing | Dependent on tempo (BPM) | Dependent on sample rate (Hz) | | Pitch | Chromatic note numbers (0-127) | Frequency determined by sine/triangle waves | | State | Polyphonic (multiple notes active) | Monophonic typically (one sample per tick) |
A classic example of Bytebeat code is: (t>>11 | t>>10 | t>>9) * t%13 + 4 midi to bytebeat work
Where t is a constantly incrementing time variable (representing the sample index), and the output is an 8-bit unsigned integer (0–255) sent directly to a speaker. | Feature | MIDI | Bytebeat | |
MIDI says: "At 1000ms, turn note 60 (Middle C) ON with velocity 100. At 1500ms, turn it OFF." (t*6%256) : " "(t%88200<22050
char *twinkle = "((t>>1)%6)+((t>>2)%8)" // Complex, but for demo: "(t%44100<22050? (t*6%256) : " "(t%88200<22050? (t*6%256) : " "(t%132300<22050? (t*9%256) : (t*8%256))))"; A chiptune, glitched-out version of "Twinkle Twinkle" that sounds like an Atari 2600 being struck by lightning. Part 7: Why Bother? The Artistic Payoff You may ask: Why do MIDI to Bytebeat work when I can just use a synthesizer?
To get effectively, you need a translation layer —a bridge that reads MIDI events and generates Bytebeat code on the fly, or renders MIDI files into Bytebeat audio files. Part 3: The Methodologies – Three Ways to Achieve MIDI to Bytebeat Work There is no single "convert" button. The community has developed three primary methodologies for this conversion. Method 1: The Compiler Approach (MIDI → Bytebeat Code) This is the most academic method. A script reads a Standard MIDI File (SMF) and compiles it into a single Bytebeat formula.
sample = f(t)