Sakura MML Composition

Overview

テキスト音楽サクラ (Text Music Sakura) is a Music Macro Language (MML) that converts text into Standard MIDI Files. It supports both Japanese ストトン表記 (Sutoton / Do-Re-Mi notation) and Western MML notation (cdefgab). This skill covers the MML notation system.

Reference Guide (When to Open Which File)

• •Composition structure, track routing, timing control → references/tracks-channels-time.md
• •Control changes, pitch bend, RPN/NRPN, SysEx → references/control-changes.md
• •Automatic parameter patterns (.onNote, .onTime, waves, random/range) → references/advanced-expression.md
• •Drum programming and Rhythm{} macros → references/rhythm-mode.md
• •Variables, functions, loops, conditions, macros → references/scripting.md
• •Tempo/timebase/key/system behavior and metadata → references/system-options.md
• •GM program numbers and predefined voice constants → references/gm-instruments.md

Quick Reference — Core Commands

Note Length Specification

Two modes for specifying length:

1. •N-th note mode (default): l4 = quarter, l8 = eighth, l2 = half, l1 = whole
2. •Step mode: Use % prefix. With TimeBase(96), quarter = 96 steps.
   • •l%96 = quarter note in steps
   • •!n converts n-th note to steps inline: c!2 = half note in step value

Dotted notes: append . — l4. = dotted quarter.

Length addition: ^ adds default length. c8^^ = c8 + c8 + c8 = dotted quarter.

Pitch tie/slur: & connects notes and can be customized by Slur(type[, value, range]).

Length can follow note directly: c4 d8 e16 (applies only to that note).

Inline Note Parameters

Full note syntax with inline overrides:

note[length][,gate][,velocity][,timing][,octave]
c4,100,127,2     // quarter note, q100, v127, t2

Customizable order via ArgOrder(lqvto).

Chords

Three methods:

'ceg'4           // chord notation
c0e0g4           // zero-length notes (l0 = no time advance)
Sub{ c } Sub{ e } g4   // Sub rewinds time pointer

Tuplets (連符)

Div{cde}4        // triplet in quarter note duration
{cde}4           // shorthand (Div can be omitted)

Nestable: {cde{fg}}4

Loops

[4 cdef]                  // repeat 4 times
[4 cdef : g]              // last iteration exits at ":" → plays "g" instead of remaining

Tracks, Channels & Time

See references/tracks-channels-time.md for details.

Track(1) Channel(1) Voice(1)    // Piano on ch1
Track(2) Channel(2) Voice(33)   // Bass on ch2
Track(10) Channel(10)           // Drums on ch10

Key points:

• •MIDI has 16 channels; Channel 10 = drums (GM/GS)
• •Sakura track upper bounds are implementation-dependent (e.g., some runtimes support Track(0) to Track(999))
• •TrackSync synchronizes all track time pointers
• •Time(measure:beat:step) sets absolute time position
• •Sub{ mml } writes MML then rewinds time pointer

Voice / Program Change

Voice(n)               // n = 1–128 (GM instrument)
Voice(n, msb, lsb)     // with bank select
@n                     // shorthand

GM instrument names are predefined: GrandPiano, Violin, Trumpet, AcousticBass, etc. For the full GM map and constant list, see references/gm-instruments.md.

Control Changes & Effects

See references/control-changes.md for full list.

Raw CC: y(cc_number),(value)

Pitch bend: PitchBend(n) range -8192–8191, or p(n) simplified 0–63–127.

Advanced Expression (先行指定)

See references/advanced-expression.md for all patterns.

Key patterns — prefix any command (v, q, t, P, M, EP, PitchBend, etc.):

Cancel by assigning a normal value (e.g., v100).

Rhythm Mode

See references/rhythm-mode.md for details.

Track(10) Channel(10)
$b{n36,}   // b = bass drum
$s{n38,}   // s = snare
$h{n42,}   // h = closed hi-hat
Rhythm{
    [4 l8 bhhh shhh bhhh shsh]
}

Variables, Functions & Control Structures

See references/scripting.md for details.

Int A = 0;                         // integer variable
Str S = {cdef};                    // string variable (plays as MML)
Array Arr = (1, 2, 3);            // array variable
Function MyFunc(Int X=0) { ... }  // function definition
#macro = { cdef };                 // string macro

Control: If/Else, For, While, Switch/Case, Exit.

Important: Use leading uppercase names for variables/functions to avoid collisions with single-letter lowercase MML commands.

System Options

See references/system-options.md for details.

Meta Events

TrackName={"Title"}        // track/song name
Copyright={"Author"}       // copyright
MetaText={"text"}          // arbitrary text
Lyric={"text"}             // lyrics
Marker={"text"}            // marker

Sound Source Reset

Include(stdmsg.h);         // required for reset commands
ResetGM();                 // GM reset
ResetGS();                 // GS reset
ResetXG();                 // XG reset

Complete Example

// === Tempo & Setup ===
Tempo(120)
TimeSignature(4,4)

// === Track 1: Melody (Piano) ===
Track(1) Channel(1) Voice(1)
P(64) v110 q80 o5
l8 cde^ cde^ gedc ded^

// === Track 2: Bass ===
Track(2) Channel(2) Voice(33)
P(64) v90 q90 o3
l4 [2 c c g g]

// === Track 3: Drums ===
Track(3) Channel(10)
$b{n36,} $s{n38,} $h{n42,}
Rhythm{
    [2 l8 bhhh shhh bhhh shsh]
}

Key Caveats

1. •Use leading uppercase names for variables/functions (recommended to avoid command-name collisions)
2. •Strings use { } delimiters, not " "
3. •Hex numbers use $ prefix: $1FFF
4. •Rhythm mode does NOT auto-set Channel 10 — set it explicitly
5. •Comments: // (line) and /* */ (block, nestable)
6. •.onNote/.onTime patterns repeat until cancelled by setting a normal value
7. •To move time without emitting a rest event, use time arithmetic such as Time = Time + !n
8. •Most commands are case-insensitive (Track = TRACK)
9. •String macros start with # and need no declaration