Time

Time

All methods which take time as an argument also take Time. Below are some examples of the various forms Time can take.

Numbers

A number will be evaluated as the time (in seconds).

• 1.2 = 1.2 seconds
• "3" = 3 seconds

Notation

Describes time in BPM and time signature relative values.

• "4n" = quarter note
• "8t" = eighth note triplet
• "2m" = two measures

Transport Time

Tempo and time signature relative time in the form BARS:QUARTERS:SIXTEENTHS.

• "32:0:0" = start of the 32nd measure.
• "4:3:2" = 4 bars + 3 quarter notes + 2 sixteenth notes.
• "1:2" = 1 bar + 2 quarter notes (sixteenth notes can be omitted)

Frequency

Seconds can also be described in Hz.

• "1hz" = 1 second
• "5hz" = 0.2 seconds

Now-Relative

Prefix any of the above with "+" and it will be interpreted as "the current time plus whatever expression follows"

• "+1m" = 1 measure from now
• "+0.5" = half a second from now

Expressions

Any of the above can also be combined into a mathematical expression which will be evaluated to compute the desired time.

• "3:0 + 2 - (1m / 7)" = 3 measures + 2 seconds - a 7th note
• "+1m + 0.002" = the current time + 1 measure and 2 milliseconds.

No Argument

Methods which accept time, no argument (undefined) will be interpreted as "now" (i.e. the audioContext.currentTime).

For example, Tone.MonoSynth's triggerAttack method will accept a time as the second argument, or if a time is ommitted, the it will default to "now".

synth.triggerAttack();//context.currentTime
synth.triggerRelease("+4n"); //a quarter-note from now