TeAr - The Text Arpeggiator

A Polyphonic and Polyrhythmic MIDI Arpeggiator

TeAr is an advanced polyrhythmic and polyphonic MIDI arpeggiator plugin. It features a variable number of independent arpeggiator engines (add or remove them at any time), each with its own pattern, subdivision, and MIDI output channel. This allows for the creation of complex, evolving musical phrases and textures.

At its core, TeAr is scale-aware. You can select a root note and one of many scale types, and the arpeggiators will intelligently conform to that musical context. A "Follow MIDI In" mode allows the scale's root to be changed dynamically by the notes you play.

Video demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__oc9Wncv1Y

Video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWOuQep7nIs

Key Features

• Variable Number of Arpeggiator Engines: Add or remove engines on the fly with the + / - buttons. Create complex polyrhythms and layered melodic lines.
• Per-Arp Controls: Each engine has its own On/Off switch, pattern editor, subdivision, and MIDI output channel.
• Powerful Pattern Language: A rich text-based language for defining arpeggio sequences with modifiers for velocity, octave, and pitch.
• Comprehensive Scale Library: A wide selection of musical scales and modes to define the harmonic landscape.
• Visual Feedback: A real-time scale display highlights the active scale, its root, and the notes currently being played by each arpeggiator, color-coded for clarity.

Pattern Generator

Clicking the ? button next to an arpeggiator's On/Off switch opens the Pattern Generator popup. This tool allows you to quickly create new rhythmic patterns.

• Randomize: Generates a random pattern string using a mix of notes, rests, and modifiers.
• Euclidean Rhythm: Generates a Euclidean rhythm pattern based on the following parameters:
  • Hits: The number of active notes (pulses) in the sequence.
  • Steps: The total length of the sequence.
  • Rot: Rotates the pattern by a specified number of steps.

Pattern Language Documentation

The pattern string consists of characters that define the arpeggio's behavior at each step.

Note Commands

Command	Description
1 to 9	Plays a specific degree of the chord/scale (1=fundamental, 2=second, ..., 7=seventh).
_	Sustains the previously played note.
.	A rest; no note is played.
+	Plays the next degree in the chord (e.g., from 1 to 2).
-	Plays the previous degree in the chord (e.g., from 2 to 1).
?	Plays a random, valid note from the current chord.
=	Repeats the last played degree.

Pitch Modifiers

These are prefixed to a note command to alter its pitch for that step only.

Command	Description	Example
#	Pitches the next note up by one semitone.	#0
b	Pitches the next note down by one semitone.	b0

Velocity Modifiers

Velocity is specified with a level from 1-8, which maps to a MIDI velocity from 16-127.

Command	Description	Example
vN	Local: Sets velocity for the next note only.	v80 (plays root at max velocity)
v+	Local: Increases velocity for the next note only.	v+0 (plays root at the next velocity level)
v-	Local: Decreases velocity for the next note only.	v-0 (plays root at a lower velocity level)
VN	Global: Sets velocity for all subsequent notes until the next V command.	V40 (sets global velocity to 64)
V+	Global: Increases velocity for all subsequent notes until the next V command.	V+0 (increases global velocity to the next level)
V-	Global: Decreases velocity for all subsequent notes until the next V command.	V-0 (decreases global velocity to the previous level)

Octave Modifiers

Command	Description	Example
oN	Local: Sets octave for the next note only (N is 0-7).	o30 (plays root in octave 3)
o+	Local: Increases octave by one for the next note only.	o+0
o-	Local: Decreases octave by one for the next note only.	o-0
ON	Global: Sets octave for all subsequent notes (N is 0-7).	O5
O+	Global: Increases the global octave by one.	O+
O-	Global: Decreases the global octave by one.	O-

Probability Modifier

pN prefixes a step or a group of steps and plays them only N×10% of the time (N is a digit from 1–9). On a failed roll the step becomes a rest unless a fallback is specified after a :.

Single-step form

pN X
pN X:Y

X is any note command (digit, ?, +, -, =, ., _). On success X plays; on failure the step becomes a rest. With the optional :Y fallback, Y plays on failure instead.

Example	Behaviour
p5 1	Plays degree 1 with 50% probability; otherwise rest.
p3 1:2	Plays degree 1 with 30% probability; plays degree 2 on failure.
p7 1:.	Plays degree 1 with 70% probability; silent rest on failure.
p5 1:_	Plays degree 1 with 50% probability; sustains previous note on failure.
p5 1:?	Plays degree 1 with 50% probability; plays a random chord note on failure.

Group form

pN (success steps):(fallback steps)

pN gates an entire parenthesised group. On success, the steps inside (…) play; on failure the steps inside the fallback (…) play. Either branch can contain any note commands or modifiers. A space between pN and ( is allowed.

Example	Behaviour
p5 (1 2 3):(4 5)	Plays degrees 1–3 on success (50%); degrees 4–5 on failure.
p5 (12):(34)	Plays degrees 1,2 on success; degrees 3,4 on failure.
p8 (O+ 1 2 3)	Plays degrees 1–3 one octave up with 80% probability; rest on failure.

The fallback :(…) is optional; omitting it makes the entire group silent on failure.

Block Commands

Block commands wrap a group of steps to change their evaluation context.

Local Modifier Scope ( … )

Any global modifier (O+, O-, V+, V-, etc.) used inside parentheses applies only within the block. When the closing ) is reached the global octave and velocity are restored to the values they had at the opening (.

1 2 (O+ 1 2 3) 1 2

In this example O+ raises the octave for steps 3–5 only; steps 1, 2, 6, 7 play at the original octave.

Parentheses can be nested.

Root-Relative Notes " … " (Scale mode only = Single note)

In Scale chord-method mode (single-note mode in the GUI), notes are normally played relative to the degree of the pressed MIDI note within the selected scale. Steps placed between double-quotes are instead played relative to the Scale Root parameter - that is, as if the root note of the scale were pressed regardless of what key is actually held.

1 2 "1 2 3" 4

Here steps 3–5 are always anchored to the scale root while steps 1, 2, 4 follow the pressed note's degree as usual.

Note: In versions up to 0.2, " was used to "repeat last degree" command. The dedicated command for that is now =.

---

Implemented Scale Modes

Scale/Mode Name	Intervals (from root)
Major Scale Modes
Major (Ionian)	0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11
Dorian	0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10
Phrygian	0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10
Lydian	0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11
Mixolydian	0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10
Aeolian	0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10
Locrian	0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10
Melodic Minor Modes
Melodic Minor	0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
Dorian b9	0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10
Lydian #5	0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11
Lydian b7 (Bartok)	0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10
Mixolydian b13	0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
Locrian Natural 9	0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10
Altered	0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10
Harmonic Minor Modes
Harmonic Minor	0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11
Locrian Natural 6	0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10
Ionian #5	0, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11
Dorian #4	0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10
Phrygian Dominant	0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
Lydian #2	0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11
Altered bb7 (Ultralocrian)	0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9
Other 7-note scales
Harmonic Major	0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11
Double Harmonic Major	0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11
Hungarian Minor	0, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11
Neapolitan Major	0, 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11
Neapolitan Minor	0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11
Non-diatonic scales
Major Pentatonic	0, 2, 4, 7, 9
Minor Pentatonic	0, 3, 5, 7, 10
Blues	0, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10
Whole Tone	0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Octatonic (Half-Whole)	0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10
Octatonic (Whole-Half)	0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11

---

Installation

Pre-built binaries are available on the Releases page.

macOS

1. Download TeAr-macOS.pkg and run the installer.
2. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Allow Anyway for the TeAr component (required because the plugin is not notarized).
3. Restart your DAW. Logic Pro users may need to trigger a rescan in Plug-in Manager.

Windows

1. Download TeAr-Windows-Setup.exe and run it as administrator.
2. Rescan VST3 plugins in your DAW (in Reaper: Options → Preferences → Plug-ins → VST → Re-scan).

Linux

1. Download TeAr-VST3-Linux-x86_64.zip (Intel/AMD) or TeAr-VST3-Linux-arm64.zip (ARM).
2. Unzip and copy the TeAr.vst3 directory to ~/.vst3/.
3. Rescan VST3 plugins in your DAW (in Reaper: Options → Preferences → Plug-ins → VST → Re-scan).

---

Building from Source

This project uses CMake. JUCE and the FxmeJuceTools module are expected as sibling directories.

1. Clone the Repository

   git clone --recursive https://github.com/odoare/TeAr.git
   cd TeAr

2. Set up dependencies (one-time, in the parent directory)

   # JUCE
   git clone --branch 8.0.12 https://github.com/juce-framework/JUCE.git ../JUCE
   
   # FxmeJuceTools custom module
   git clone https://github.com/odoare/FxmeJuceTools.git ../FxmeJuceTools_repo
   mkdir -p ../JUCE/usermodules
   ln -s $(pwd)/../FxmeJuceTools_repo/module/FxmeJuceTools ../JUCE/usermodules/FxmeJuceTools

3. Configure and build

   cmake -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
   cmake --build build --config Release --parallel

   The built plugin will be in build/TeAr_artefacts/Release/.

---

Contact

olivier.doare@ensta.fr