What is Strudel?
Strudel is a place to make music by writing code, right in your browser. You type a short line like a drum pattern, press play, and change the code while it loops to hear the music change. You do not need to install anything, and you do not need to know JavaScript to begin.
It is a JavaScript version of Tidal Cycles, a well known pattern language for live coding music, started by Alex McLean and Felix Roos in 2022 and now run as a free, open source project. It comes with drum sounds from classic drum machines, synths, samples and audio effects, and an interactive workshop teaches the basics step by step. It can also send MIDI and OSC to other music gear, work offline once loaded, and pair with the Hydra visuals tool.
Main Features
- Make music by typing and editing code in the browser
- An interactive workshop for complete beginners
- Built-in drum sounds, including classic drum machine banks
- Synths, samples and audio effects
- Shuffle through example songs to learn from
- MIDI and OSC output to use with other music gear
- Works offline and can be installed as an app
- Free and open source
How to Get Started with Strudel
- Open strudel.cc in your browser.
- Press the shuffle icon to load an example, or clear the editor.
- Type a pattern such as sound("bd hh sd oh").
- Press Ctrl and Enter to play, and edit the code to change the music.
- Follow the workshop in the docs to learn more patterns.
Strudel Pricing
Strudel is completely free. It is a free, open source project and there is no paid plan.
Who Should Use It?
- Beginners curious about making music with code
- Live coders and electronic musicians
- Teachers who want to teach music and code together
- Coders who want a creative side project
- Anyone who likes to experiment with sound
Strudel Alternatives
- BeepBox is a free browser tool for making chiptune songs on a grid.
- Online Sequencer is a free piano roll music maker with lots of instruments.
- Learning Synths teaches how synthesizers make sound with hands-on lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strudel free?
Yes. Strudel is free and open source, with no paid plan.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. The workshop starts from zero, and you do not need to know JavaScript or Tidal Cycles to make music with it.
What is Tidal Cycles?
Tidal Cycles is a pattern language for live coding music. Strudel is an official port of it to JavaScript, so it runs in a browser without installing anything.
Can I use Strudel offline?
Yes. After your first visit the app is stored by your browser, so it works offline, and you can also install it as a standalone app.
Can Strudel control my synths?
Yes. It can send MIDI and OSC, so you can use it as a flexible sequencer for other music software and gear.