Question 1

How do I sync beet.js rhythms with CSS animations in my web app?

Accepted Answer

Use the timeFromScheduled parameter in layer callbacks to set timeouts for JavaScript events, which can trigger CSS animations. This ensures audio-visual synchronization, as shown in the callback example with setTimeout.

Question 2

beet.js vs Tone.js for building a browser-based sequencer?

Accepted Answer

beet.js specializes in polyrhythmic and Euclidean sequencing with a lightweight API, while Tone.js is a full-featured audio framework with synths, effects, and broader sequencing tools. Choose beet.js for focused rhythm generation or Tone.js for all-in-one audio applications.

Question 3

How to load and trigger audio samples with beet.js patterns?

Accepted Answer

Use beet.utils.load() to fetch and decode audio files into AudioBuffers, then play them in layer callbacks using Web Audio nodes. The success function provides the buffer for precise timing, as documented in the utils section.

Question 4

Does beet.js handle real-time MIDI input or output?

Accepted Answer

No, it only includes MIDI conversion utilities (mtof, ntof) for note frequencies. For MIDI I/O, you need to integrate the Web MIDI API separately, as beet.js focuses on sequencing rather than hardware interaction.

Question 5

Can I use beet.js in a React or Vue component without issues?

Accepted Answer

Yes, install via npm and import it, but manage the AudioContext lifecycle carefully to avoid conflicts with framework re-renders. The library is framework-agnostic, but you may need to handle context creation and cleanup manually.

Question 6

What's the best way to create a custom binary rhythm pattern?

Accepted Answer

Pass a string like '1000101010' to beet.pattern() for full control over active and inactive steps. This allows arbitrary rhythms beyond Euclidean generation, as explained in the custom pattern support section.

Beet.js

What is Beet.js?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions