[Function]

(rhythm rhythm [tempo] [beat])

Returns the value of rhythm converted to seconds. Rhythm can be a proportion (number), a rhythmic symbol or a list of the same. The optional tempo is a metronome speed, and defaults to *tempo*. The optional Beat parameter specifies the metronome's pulse and defaults to *beat*.

A rhythmic symbol consists of a metric letter (Table 1) that may be optionally preceded by a division letter: t for triplet or q for quintuplet, and optionally followed by any number of dots. Rhythmic symbols can be combined into simple expressions involving addition, subtraction and multiplication.

Table 2 contains some examples of representative rhythmic tokens.

Examples:

(rhythm 'q)
⇒ 1.0
(rhythm 1/4 120.0)
⇒ .5
(rhythm 'w+q )
⇒ 5.0
(define *tempo* 120.0)

(rhythm '(q th e.. x) )
⇒ (0.5 0.6666666666666666 0.4375 0.03125)

See also:

• *beat* [Variable]
• *tempo* [Variable]