title:: 12_UnaryOp_synthesis
summary:: Mark Polishook tutorial
categories:: Tutorials>Mark_Polishook_tutorial
related:: Tutorials/Mark_Polishook_tutorial/00_Introductory_tutorial

section::Unary messages

Some synthesis processes can be initiated with a unary message (a message with no arguments).

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For example, compare

code::
{ SinOsc.ar(500, 0, 0.5) }.scope;
::

to

code::
{ SinOsc.ar(500, 0, 0.5).distort }.scope;
::

The .distort message modulates the SinOsc to create more partials.

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Q: Where does the .distort message come from?

A: It's defined in the AbstractFunction class. The UGen class is a subclass of the AbstractFunction class. The idea is that all classes inherit methods defined in their superclasses; all ugens thus inherit from AbstractFunction).

Compare

code::
{ SinOsc.ar(500, 0, 0.5) }.scope;
::

to

code::
// .cubed is a unary operation
{ SinOsc.ar(500, 0, 0.5).cubed }.scope;
::

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go to link::Tutorials/Mark_Polishook_tutorial/13_BinaryOp_synthesis::
