Instrument token

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v50.15 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Instruments are procedurally generated for each world, but if so desired, it is still possible to define custom instruments in the raws by using an [ITEM_INSTRUMENT] token. Most tool tokens can be used, but there are also a few instrument-specific tokens, as listed in the table below.

The information on this page is sourced from the file raw/objects/examples and notes/item_instrument_example.txt, which also includes useful example instrument definitions.

Tokens

Token	Arguments	Description
PLACED_AS_BUILDING		Makes the instrument stationary.
DOMINANT_MATERIAL_PIECE	instrument piece	Sets a piece as the central part of the instrument.
INSTRUMENT_PIECE	token tool token singular plural STANDARD/ALWAYS_PLURAL/ALWAYS_SINGULAR	Defines an instrument piece. token is the identifier that can be used in other raw tags to refer to this instrument piece. tool token is the tool which is required (and consumed) during the construction process to create this instrument piece. If an instrument does not have any pieces, SELF can be used for any argument which needs to be an instrument piece.
VOLUME_mB	min max	The instrument's volume range, in millibels (100 mB = 1 dB).
SOUND_PRODUCTION	various tokens	Defines how a musician can produce sound when using this instrument. Can be used multiple times. Valid tokens and their required additional arguments are: PLUCKED_BY_BP, PLUCKED (requires two tokens, actor then target) BOWED (two tokens) STRUCK_BY_BP, STRUCK (two tokens) VIBRATE_BP_AGAINST_OPENING BLOW_AGAINST_FIPPLE, BLOW_OVER_OPENING_SIDE, BLOW_OVER_OPENING_END, BLOW_OVER_SINGLE_REED, BLOW_OVER_DOUBLE_REED, BLOW_OVER_FREE_REED STRUCK_TOGETHER, SHAKEN SCRAPED (two tokens), FRICTION (two tokens) RESONATOR BAG_OVER_REED (two tokens), AIR_OVER_REED (two tokens), AIR_OVER_FREE_REED (two tokens), AIR_AGAINST_FIPPLE (two tokens)
PITCH_CHOICE	method	Defines how the pitch can be varied by the musician. Can be used multiple times. Valid methods are: MEMBRANE_POSITION SUBPART_CHOICE KEYBOARD STOPPING_FRET (requires two tokens, first for "string" second for "neck" -- or whatever is being pressed against what), STOPPING_AGAINST_BODY (two tokens), STOPPING_HOLE, STOPPING_HOLE_KEY SLIDE HARMONIC_SERIES VALVE_ROUTES_AIR BP_IN_BELL FOOT_PEDALS (two token, first is what is being changed e.g. "strings", second is "body" which has pedalboard -- or whatever piece is being stepped on)
TUNING	method instrument piece	Can be used multiple times. Valid methods are: PEGS, ADJUSTABLE_BRIDGES, CROOKS, TIGHTENING, LEVERS.
PITCH_RANGE	min pitch max pitch	From the example file: Pitch is <min>:<max> in cents with middle C at zero. There are 1200 cents in an octave. The game verbally differentiates values from -4200 to 4200, but you can go outside that if you like. The in-game generated instruments will range from roughly C0 to C8 (-4800 to 4800), sometimes beyond for really unusual ones. You can also use INDEFINITE_PITCH.
INDEFINITE_PITCH		May replace [PITCH_RANGE].
TIMBRE	any number of timbre words	Valid timbre words are: CLEAR, NOISY, FULL, THIN, ROUND, SHARP, SMOOTH, CHOPPY, STEADY, EVOLVING, STRONG, DELICATE, BRIGHT, GRACEFUL, SPARSE, BREATHY, STRAINED, BROAD, LIGHT, MELLOW, WOBBLING, FOCUSED, EVEN, FLUID, VIBRATING, QUAVERING, EERIE, FRAGILE, BRITTLE, PURE, PIERCING, STRIDENT, WAVERING, HARSH, REEDY, NASAL, BUZZY, ROUGH, WARM, RUGGED, HEAVY, FLAT, DARK, CRISP, SONOROUS, WATERY, GENTLE, SLICING, LIQUID, RAUCOUS, BREEZY, RASPY, WISPY, SHRILL, MUDDY, RICH, DULL, FLOATING, RINGING, RESONANT, SWEET, RIPPLING, SPARKLING.
REGISTER	min pitch max pitch any number of timbre words	See PITCH_RANGE and TIMBRE for possible values. The pitch range overrides the global pitch for a register, but the register timbres are added to the global ones.
MUSIC_SKILL	skill token	Which skill should be trained by playing the instrument. Any skill token is valid, but the in-game generated instruments only use PLAY_KEYBOARD_INSTRUMENT, PLAY_STRINGED_INSTRUMENT, PLAY_WIND_INSTRUMENT, or PLAY_PERCUSSION_INSTRUMENT. Levels in this skill do not seem to have any effect on the quality of music produced. Can only be used once.
DESCRIPTION	description	A general description of the completed instrument. Multiple [DESCRIPTION] tokens can be used in the same definition, with each appearing on a new line.