TidalCycles `off` overlays a time-offset, transformed copy of a pattern to build canons

off t f p takes a time offset t and a function f, applies f to pattern p, offsets the result by t, and overlays it on the original - producing a canon: the same material returning after a lag with a transformation (often a pitch shift). The offset can be fractional (off (1/8) shifts by an eighth of a cycle) or written with shorthand like e for an eighth or q for a quarter. Stacking multiple off calls with different intervals and shifts builds multi-voice canons or arpeggios from one source line. McLean says this is something he does a lot; it is one of Tidal’s most productive structural devices.

Examples

d1 $ off (1/8) (|+ n 7) $ n "[0 2 4 7]" # s "superpiano"
-- original plus a copy up a fifth, an eighth of a cycle later

Assessment

Describe the difference between off (1/4) (|+ n 12) p and off (1/4) rev p; explain what nesting two off calls produces.