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Recipe Guide · Markdown files · Editable MIDI packs

One file for the idea.

A recipe is a readable Markdown file that tells jamburgr what to cook: style, key, progression, layers, arrangement, and output. Start from one of 672 local recipes, edit the values, then bring the MIDI into your DAW.

Start here

Recipes are production briefs

They are not finished songs. They are compact, editable instructions for generating MIDI that already has a musical point of view.

Starter

A focused first cook for a style. Use it when you want the musical lane without choosing every setting.

Variation

A different angle on the same style: rhythm, voicing, density, or layer behavior changes without leaving the lane.

Sectioned

A sketch with arrangement intent, useful when you want intro, drop, breakdown, return, or outro material.

Live-ready

A DAW handoff recipe with clearer track roles, section clips, sound cards, and pack notes.

Write a starter recipe when you want your own editable file.

terminal 
python jamburgr.py --write-example-config my_song.md

Cook an authored recipe into a MIDI pack.

terminal 
python jamburgr.py --config configs/recipes/acid_house/acid_house_303_companion_stabs.md --out ./jams/acid-house-303

Use flags when you want a quick recipe-like run without editing Markdown yet.

terminal 
python jamburgr.py --style progressive_house --progression classic --output-mode pack --out ./jams/progressive-house

Workflow

From style to MIDI pack

Use recipes when you want more intention than a bare command and less friction than a full project template.

  1. 1

    Pick a style

    Start from Styles when you want tempo, feel, rhythm, references, and recipe choices to agree.

    Browse Styles

  2. 2

    Choose a recipe

    Use starter recipes for fast direction, sectioned recipes for arrangement, and Live-ready recipes for DAW handoff.

  3. 3

    Edit the file

    Change readable key/value lines such as key, progression, chord, pattern, layers, arrangement, and output mode.

  4. 4

    Cook the pack

    Run the recipe with --config. The output stays MIDI-only so you can use your own sounds and arrangement choices.

Anatomy

What is inside a recipe

jamburgr reads simple key: value lines. Everything else can be producer notes, reminders, references, or a lab notebook for the song.

recipe_role
Labels the recipe shape: hero, alternate, arrangement, bridge_ready, or another public role.
summary
The producer-facing job of the recipe in one sentence.
mood_tags
Short tags that help you choose a lane by feel before reading the whole file.
key, scale, style
The musical home base: tonal center, scale, and style defaults.
chord, progression, voicing, pattern
The harmonic and rhythmic spine that shapes the MIDI before sound design.
generate_bass, generate_pad, generate_lead, generate_drums
Layer switches for building a full editable pack.
arrangement, full_song, export_layout
Section and file-layout controls when a loop needs a DAW-ready sketch.
sound_design_cards, sample_search_cards
Optional notes that help you pick sounds and licensed sample searches without generating audio.

Examples

Three useful recipe shapes

Copy a baseline for your own sketch, use a style starter for fast direction, or choose a Live-ready recipe when you want section MIDI and handoff notes.

Baseline pack

A compact personal starter: pick a key, style, progression, and pack output.

# jamburgr recipe - baseline pack

## Config
key: F# minor
style: melodic_techno
progression: dark_drive
chord: minor_add9
output_mode: pack
out: ./jams/my_song
generate_bass: true
generate_pad: true
generate_lead: true
generate_drums: true

303 Companion Stabs

An acid-house first cook with clipped stabs, acid bass, root drones, and sparse motif detail.

# Acid house / 303 companion chords - 303 Companion Stabs

recipe_role: hero
recipe_slug: 303_companion_stabs
display_title: 303 Companion Stabs
summary: An acid-house first cook with offbeat minor stabs, acid bass, root drones, and sparse motif detail.
mood_tags: acidic, clipped, raw
tempo_band: 122-126

## Config
key: A minor
scale: natural_minor
style: acid_house
chord: minor7
progression: default
output_mode: pack
filename_prefix: acid_house_303_companion_stabs
bpm: 124
pattern: offbeat_stabs
generate_bass: true
bass_style: acid_303
generate_pad: true
pad_style: root_drone
generate_lead: true
lead_style: simple_motif
generate_drums: true
drum_style: house_shuffle
sound_design_cards: true

Live Long Build

A progressive-house DAW handoff recipe with full arrangement MIDI, section clips, sound cards, and sample-search prompts.

# Progressive house - Live Long Build

recipe_role: bridge_ready
recipe_slug: bridge_ready_long_build
display_title: Live Long Build
summary: A practical handoff pack for arranging builds and returns, with section MIDI files and arrangement-friendly lane behavior.
mood_tags: live, session, production-ready
tempo_band: 126-130

## Config
key: B minor
scale: natural_minor
style: progressive_house
chord: minor7
progression: classic
output_mode: pack
filename_prefix: progressive_house_bridge_ready_long_build
bpm: 128
pattern: sidechain_gaps
generate_bass: true
bass_style: offbeat_house
generate_pad: true
pad_style: high_shimmer
generate_lead: true
lead_style: chord_tone_lead
generate_drums: true
arrangement: true
full_song: true
arrangement_archetype: hook_first
export_layout: full_and_sections
include_section_clips: true
sound_design_cards: true
sample_search_cards: true

Reference

Keys you will reach for first

The full option reference lives in Docs . These groups cover the recipe fields that matter most in normal production work.

Musical core

key, scale, style, progression, chord, voicing, pattern, bpm

Use these first. They decide the sound world, harmonic path, tempo, register behavior, and groove shape.

Layer switches

generate_bass, generate_pad, generate_lead, generate_drums

Turn layers on when you want separate editable tracks in the pack.

Layer detail

bass_style, pad_style, lead_style, drum_style, lead_density, humanize

Shape motion and feel without leaving the selected style.

Arrangement

arrangement, full_song, song_length, arrangement_archetype, section_layers

Move from a loop to a sketch with sections and clearer track roles.

Export

output_mode, out, filename_prefix, export_layout, include_section_clips

Control how the files land in your folder and DAW.

Production notes

sound_design_cards, target_synth, sample_search_cards, sample_search_roles

Add practical handoff notes. They do not generate audio or download samples.

Next stops

Use Styles to choose the musical lane, Docs for the full option reference, and Live setup when the optional Ableton path is part of your workflow.