APPENDIX: Synthesis languages and softsynths

History

Reasons to do it the hard way

Modular synthesis. Digital implementation of unit generators.

 ‐machine vs. instrument construction: control routing thru grouping

Softsynths and similar concepts in commercial synthesizers

 ‐KORG OaSys, Nord modular and counterparts, Kyma

Synthesis languages. Sound manipulation embedded in conventional programming languages.

 ‐the latter is oldskool…

Synthesis environments and language front‐ends

 ‐again, Kyma

Pitfalls—non‐realtime operation, incompatibility, complexity, unintuitive operation

 ‐the numerous implementations out there do not interface gracefully

Implementations

CSOUND

RT SA: MPEG‐4 SAOL

Buzz