Computer Music Instruments

The book is divided into four sections. The first provides a broad introduction to the basics of computer music instruments, covering some key points in digital signal processing, with rigorous but approachable mathematics, and programming examples, as well as an overview of development environments for computer instruments.

The topics in instrument design techniques are split into two large and complementary groups. In part two, we look at methods that signal representations (waveform, spectral). This encompasses some classic methods (such as subtractive synthesis), and some more recent ones (feedback techniques, granular and spectral). Following this, we explore in part three approaches that look at physical models, aiming to reconstruct these in computational forms, so that they produce a desired audio output. We go from simpler methods, such as digital waveguides, to more complex descriptions like finite difference techniques. The book is complemented by a section devoted to application development. We review the major computer music platforms that can be used for the implementation of instruments, and look at different means of interacting with users. Finally, we have a look at application programming interfaces that will allow developers to create software based on the ideas introduced in the previous sections.

All sections are fully illustrated with programming examples using Csound, Python, and Faust, and some C++ is employed in the final section in application development examples. The book is suitable for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in music and signal processing, and for practitioners and researchers.