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Hackaday · AudioCurated

A small Linux computer becomes a synthesiser

Summary

Hackaday presents playable Csound instruments for Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone and combines embedded Linux with algorithmic sound generation. The examples run on Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone. Csound is an audio programming language.

Ideas

  • Csound describes instruments and signal paths as code.
  • ARM boards compute sounds without a classic desktop computer.
  • The prepared instruments range from a drum machine to FM synthesis.
  • Linux audio connects software sound with real inputs and outputs.

Insights

  • Small computers make digital instruments standalone and reproducible.
  • Text-based sound synthesis combines musical design with programming.
  • Audio latency becomes a shared system property of kernel, driver and application.

Facts

  • Several ready-made instruments were available to try out.

Recommendations

  • Start with generous audio buffers and reduce them step by step.
  • Keep instrument definitions and samples together under version control.

References

Read the original article

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