Questions about SuperCollider

[briandc]

Hi everyone,

yes, I think I'm getting in over my head with this one... but I'm really curious about SuperCollider. For anyone here who knows/uses it, I'd like to open a discussion here about it, and as a place to offer tips, etc..

One thing I can't figure out: does SuperCollider "make" it's own sounds? The programming of the notes, durations, etc all makes sense.. but where does the sound come from?


Thanks for everyone's input!

brian

[StudioDave]

... I'm really curious about SuperCollider ... does SuperCollider "make" it's own sounds? The programming of the notes, durations, etc all makes sense.. but where does the sound come from?

SC is designed as a server/client system. Yes, it creates its own sounds via scsynth, the SC synthesis engine. The sclang language occupies the client side. You write code in sclang and process it with scsynth.

The SuperCollider Book is quite helpful even for beginners, but there's plenty of useful material about SC on the Web. Surprise, surprise, I've even written some articles about SC :

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/sup ... er3-part-1

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/sup ... er3-part-2

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/sup ... er3-part-3

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/sup ... ook-review

The SC mail list is an excellent resource, you might consider joining it if you get into SuperCollider.

Best,

dp

[briandc]

... I'm really curious about SuperCollider ... does SuperCollider "make" it's own sounds? The programming of the notes, durations, etc all makes sense.. but where does the sound come from?

SC is designed as a server/client system. Yes, it creates its own sounds via scsynth, the SC synthesis engine. The sclang language occupies the client side. You write code in sclang and process it with scsynth.

The SuperCollider Book is quite helpful even for beginners, but there's plenty of useful material about SC on the Web. Surprise, surprise, I've even written some articles about SC :

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/sup ... er3-part-1

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/sup ... er3-part-2

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/sup ... er3-part-3

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/sup ... ook-review

The SC mail list is an excellent resource, you might consider joining it if you get into SuperCollider.

Best,

dp

Thanks, dp!
Now I see that it's a "self-contained" instrument, which is neat. Yes, I'm curious about getting into it, if I can get time. I've been browsing some videos and tutorials on the web, although the manual would be most complete, I'm sure.
I'll take a look at the links you posted too, as they're new to me. Thanks!

So, along with making the actual notes/rhythms/chords, etc using the client, you also make the actual sounds using the same command-line format? Can several instruments be created and run simultaneously?

brian

[StudioDave]

So, along with making the actual notes/rhythms/chords, etc using the client, you also make the actual sounds using the same command-line format? Can several instruments be created and run simultaneously?

Yes, it's very flexible. However, you aren't likely to use the command line to code, you'll want to use a text editor. Historically that meant emacs or gedit loaded with a set of extensions for coding SuperCollider. SC3 now has an integrated editor (sc-ide) that's quite nice. Typically you launch the server from the command-line or from the IDE, you write your code, test it (again typically from within the IDE), rinse and repeat.

I've used SC3 with emacs, gedit, and the new editor. Each has its attractions.

Btw, William Mox Drossard knows more about SC3, he's a member of this forum. Hopefully he'll chime in. Meanwhile you could check out the SuperCollider group on SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/groups/supercollider

Best,

dp

[briandc]

Yes, it's very flexible. However, you aren't likely to use the command line to code, you'll want to use a text editor. Historically that meant emacs or gedit loaded with a set of extensions for coding SuperCollider. SC3 now has an integrated editor (sc-ide) that's quite nice. Typically you launch the server from the command-line or from the IDE, you write your code, test it (again typically from within the IDE), rinse and repeat.

I've used SC3 with emacs, gedit, and the new editor. Each has its attractions.

Btw, William Mox Drossard knows more about SC3, he's a member of this forum. Hopefully he'll chime in. Meanwhile you could check out the SuperCollider group on SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/groups/supercollider

Best,

dp

Yes, I wrote command-line but I was intending a text editor. "Writing code" was I guess what I meant. What is an IDE? the desktop environment?

I'm having problems opening soundcloud files on this PC, can't figure out why.. I'll have to listen to them from another PC.

Any input is totally appreciated. It (SC) sounds very intriguing. Partly because it moves completely away from your standard instruments (piano, guitar), and so it's like learning to make music all over again.
I've also heard that SC has the potential to do a lot of stuff that would be very hard or impossible to do on traditional instruments..

brian

[StudioDave]

... What is an IDE?

Integrated development environment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated ... nvironment

It (SC) sounds very intriguing. Partly because it moves completely away from your standard instruments (piano, guitar), and so it's like learning to make music all over again.
I've also heard that SC has the potential to do a lot of stuff that would be very hard or impossible to do on traditional instruments..

Some of its obvious strengths include great tools for algorithmic composition, live coding, GUI construction, device interfacing, etc. You can write wholly deterministic music with it, but I wouldn't recommend it. A MIDI sequencer would be a better choice for that kind of work. But if you want to venture out towards the edge SC3 can get you there.

Best,

dp

[briandc]

... What is an IDE?

Integrated development environment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated ... nvironment

It (SC) sounds very intriguing. Partly because it moves completely away from your standard instruments (piano, guitar), and so it's like learning to make music all over again.
I've also heard that SC has the potential to do a lot of stuff that would be very hard or impossible to do on traditional instruments..

Some of its obvious strengths include great tools for algorithmic composition, live coding, GUI construction, device interfacing, etc. You can write wholly deterministic music with it, but I wouldn't recommend it. A MIDI sequencer would be a better choice for that kind of work. But if you want to venture out towards the edge SC3 can get you there.

Best,

dp

Thanks, dp.
Yes, it seems that SuperCollider is more apt for a different type of musical creation process, kind of hard to describe actually. But I'm sure that someone who is well-versed in programming it can come up with some interesting stuff in very little time. It also looks like people can share their scripts with others, which might be a good way to start out; starting with a finished project and learning to create by making little modifications here and there.

I really hope to find the time to get into SC.. it looks like a lot of fun!

brian

[briandc]

I found this "controller" that says it's for SuperCollider, at KVR:

http://www.kvraudio.com/product/livecut ... electronix

Anyone ever used it?
(unfortunately it's not linux-native--yet)

brian

[briandc]

from my Italian friends at linux-audio.org:

http://vimeo.com/19017469

This looks a lot like Supercollider... I wonder if it could be added to the repos at KXStudio (if it's liked enough!)..?


brian