Software recommendation needed

iVoid · Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 7:06 pm Post subject: Software recommendation needed

I'm looking for software that can help me create my own sounds right down from the waveform, mathematically, as well as editing and applying filters, I thought of coding my own filters, so I can fully experiment and learn a few things in the process, but I wouldn't mind if it also had a good filter library of its own. I guess the correct term for what I am describing is sound synthesis?

Being completely new to this my first thought was Matlab xD because I'm familiar with it, though I never used it for sound, but I thought someone here might be more experienced and know a better option Smile

I'd also be interested in hearing your opinion about this kind of mathematical approach to sound synthesis compared to other options.

I'd also like a recommendation on software that can modulate the sounds I create, and play the result based on any of my PC input devices, from my QWERTY keyboard, to game controllers, including analog controls of any kind, maximum flexibility. Though not ideal, something that could allow me to simply map a sample to each key would already be interesting.

Any help is appreciated Smile

xjscott · Joined: Apr 25, 2007 Posts: 232 Location: Appalachia

The keyword mathematically makes me think you want to specify things according to algorithms and equations.

Supercollider, Chuck, and pd are three things that come to mind for this level of control.

blue hell · Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 12:57 am Post subject:

Yeah or Max/Msp or Reaktor. Max is PD like, or PD rather is MAX like - very powerful.

Or could have a look at open source hardware to have the processing on an external box .. like http://www.axoloti.com/ or .. the pads and phones are becoming powerful enough to go beyond toys as well ... a bit of a software swamp there though.

And to paint waves .. a decent wave editor should support that ... for a free one ... Audacity is very reasonably decent, otherwise look into DAW software (although those have a tendency to lay a workflow upon you - which may not be a bad thing).

Or do what I did .. write your own software Laughing

blue hell · Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 1:04 am Post subject:

BTW, I've seen Matlab being used to prototype sound algorithms with (and then implement it in like PD, or in plain C as a plugin for other audio tools).

iVoid · Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 2:59 pm Post subject:

blue hell · Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 3:51 pm Post subject:

Have fun :-)

Acoustic Interloper · Screen Shot 2017-05-07 at 7.43.52 PM.png

Here is a ChucK patch generated from data in a data sonification project that students and I have been working on for several years (note the raw_waveform and the hpf high pass filter). It spits out a WAV file generated from data being sonified.

EDIT: The code delimited block is screwing up the for loop headers, so I'll just attach the ChucK patch. The code below has at least two format errors.