The Csound Book - Introduction

Welcome to the world of computer-based software synthesis, signal processing, programming, sound-design and composition. Welcome to world of Csound.

As a student composer in the 70’s, I was fascinated with electronic music instruments and multi-track recording technology, but I was always limited in what sounds and music I could produce by the limits of the synthesizer or recorder I could afford. Then I discovered the world’s most powerful synthesizer - Csound; and I discovered that this synthesizer / resynthesizer / signal-processor / algorithmic-composer / sequencer / swiss-army-knife-of-a-computer-music-program, which runs on virtually any PC, is completely free!

Even today, I am still running out of voices on my digital "multi-timbral" synthesizers, running out of effects on my digital "multi-verb" signal processors and running out of tracks on my digital "multi-track" recorder. But, in the software synthesis world of Csound, there are no such limitations. In fact, the only limitations are the size of your hard disk, the amount of RAM in your PC and the speed of your CPU - and of course, the limits of your imagination.

Quite obviously, since Csound is a "software synthesizer," which runs native on your personal computer, a faster CPU, a larger Hard Drive and more RAM will improve the "performance" of the software. But most personal computers today are powerful enough for you to make incredible music.

However there is one small catch - the Csound synthesizer has no presets. So, in order to make interesting sounds and music with Csound, you have to know how synthesizers make sounds, how signal-processors transform sounds and in fact, how computers make music. In the world of Csound, ignorance is the only obstacle.

This book is the key to learning Csound. Each chapter is written by one of the world’s leading computer music educators, programmers, sound-designers and composers. And each focuses on their particular specialty - illustrating specific concepts through actual working Csound instruments and C code. These pioneers will take you along the paths that they have traveled. They will guide you and help you understand and explore the world of Csound; and through their algorithms, sounds and music, they will point out many new and wonderful places along the way - both technically and artistically.

As you will soon discover, the world of Csound is vast and every expanding. I have found it to be a constant source of wonder, enlightenment and fulfillment. On behalf of all of the authors, I welcome you to the world of Csound and I wish you the joy of endless discovery...

... and may your journey be a long one.