Fundamentals

Abstract

This chapter will introduce the reader to the fundamental aspects of Csound programming. We will be examining the syntax and operation of instruments, including how statements are executed and parameters passed. The principle of variables and their associated data types will be introduced with a discussion of update rates. The building block of instruments, opcodes, are explored, with a discussion of traditional and function-like syntax. Selected key opcodes that implement fundamental operations are detailed to provide an introduction to synthesis and processing. The Csound orchestra preprocessor is introduced, complementing this exploration of the language fundamentals.