Modular Synth - Technology Choices

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Modular Synth - Technology Choices 2012-04-30T23:49:09+00:00 Hello. This is the first time I've posted in this section. I want to introduce myself a bit and talk about what I already do before I jump to my question. I've been programming since I was a kid and I've been programming as a job for about 10 years. However, I've no experience with multimedia programming. So far, I've used Microsoft technologies throughout my career. I program for the .Net and Silverlight platforms in C#. I have dabbled in Java a bit. I do understand C++ but I hate the syntax. However, I'm willing to use it if that's what it takes to build what I want to build. At home, I'm a Mac user, and all of my music production is done on Mac. So, I'm comfortable with MacOS. I use Ableton, MaxForLive, and Reaktor. I've made a couple of fairly popular MaxForLive patches already. I really like Reaktor's basic approach to digital modular synthesis. In many ways it's similar to how an modular analog synth works. However, the user interface is disgusting and the whole environment is clunky. If you want to make modules in Reaktor, you really need to invest time and effort in to understanding how it works. MaxForLive is a great platform for buildings tools for Live, but it seems like it would be really painful to build synths on that technology. I also like using u-He's Zebra. The user interface I plan on making will be quite different to Zebra, but I like the concept of being able to mix and match modules like Zebra. I've decided to start writing my own modular synth. How it will hang together is quite clear in my head, but I have no idea what libraries, technologies or even languages I should be approaching. So, I would really appreciate some advice about the building blocks upon which I should get started. What I am hoping for is to find a) A language (most likely c++ but open for suggestions) b) An IDE which will allow me to develop in that language (preferably on Mac) c) A set of libraries or technologies that will have out of the box, the kinds of things I will need (oscillators, filters, envelopes, sampling engines, and so on) I'm happy to pay for this stuff if need be, but I need to be sure that I am headed in the right direction before I pay. The technology choices will be based on the best fit for these preferences: a) Good quality IDE b) Clean programming model (at the language level, and at the library level) c) Multi platform (Windows/MacOS) d) Compile to VST e) Have a decent UI model (preferably UI defined in a markup language) f) Performance not the biggest issue (I'm not aiming to make a CPU intensive system. It won't need to be hugely optimised so I have room for a bit of CPU wastage at the language/library level) g) Most of all, has all the stuff I need without having to build my own filters, oscillators etc. Thanks! Syncretia https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=262305

djomni djomni https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=260144: KVRist; 48 posts since 5 Jul, 2011

Post by djomni » Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:12 pm

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Didn't catch every post here, so sorry if already mentioned. A little obscure though.

CLAM is good. They have a gui program for the less code-versed folks, but it's only so-so. The code is SPECTACULAR and would realy be helpful in learning about it.

WebAudio API is new-ish, I've glanced through the api a couple times, but have yet to try anything yet. Synthesis and processing in javascript on a web platform

BEAST/BSE code is great for the same stuff as the clam libraries, but isn't quite as elegant.

CSL- Best tarball I've ever downloaded hands down.

And of course, portaudio

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