Csound
Csound is a free sound and music computing system for creating music software and making music. Barry Vercoe first released it in 1985. Its uses include electroacoustic compositions, algorithmic jam sessions, app development, and game audio. The programming environment offers more than 1,500 opcodes and supports traditional and functional syntax. Getting-started material covers MIDI keyboard and real-time audio input, synthesis, envelopes, and filtering. Csound code can run in a browser through the Csound Web IDE or be explored interactively in the FLOSS Manual without installing Csound. The project links frontends such as Cabbage, CsoundQt, and Blue, plus wrappers or interfaces for JavaScript, Python, Unity, Android, and iOS. Downloads or packages are listed for Windows, macOS, several Linux distributions, Android, and Web Assembly; an iOS SDK is also linked. The project lists mailing lists, a forum, Discord, Slack, and Stack Overflow for help.
Who it is for
Csound suits musicians, sound designers, and developers who want a programmable environment for music creation or audio in apps and games. Browser access may help people explore it without installing Csound.
What is good
- Free and open source.
- More than 1,500 opcodes.
- Browser-based coding options are available.
- Interfaces are listed for JavaScript, Python, Unity, Android, and iOS.
What to know first
- Frontends are maintained by their own teams.
- Apple or Windows may warn that Csound is not trusted.
Verdict
Csound combines a broad programming environment with music-making and audio-development uses. Its browser options and range of linked interfaces offer ways to approach it, though frontend documentation comes from each frontend's own team.
Csound plans and pricing
All plansCompared on sound design software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Primary workflow
- modular
- Standalone app
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web
