LC: A Mostly-strongly-timed Prototype-based Computer Music Programming Language that Integrates Objects and Manipulations for Microsound Synthesis

Abstract

This thesis describes LC, a new computer music language.

LC?s prototype-based programming supports dynamic modification at both levels of compositional algorithms and sound synthesis. The thesis also proposes mostly-strongly-timed programming, which extends strongly-timed programming with explicit switching to asynchronous/preemptive context, to avoid temporary suspension of real-time DSP by time-consuming tasks, while maintaining its sample-rate accurate precise timing behavior. Other features with respect to time (e.g. timing constraints and timed message communications) are also implemented.

Furthermore, LC?s novel sound synthesis framework, which directly integrates objects and manipulations for microsounds, provides a simple and terse programming model for microsound synthesis.

By such features, this thesis contributes to three problems in today?s computer music language design: (1) the insufficient support for dynamic modification, (2) the insufficient support for precise timing behaviour and other desirable features with respect to time, and (3) the difficulty in microsound synthesis programming caused by anti-pattern of abstract inversion.