As a precursor, let me reiterate, these blogs are for intelligent people with a university background and courses in mathematics, engineering, physics and other of the hard sciences.

   I mentioned previously, that I had discovered and explored the free scientific audio suite,Csound, from some people at M.I.T.
   I also mentioned one of the uses I found for the software, namely recording 78 discs at 33 or 45, and using the software to speed up the recordings without altering the pitch. Thus, I simulated a 78-rpm record player using Csound.
   I also mentioned setting up my computer to play a Hammond B3 organ emulator written by one of the contributors, Josep Comjuncosas, using my computer keyboard, using a version of Csound written and built for real time by Gabriel Maldonado, another contributor.
   There is something else I did. There has been a musical instrument harmonic database, known as the SHARC database, compiled by Gregory Sandell,  floating around on the net, for years. I located a copy, in the original format, and converted the files into a Csound instrument set. The database can now be incorporated into classical music instrument emulations using Csound. I was able to ;play' those on my computer keyboard as well. Viola, Cello, Trombone, and so on. The set included pizzacato files.
   Csound uses scripts to run functions, similar to other script based engines such as PHP, Python, PERL, and Javascript. One of the first such engines was for the BASIC programming language. That language was built into IBM personal computers in the early stages of personal computer evolution. Script engines are a popular way to implement a symbolic processor, as opposed to a compiler based engine such as C, C++, Java, and Pascal. Compilers create an independent executable code that is portable without the compiler. A script always requires the engine in order to run.
   The Csound script consists of two scripts that can ber merged into one. An instrument file and an orchestra file. The first defines the instrument and the last defines what 'music' is to be played.
   Note that, ordinarily, the output from cSound is usually written to a file in audio format, e.g. .wav or .mp3, or .ogg. That's why Gabriel Maldonado's work was important. The artist could move from composition into performance, in real time. I could take my laptop and an amplifier up onto a stage and perform any of the works that I've written. Including MIDI files (.mid). Remember midi music?
   Now you can see why a knowledge of mathematics and the physics of music are so important in using Csound. Many of the functions are mathematical. The average person would not know what their purpose was when reading their names. Some are more familiar to musicians. Chorus, reverb, echo, phasing. All of these functions are available in Csound. A musician could make some sense and possibly some use of Csound, but not as much as one with a knowledge of mathematics.
  

  

   I've spent a lot of time studying and learning personal computers, and related technology. There is a vast array of software available, and much of it free.
   One of the most fascinating works is a suite called Csound. Csound was founded by professors Vercoe and Boulanger at M.I.T, Mass.
   The software can do almost anything imaginable with sound. There are many contributors to Csound, which is also an open-source project. Mathematical models of real instruments have been constructed. Models of synthesizers such as the Moog and Korg have been done.
   My favorite is an emulation of a Hammond B3 by Josep Comajuncosas.
   I developed a cojuple of applications for my own use.
   I have some old 78-rpm records that are old and scratch from age and use. I no longer have a record player, or turntable, that has a 78-rpm setting. I decided that I could convert 78's recorded at a different speed to 33 or 45 speed. That's where Csound comes in.
   Csound has functions that will speed up a sound without altering the pitch. You would not get that 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' sound you would expect.
   After making the conversion, I was able to apply advanced filtering algorithms to clean up the sounds.
   Another use involved the B3 emulation I mentioned earlier. Another one of the contributors is Gabriel Maldonado. He wrote a Csound version that could run Csound in real time. I combined that with the emulation and a digital loopback connector and computer keyboard MIDI instrument program to 'play' the B3 emulation using my laptop's keyboard. The software could be set up to use a real MIDI keyboard instead.
 Csound is a great tool for exploring sound and music, when thought of as sound. A knowledge of the physics and mathematics of music goes a long way in Csound.