Audio Signal Processing in FAUST

JULIUS O. SMITH III
Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA)

Abstract:

FAUST is a high-level programming language for digital signal processing, with special support for real-time audio applications and plugins on various software platforms including Linux, Mac-OS-X, iOS, Android, Windows, and embedded computing environments. Audio plugin formats supported include VST, lv2, AU, Pd, Max/MSP, SuperCollider, and more. This tutorial provides an introduction focusing on a simple example of white noise filtered by a variable resonator.

Detailed Contents (and Navigation)

• Introduction
  • Installing FAUST
  • FAUST Examples
  
  
• Primer on the FAUST Language
  • Basic Signal Processing Blocks (Elementary Operators on Signals)
  • Block Diagram Operators
  • Examples
  • Infix Notation Rewriting
  • Encoding Block Diagrams in the FAUST Language
  • Statements
  • Function Definition
  • Partial Function Application
  • Functional Notation for Operators
  • Examples
  • Summary of FAUST Notation Styles
  • Unary Minus
  • Fixing the Number of Input and Output Signals
  • Naming Input Signals
  • Naming Output Signals
  • Signal Types
  • Signal Comparison Operators
  • Bitwise Operations for Integer Signals
  • Foreign Constants and Variables
  • Foreign Functions
    • Example 1
    • Example 2
    • Functions from math.h
  • Parallel and Sequence Iterations
  • Sum and Product Macros
  • Pattern Matching in FAUST
    • Formal Parameter Exception
    • Formal Parameter Substitution⁹
    • Recursive Block Diagram Specification
    • Understanding count and take from basics.lib
    • Pattern Matching Implementation
    • Using Pattern Matching in Rewriting Rules
    • Using Lisp Syntax to Express Trees
    • Pattern-Matching Example
    • Pattern-Matching Algorithm Description
    • Miscellaneous Pattern-Matching Examples
  • Scope Rules
  • White Noise Generator
  • Further Readings on the FAUST Language
  • Acknowledgment
  
  
• A Simple Example FAUST Program
• Verifying and Testing FAUST Programs
  • Generating FAUST Block Diagrams
  • A Look at the Generated C++ code
  • Printing/Plotting the Output Signal(s)
  • Inspecting the Output Signal(s) in Matlab or Octave
  • Summary of FAUST Program Testing Strategies
  
  
• Adding a GUI
• Generating Stand-Alone Qt or GTK Applications
• Generating Other Applications and Plugins
• Generating a LADSPA Plugin via FAUST
• Feeding Soundfiles to FAUST Standalone Apps
  • Offline Processing of Soundfiles in FAUST
  • Soundfile Input for Standalone FAUST Applications
  • Soundfile Input for FAUST Plugins
  
  
• Generating a MIDI Synthesizer for PD
• MIDI Synthesizer Test Patch
• Using FAUST with SuperCollider
  • Getting Started with SuperCollider
  • Linux and Faust-Generated SuperCollider Plugins
  • Mac OS X and Faust-Generated SuperCollider Plugins
  
  
• Using FAUST with Open Sound Control (OSC)
• Conclusions
• Appendix A: State-Space Models to FAUST
  • State-Space BiQuad in FAUST
  
  
• Appendix B: Inspecting Assembly to Fine-Tune Performance
• Bibliography
• About this document ...