https://audio.dev/ -- @audiodevcon
ADC Bristol - 9th - 11th November
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Workshop: Programming Music and Synthesizers on-the-fly with Pharo - Domenico Cipriani - ADC 2025
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This creative coding workshop introduces participants to live music programming with Pharo Smalltalk, using two integrated libraries:
Coypu is a domain-specific language for real-time music programming. It allows expressive live coding of rhythms, melodies, and musical structures.
Phausto provides a flexible library of synthesisers and audio effects. It embeds the Faust DSP language into Pharo, offering high-quality sound synthesis through a clean and approachable syntax.
Together, these tools leverage Pharo's unique strengths, its live development environment, immediate feedback, and system introspection, enabling participants to create and manipulate instruments in real-time. No prior experience with Pharo or Faust is required. This workshop is ideal for anyone curious about the intersection of programming, sound, and live performance. Every tool used in this workshop is free to use and fully open source.
● Prerequisites:
○ Basic understanding of synthesisers and audio effects
○ No prior experience with Pharo or Smalltalk required
Hardware & Software Requirements
● Computer running macOS or Windows recommended - Installation of Phausto on Linux machines may require advanced skills. If you are running Windows, please install [ASIO4ALL drivers to enjoy Phausto!
● Pharo 13
● Coypu and Phausto libraries (also provided on local storage media during the workshop)
● TurboPhausto samples can be downloaded separately here.
Workshop Structure
Part 1: Foundations (45 minutes)
● Introduction to live coding: history, philosophy, and the TOPLAP manifesto
● Overview of Pharo and its IDE: browsers, inspectors, live feedback
● Pharo syntax essentials for musical expression
● Installing Coypu and Phausto and testing the environment
Part 2: Rhythms and Melodies (75 minutes)
● Understanding Coypu's architecture: performers, sequencers, and patterns
● Connecting to audio backends and MIDI devices
● Creating rhythmic patterns with Hexbeat notation
● Exploring stochastic and algorithmic composition techniques
● Using Coypu's string notation for musical structures
● Hands-on exercise: building a live-coded rhythm section
Part 3: Sound Design with Phausto (75 minutes)
● Introduction to Phausto’s synthesis components: oscillators, filters, envelopes
● Understanding signal routing and chaining effects
● Building a custom synthesiser from scratch
● Creating and applying audio effects
● Connecting Phausto instruments to Coypu sequences
● Assembling a personal instrument library
Part 4: Performance Preparation (20 minutes)
● Organising instruments into performance-ready classes
● Assigning instruments to Coypu performers
● Performance workflow tips and best practices
● Real-time parameter modulation and group improvisation
Part 5: Visual Interface and Control (25 minutes)
● Introduction to Bloc for creating user interfaces in Pharo
● Building control interfaces for instruments
● Adding mixer controls and visual feedback
● Linking UI elements to musical parameters
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Slides: https://data.audio.dev/workshops/2025/programming-music-with-pharo.pdf
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Domenico Cipriani
Domenico Cipriani (aka Lucretio) is a minimalist dance music producer and sound researcher with over 100 vinyl releases and performances at iconic clubs including Berghain, Tresor, Rex, and Fabric. He is co-founder of the influential label Restoration, a key player in the vinyl resurgence of the late 2000s.
Domenico is also the creator of Coypu and Phausto. With Coypu, he has performed at the International Live Coding Conference in Shanghai (2024) and Barcelona (2025).
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ADC is an annual event celebrating all audio development technologies, from music applications and game audio to audio processing and embedded systems. ADC’s mission is to help attendees acquire and develop new audio development skills, and build a network that will support their audio developer career.
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Streamed & Edited by Digital Medium Ltd: https://online.digital-medium.co.uk
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Organized and produced by JUCE: https://juce.com/
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Special thanks to the ADC25 Team:
Sophie Carus
Derek Heimlich
Andrew Kirk
Bobby Lombardi
Tom Poole
Ralph Richbourg
Jim Roper
Jonathan Roper
Prashant Mishra
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