Spencer Salazar

SPENCER SALAZAR is a doctoral student at the Stanford Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), researching computer-based forms of music performance and experience. Previously he created new software and hardware interfaces for the ChucK audio programming language, developed prototype consumer electronics for top technology companies, architected large-scale social music interactions for mobile application company Smule, composed for laptop and mobile phone ensembles, and taught numerous workshops on computer music topics. He received a BSE in Computer Science from Princeton University in 2006.

books by Spencer Salazar

Programming for Musicians and Digital Artists
  • December 2014
  • ISBN 9781617291708
  • 344 pages
Included with a Manning Online subscription
  • printed in black & white
catalog / Programming Languages and Styles / Other / Programming Languages

A digital musician must manipulate sound precisely. ChucK is an audio-centric programming language that provides precise control over time, audio computation, and user interface elements like track pads and joysticks. Because it uses the vocabulary of sound, ChucK is easy to learn even for artists with little or no exposure to computer programming.

Programming for Musicians and Digital Artists offers a complete introduction to music programming. In it, you'll learn the basics of digital sound manipulation while you learn to program using ChucK. Example-by-example, you'll create meaningful digital compositions and "instruments" that respond to program logic, scores, gestures, and other systems connected via MIDI or the network. You'll also experience how ChucK enables the on-the-fly musical improvisation practiced by communities of "live music coders" around the world.