The Supercollider Book

A comprehensive update of the essential reference to SuperCollider, with new material on machine learning, musical notation and score making, SC Tweets, alternative editors, parasite languages, non-standard synthesis, and the cross-platform GUI library.


SuperCollider is one of the most important domain-specific audio programming languages, with wide-ranging applications across installations, real-time interaction, electroacoustic pieces, generative music, and audiovisuals. Now in a comprehensively updated new edition, The SuperCollider Book remains the essential reference for beginners and advanced users alike, offering students and professionals a user-friendly guide to the language’s design, syntax, and use. Coverage encompasses the basics as well as explorations of advanced and cutting-edge topics including microsound, sonification, spatialization, non-standard synthesis, and machine learning.

Second edition highlights:
•   New chapters on musical notation and score making, machine learning, SC Tweets, alternative editors, parasite languages, non-standard synthesis, SuperCollider on small computers, and the cross-platform GUI library
•   New tutorial on installing, setting up, and running the SuperCollider IDE
•   Technical documentation of implementation and information on writing your own unit generators
•   Diverse artist statements from international musicians
•   Accompanying code examples and extension libraries

Nick Collins is Lecturer in Music Informatics at the University of Sussex.
Scott Wilson is Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of Birmingham, England.
David Cottle is Lecturer Associate Professor at the School of Music, University of Utah.