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Overview of development environments 6.4
er than interfacing with GPIO pins or performing complex algebraic
computations, Sonic Pi, based on the SuperCollider (McCartney 2002)
synthesis engine, turns source code into music.
The source code, in this case, is to be written in the Ruby (Usa 2019)
programming language. Thus, using Ruby’s native data structures,
loops, and conditional statements together with Sonic Pi’s custom syn-
tax, users can generate a range of musical elements, including individ-
ual notes, patterns (i.e. an array of notes), and chords. Furthermore,
they can manipulate the synthesizer sound, apply various effects, con-
trol the tempo, introduce delays, and incorporate pre-recorded sam-
ples, among other functions (Philbin 2017, 151–163). Sonic Pi’s support
of musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), combined with Rasp-
berry Pi’s portability, make it a great tool for creative enthusiasts.
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