An Augmented String Instrument Architecture Created With Pure Data
Presented at PdMaxCon25~ @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on 5 September 2025
Abstract: The Pure Data (Pd) visual programming language is a powerful tool not only for digital signal processing but also as a platform for developing robust synthesis workstations. This paper examines the architectural implementation of Pd in a new digital/acoustic augmented stringed instrument, the EV. Conceived as a feature-rich synthesis platform, Pd is used to build a modular, real-time environment that integrates external hardware sensors, feature extraction, synthesis modules, a flexible mixer for routing audio between modules, a control matrix, preset management, and an ambisonic encoder/decoder. Emphasizing system organization and architectural design, this framework demonstrates how Pd can support a synthesis environment that is both extensible and adaptable to the evolving requirements of an augmented string instrument.
Conference:
https://music.illinois.edu/pd-max-con/
Paper:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17537233
Proceedings:
Citation:
Lindgren, Brian. “An Augmented String Instrument Architecture Created With Pure Data.” Proceedings of the PdMaxCon25~ [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign], 2025, pp. 41–47.