In Part 1 of our series on how to create audio plugins using SuperColliderAU we assembled a ‘big picture’ view of the various pieces that go into this excellent Mac-only tool. In Part 2 we get down to the business of building SuperCollider and SuperColliderAU from source. We’ll start by looking over the Xcode project files that come with the source code and describing the changes we need to make to them in order to coax a successful build on OS X. Then we’ll take a step-by-step walk through the process.

Programming your own audio plugins, let’s face it, is not a casual undertaking. To even begin playing the game you need a solid grounding in DSP – along with some serious C, C++ and math chops – all tucked neatly into your belt. And that’s before you start diving into the frameworks of whichever platform it is you’re developing for. Wouldn’t it be neat if there was a kinder, gentler way into this world of streaming ones and zeros, even for reluctant programmers? Well there is, at least for Mac users.