nanosynth 0.1.2

Minimal embedded SuperCollider synthesis engine (libscsynth) wrapper

nanosynth

nanosynth is a Python package that embeds SuperCollider's libscsynth synthesis engine in-process using nanobind. It makes it possible to define SynthDefs in Python, compile them to SuperCollider's SCgf binary format, boot the embedded audio engine, and control it via OSC -- all without leaving Python.

Features

• Embedded synthesis engine -- libscsynth runs in-process as a Python extension (vendored and built from source), no separate scsynth process required
• High-level Server class -- boot/quit lifecycle, node ID allocation, SynthDef dispatch, and convenience methods (synth, group, free, set). Context manager support and managed_synth()/managed_group() for automatic node cleanup
• Pythonic SynthDef builder -- define UGen graphs using a context manager and operator overloading, compiled to SuperCollider's SCgf binary format
• 340+ UGens -- oscillators, filters, delays, noise, chaos, granular, demand, dynamics, panning, physical modeling, reverb, phase vocoder, machine listening, stochastic synthesis, and more
• Envelope system -- Envelope class with factory methods (adsr, asr, linen, percussive, triangle) and the EnvGen UGen
• OSC codec -- pure-Python OscMessage/OscBundle encode/decode with optional C++ acceleration via nanobind
• @synthdef decorator -- shorthand for defining SynthDefs as plain functions with parameter rate/lag annotations
• Full type safety -- passes mypy --strict, complete type annotations throughout

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• uv (package manager)
• For embedded scsynth: SuperCollider 3.14.1, libsndfile, and PortAudio are vendored and built from source automatically. Audio backend: CoreAudio on macOS, PortAudio (ALSA) on Linux, PortAudio (WASAPI) on Windows -- no system-level audio dependencies beyond the compiler toolchain.

Installation

pip install nanosynth

Or build from source:

# Editable install with embedded libscsynth
uv pip install -e .

# Build wheel (incremental -- reuses cmake build cache in build/)
make build

# Install without the audio engine (OSC codec + SynthDef compiler only)
uv pip install -e . -C cmake.define.NANOSYNTH_EMBED_SCSYNTH=OFF

Quick Start

Run the Audio Demos

make demos

Defining and Compiling a SynthDef

No embedded engine required -- you can define UGen graphs and compile them to SCgf bytes for use with any SuperCollider server:

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction, compile_synthdefs
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import Out, Pan2, SinOsc

with SynthDefBuilder(frequency=440.0, amplitude=0.3) as builder:
    sig = SinOsc.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"])
    sig = sig * builder["amplitude"]
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.linen(attack_time=0.1, sustain_time=1.8, release_time=0.1),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    sig = sig * env
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

synthdef = builder.build(name="sine")
scgf_bytes = synthdef.compile()

Using the @synthdef Decorator

For simpler definitions, use the decorator to skip the builder boilerplate. Parameter rates and lags are specified positionally:

from nanosynth import synthdef, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import Out, Pan2, SinOsc

@synthdef("kr", ("kr", 0.5))  # freq: control rate, amp: control rate with 0.5s lag
def my_sine(freq=440.0, amp=0.3):
    sig = SinOsc.ar(frequency=freq)
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.percussive(attack_time=0.01, release_time=1.0),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig * amp * env))

scgf_bytes = my_sine.compile()  # my_sine is a SynthDef instance

Subtractive Synthesis

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import LFNoise1, LPF, Out, Pan2, RLPF, Saw, WhiteNoise, XLine

# Saw wave through a sweeping low-pass filter
with SynthDefBuilder(frequency=110.0, amplitude=0.4) as builder:
    sig = Saw.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"])
    cutoff = XLine.kr(start=8000.0, stop=200.0, duration=3.0,
                      done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH)
    sig = LPF.ar(source=sig, frequency=cutoff)
    sig = sig * builder["amplitude"]
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

filtered_saw = builder.build(name="filtered_saw")

# White noise through a resonant LPF with LFO-modulated cutoff
with SynthDefBuilder(amplitude=0.15) as builder:
    sig = WhiteNoise.ar()
    lfo = LFNoise1.kr(frequency=4.0)
    cutoff = lfo * 1900.0 + 2100.0  # map [-1,1] to [200, 4000]
    sig = RLPF.ar(source=sig, frequency=cutoff, reciprocal_of_q=0.1)
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.linen(attack_time=0.5, sustain_time=2.0, release_time=0.5),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    sig = sig * env * builder["amplitude"]
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

resonant_noise = builder.build(name="resonant_noise")

FM Synthesis

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import Out, Pan2, SinOsc

with SynthDefBuilder(
    carrier_freq=440.0, mod_ratio=2.0, mod_index=3.0,
    amplitude=0.3, gate=1.0,
) as builder:
    mod_freq = builder["carrier_freq"] * builder["mod_ratio"]
    modulator = SinOsc.ar(frequency=mod_freq) * builder["mod_index"] * mod_freq
    carrier = SinOsc.ar(frequency=builder["carrier_freq"] + modulator)
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.adsr(
            attack_time=0.01, decay_time=0.1, sustain=0.7, release_time=0.3,
        ),
        gate=builder["gate"],
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    sig = carrier * env * builder["amplitude"]
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

fm_synth = builder.build(name="fm_synth")

Additive Synthesis

Sum harmonics with decreasing amplitude to build a rich tone from pure sine partials:

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import Out, Pan2, SinOsc

with SynthDefBuilder(frequency=200.0, amplitude=0.3) as builder:
    sig = SinOsc.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"]) * 1.0
    sig = sig + SinOsc.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"] * 2.0) * 0.5
    sig = sig + SinOsc.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"] * 3.0) * 0.33
    sig = sig + SinOsc.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"] * 4.0) * 0.25
    sig = sig + SinOsc.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"] * 5.0) * 0.2
    sig = sig * 0.3  # normalize
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.percussive(attack_time=0.01, release_time=2.0),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    sig = sig * env * builder["amplitude"]
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

additive = builder.build(name="additive")

Plucked String (Physical Modeling)

Karplus-Strong style plucked string using the Pluck UGen:

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import Dust, Out, Pan2, Pluck, WhiteNoise

with SynthDefBuilder(frequency=440.0, amplitude=0.5, decay=5.0) as builder:
    trig = Dust.ar(density=1.0)
    sig = Pluck.ar(
        source=WhiteNoise.ar(),
        trigger=trig,
        maximum_delay_time=1.0 / 100.0,
        delay_time=1.0 / builder["frequency"],
        decay_time=builder["decay"],
        coefficient=0.3,
    )
    sig = sig * builder["amplitude"]
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

pluck = builder.build(name="plucked_string")

Delay and Reverb Effects

Process a dry signal through comb delay and FreeVerb:

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import CombC, FreeVerb, Out, Pan2, Saw, LPF

with SynthDefBuilder(frequency=220.0, amplitude=0.3) as builder:
    # Dry signal: filtered saw
    dry = Saw.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"])
    dry = LPF.ar(source=dry, frequency=2000.0)
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.percussive(attack_time=0.005, release_time=0.3),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    dry = dry * env * builder["amplitude"]

    # Comb delay for metallic echo
    sig = CombC.ar(
        source=dry,
        maximum_delay_time=0.2,
        delay_time=0.15,
        decay_time=2.0,
    )

    # Reverb
    sig = FreeVerb.ar(source=dry + sig, mix=0.4, room_size=0.8, damping=0.3)
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

delay_reverb = builder.build(name="delay_reverb")

Demand-Rate Sequencing

Use demand UGens to sequence pitches without host-side scheduling:

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import Duty, Dseq, Out, Pan2, SinOsc

with SynthDefBuilder(amplitude=0.3) as builder:
    # Dseq loops a sequence of MIDI-note frequencies at demand rate
    freq_pattern = Dseq.dr(
        repeats=4,
        sequence=[261.63, 293.66, 329.63, 392.00, 440.00, 392.00, 329.63, 293.66],
    )
    # Duty reads from the demand pattern every 0.25 seconds
    freq = Duty.kr(duration=0.25, level=freq_pattern)
    sig = SinOsc.ar(frequency=freq) * builder["amplitude"]
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.linen(attack_time=0.01, sustain_time=7.9, release_time=0.1),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    sig = sig * env
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

sequencer = builder.build(name="sequencer")

Ring Modulation

Multiply two signals together for classic ring modulation:

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import LFTri, Out, Pan2, SinOsc

with SynthDefBuilder(
    carrier_freq=440.0, mod_freq=60.0, amplitude=0.3,
) as builder:
    carrier = SinOsc.ar(frequency=builder["carrier_freq"])
    modulator = LFTri.ar(frequency=builder["mod_freq"])
    sig = carrier * modulator  # ring mod = simple multiplication
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.linen(attack_time=0.05, sustain_time=2.0, release_time=0.5),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    sig = sig * env * builder["amplitude"]
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

ring_mod = builder.build(name="ring_mod")

Stereo Width with Detuning

Fatten a sound by panning two slightly detuned oscillators:

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import LPF, Out, Saw

with SynthDefBuilder(frequency=110.0, detune=0.5, amplitude=0.4) as builder:
    left = Saw.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"] - builder["detune"])
    right = Saw.ar(frequency=builder["frequency"] + builder["detune"])
    left = LPF.ar(source=left, frequency=3000.0)
    right = LPF.ar(source=right, frequency=3000.0)
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.linen(attack_time=0.1, sustain_time=2.0, release_time=0.5),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    left = left * env * builder["amplitude"]
    right = right * env * builder["amplitude"]
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=[left, right])  # direct stereo output

stereo_saw = builder.build(name="stereo_saw")

Dynamics Processing

Apply compression to a signal using Compander:

from nanosynth import SynthDefBuilder, DoneAction
from nanosynth.envelopes import EnvGen, Envelope
from nanosynth.ugens import Compander, Dust, Out, Pan2, Ringz

with SynthDefBuilder(amplitude=0.5) as builder:
    # Sparse impulses through a resonant filter -- wide dynamic range
    sig = Ringz.ar(
        source=Dust.ar(density=3.0),
        frequency=2000.0,
        decay_time=0.2,
    )
    # Compress: bring quiet parts up, loud parts down
    sig = Compander.ar(
        source=sig,
        control=sig,
        threshold=0.3,
        slope_below=2.0,   # expand below threshold
        slope_above=0.5,   # compress above threshold
        clamp_time=0.01,
        relax_time=0.1,
    )
    env = EnvGen.kr(
        envelope=Envelope.linen(attack_time=0.01, sustain_time=3.0, release_time=0.5),
        done_action=DoneAction.FREE_SYNTH,
    )
    sig = sig * env * builder["amplitude"]
    Out.ar(bus=0, source=Pan2.ar(source=sig))

compressed = builder.build(name="compressed")

Booting the Embedded Engine and Playing Sound

The Server class wraps the embedded engine lifecycle. Use it as a context manager to boot on entry and shut down on exit:

import time
from nanosynth import Server, Options

with Server(Options(verbosity=0)) as server:
    # Send the SynthDef we defined above
    synthdef.send(server)
    time.sleep(0.1)

    # Create a synth -- returns a node ID
    node = server.synth("sine", frequency=440.0, amplitude=0.3)
    time.sleep(2.0)
    server.free(node)

# Engine shuts down automatically on context exit

Or use SynthDef.play() to send and create a synth in one call:

with Server() as server:
    node = synthdef.play(server, frequency=880.0, amplitude=0.2)
    time.sleep(2.0)

Managed Nodes (Automatic Cleanup)

managed_synth() and managed_group() create nodes that are automatically freed on context exit, even if an exception occurs:

import time
from nanosynth import Server

with Server() as server:
    synthdef.send(server)
    time.sleep(0.1)

    with server.managed_synth("sine", frequency=440.0, amplitude=0.3) as node:
        print(f"Playing node {node}...")
        time.sleep(2.0)
    # node freed automatically here

    # Group multiple voices and free them together
    with server.managed_group(target=1) as group:
        server.synth("sine", target=group, frequency=261.63, amplitude=0.2)
        server.synth("sine", target=group, frequency=329.63, amplitude=0.2)
        server.synth("sine", target=group, frequency=392.00, amplitude=0.2)
        time.sleep(2.0)
    # entire group freed here

Debugging SynthDef Graphs

SynthDef.dump_ugens() prints a human-readable UGen graph (like SuperCollider's SynthDef.dumpUGens):

print(synthdef.dump_ugens())
# SynthDef: sine
#   0: Control.kr - frequency, amplitude
#   1: SinOsc.ar(frequency: Control[0], phase: 0.0)
#   2: BinaryOpUGen.ar(MULTIPLICATION, a: SinOsc[0], b: Control[1])
#   ...

OSC Codec

The OSC module works standalone for any OSC communication needs:

from nanosynth import OscMessage, OscBundle

# Encode
msg = OscMessage("/s_new", "sine", 1000, 0, 1, "frequency", 440.0)
datagram = msg.to_datagram()

# Decode
decoded = OscMessage.from_datagram(datagram)
assert decoded == msg

# Bundles
bundle = OscBundle(
    timestamp=None,  # immediately
    contents=[
        OscMessage("/s_new", "sine", 1000, 0, 1),
        OscMessage("/n_set", 1000, "frequency", 880.0),
    ],
)
bundle_bytes = bundle.to_datagram()

Available UGens

Organized by category:

Category	UGens
Oscillators	SinOsc, Saw, Pulse, Blip, Klank, LFSaw, LFPulse, LFTri, LFCub, LFPar, VarSaw, SyncSaw, Impulse, FSinOsc, LFGauss, Vibrato, Osc, OscN, COsc, VOsc, VOsc3
Filters	LPF, HPF, BPF, BRF, RLPF, RHPF, MoogFF, Lag, Lag2, Lag3, LagUD, Lag2UD, Lag3UD, Ramp, Decay, Decay2, Ringz, Formlet, Median, LeakDC, OnePole, OneZero, TwoPole, TwoZero, APF, FOS, SOS, MidEQ, Slew, Slope, Integrator, DetectSilence, Changed
BEQ Filters	BLowPass, BHiPass, BBandPass, BBandStop, BAllPass, BLowShelf, BHiShelf, BPeakEQ, BLowCut, BHiCut
Noise	WhiteNoise, PinkNoise, BrownNoise, GrayNoise, ClipNoise, Dust, Dust2, Crackle, LFNoise0, LFNoise1, LFNoise2, LFDNoise0, LFDNoise1, LFDNoise3, LFClipNoise, LFDClipNoise, Logistic
Stochastic	Gendy1, Gendy2, Gendy3
Delays	DelayN, DelayL, DelayC, Delay1, Delay2, CombN, CombL, CombC, AllpassN, AllpassL, AllpassC, BufDelayN, BufDelayL, BufDelayC, BufCombN, BufCombL, BufCombC, BufAllpassN, BufAllpassL, BufAllpassC, DelTapRd, DelTapWr
Envelopes	EnvGen, Linen, Done, Free, FreeSelf, FreeSelfWhenDone, Pause, PauseSelf, PauseSelfWhenDone
Panning	Pan2, Pan4, PanAz, PanB, PanB2, BiPanB2, Balance2, Rotate2, DecodeB2, XFade2, Splay
Demand	Dseq, Dser, Dseries, Drand, Dxrand, Dshuf, Dwrand, Dwhite, Dbrown, Diwhite, Dibrown, Dgeom, Demand, Duty, DemandEnvGen, Dbufrd, Dbufwr, Dstutter, Dreset, Dswitch, Dswitch1, Dunique
Dynamics	Compander, CompanderD, Limiter, Normalizer, Amplitude
Chaos	LorenzL, HenonN/L/C, GbmanN/L, LatoocarfianN/L/C, LinCongN/L/C, CuspN/L, QuadN/L/C, StandardN/L, FBSineN/L/C
Granular	GrainBuf, GrainIn, PitchShift, Warp1
Buffer I/O	PlayBuf, RecordBuf, BufRd, BufWr, ClearBuf, LocalBuf, MaxLocalBufs, ScopeOut, ScopeOut2
Disk I/O	DiskIn, DiskOut, VDiskIn
Physical Modeling	Pluck, Ball, TBall, Spring
Reverb	FreeVerb
Convolution	Convolution, Convolution2, Convolution2L, Convolution3
Phase Vocoder	FFT, IFFT, PV_Add, PV_BinScramble, PV_BinShift, PV_BinWipe, PV_BrickWall, PV_ConformalMap, PV_Conj, PV_Copy, PV_CopyPhase, PV_Diffuser, PV_Div, PV_HainsworthFoote, PV_JensenAndersen, PV_LocalMax, PV_MagAbove, PV_MagBelow, PV_MagClip, PV_MagDiv, PV_MagFreeze, PV_MagMul, PV_MagNoise, PV_MagShift, PV_MagSmear, PV_MagSquared, PV_Max, PV_Min, PV_Mul, PV_PhaseShift, PV_PhaseShift90, PV_PhaseShift270, PV_RandComb, PV_RandWipe, PV_RectComb, PV_RectComb2, RunningSum
Machine Listening	BeatTrack, BeatTrack2, KeyTrack, Loudness, MFCC, Onsets, Pitch, SpecCentroid, SpecFlatness, SpecPcile
Hilbert	FreqShift, Hilbert, HilbertFIR
I/O	In, Out, InFeedback, LocalIn, LocalOut, OffsetOut, ReplaceOut, XOut
Lines	Line, XLine, LinExp, LinLin, DC, K2A, A2K, AmpComp, AmpCompA, Silence
Triggers	Trig, Trig1, Latch, Gate, Schmidt, Sweep, Phasor, Peak, PeakFollower, RunningMax, RunningMin, SendTrig, Poll, SendReply, SendPeakRMS, ToggleFF, TDelay, ZeroCrossing, LeastChange, MostChange, Clip, Fold, Wrap, InRange
Mouse/Keyboard	KeyState, MouseButton, MouseX, MouseY
Info	SampleRate, SampleDur, BlockSize, ControlRate, ControlDur, SubsampleOffset, RadiansPerSample, NumRunningSynths, BufFrames, BufSamples, BufSampleRate, BufRateScale, BufChannels, BufDur, NumOutputBuses, NumInputBuses, NumAudioBuses, NumControlBuses, NumBuffers, NodeID
Random	Rand, IRand, ExpRand, LinRand, NRand, TRand, TIRand, TExpRand, CoinGate, TWindex, RandID, RandSeed, Hasher, MantissaMask
Utility	MulAdd, Sum3, Sum4, Mix
Safety	CheckBadValues, Sanitize

Envelope Types

from nanosynth import Envelope

Envelope.adsr(attack_time=0.01, decay_time=0.3, sustain=0.5, release_time=1.0)
Envelope.asr(attack_time=0.01, sustain=1.0, release_time=1.0)
Envelope.linen(attack_time=0.01, sustain_time=1.0, release_time=1.0)
Envelope.percussive(attack_time=0.01, release_time=1.0)
Envelope.triangle(duration=1.0, amplitude=1.0)

# Custom envelope
Envelope(amplitudes=[0, 1, 0.5, 0], durations=[0.1, 0.3, 0.6], curves=[-4])

Development

make dev         # uv sync + editable install
make build       # build wheel (incremental via build cache)
make sdist       # build source distribution
make test        # run tests
make lint        # ruff check --fix
make format      # ruff format
make typecheck   # mypy --strict
make qa          # all of the above
make clean       # remove transitory files (preserves build cache)
make reset       # clean everything including build cache

CI

The GitHub Actions workflow (.github/workflows/build.yml) builds wheels for CPython 3.10--3.14 on macOS ARM64, Linux x86_64, and Windows x86_64 using cibuildwheel. A qa job runs lint, format check, typecheck, and tests on every push. An sdist is built separately and all artifacts are aggregated into a single downloadable archive.

A separate release workflow (.github/workflows/release.yml) publishes to PyPI on tag push via trusted publisher, with manual dispatch for TestPyPI.

Attributions

• SuperCollider -- the audio synthesis engine and programming language that nanosynth embeds.
• supriya -- the inspiration for nanosynth; its UGen system and SynthDef compiler were the basis for this project's graph compilation pipeline.
• TidalCycles -- live coding pattern language for music, built on SuperCollider.
• Strudel -- JavaScript port of TidalCycles for browser-based live coding.
• Sonic Pi -- live coding music synth built on SuperCollider.
• nanobind -- the C++/Python binding library used to embed libscsynth and the OSC codec.

License

MIT