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Csound provides a comprehensive C++ interface that wraps the C API with object-oriented classes and modern C++ features. The C++ API includes three main components:

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Core C++ wrapper

The Csound class (defined in csound.hpp) provides an object-oriented wrapper around the C API. It encapsulates a CSOUND* instance and provides virtual methods for all major Csound operations. Key features:
  • RAII-based resource management with automatic cleanup
  • Virtual methods for compilation, performance, and configuration
  • Multiple overloaded convenience methods
  • Channel communication (control, audio, string, array, PVS)
  • Message handling with buffering support
  • MIDI and audio I/O configuration
Location: include/csound.hpp

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Plugin framework (csnd namespace)

The csnd namespace (defined in plugin.h) provides a modern C++ framework for writing Csound plugins with: Template-based plugin classes:
  • Plugin<N, M> - Base class for N outputs and M inputs
  • InPlug<N> - Base class for N inputs (no outputs)
  • FPlugin<N, M> - Specialized for fsig (frequency-domain) processing
Container classes:
  • Vector<T> - One-dimensional arrays
  • AudioSig - Audio signal wrapper with sample-accurate timing
  • Fsig - Frequency-domain signal container
  • Table - Function table access
  • AuxMem<T> - Auxiliary memory allocation
Utility classes:
  • Csound - Engine access with convenience methods
  • Thread - Base class for threading
  • Param<N> - Parameter access template
Location: include/plugin.h

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Performance thread

The CsoundPerformanceThread class (defined in csPerfThread.hpp) provides a high-level interface for running Csound performance in a separate thread. Key features:
  • Automatic thread management with Play/Pause/Stop control
  • Score event queuing during performance
  • Real-time audio recording to disk
  • Orchestra code compilation during performance
  • Process callbacks for custom processing
  • Thread-safe message queue for communication
Location: include/csPerfThread.hpp

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Threading utilities

For systems with pthread spinlock support, csound.hpp provides:
  • Spinlock - Lightweight synchronization primitive
  • Spinlocker - RAII-style spinlock guard

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C++ standard requirements

The C++ API supports:
  • C++98/C++03 - Basic functionality
  • C++11 and later - Enhanced features including:
    • Deleted copy constructors
    • explicit constructors
    • Better type safety