SuperCollider
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- Linux, Mac, Web, Windows
Summary
SuperCollider is a free platform for audio synthesis and algorithmic composition for musicians, artists, and researchers working with sound. Its core components are scsynth, a real-time audio server with hundreds of units for audio analysis, synthesis, and processing; sclang, its language; and scide, its development environment. The alternative supernova server supports multithreaded operation. A client/server design lets multiple clients connect to and control the audio server, with client implementations available in Python, JavaScript, Haskell, and Scala as well as native sclang. The language includes Quarks for managing packages containing classes, extensions, documentation, and UGens. Third-party plugins can use C and C++ APIs. SuperCollider runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can also be used on Raspberry Pi, Bela, or in browsers through WebAssembly. The project lists version 3.14.1 as its current release. It is free software under version 3 of the GNU General Public License.
Who it is for
SuperCollider suits musicians, artists, and researchers who want a programmable platform for audio synthesis or algorithmic composition. Its client options and plugin APIs may also fit work involving other programming languages or custom extensions.
What is good
- Free software under version 3 of the GNU General Public License
- Real-time server offers hundreds of audio units
- Multiple clients can control the audio server
- Quarks manages language packages
What to know first
- macOS universal binary requires macOS 11 or later
- Windows support is listed for Windows 10 and 11
- Linux builds require gcc version 9 or later
Verdict
SuperCollider provides a broad, programming-oriented audio environment with multiple client languages and plugin APIs. Check the listed operating-system requirements before choosing a build.
SuperCollider plans and pricing
All plansCompared on sound design software
- Free plan
- Yessupercollider.github.io
- Primary workflow
- hybridsupercollider.github.io
- Standalone app
- Yessupercollider.github.io
- Sample import
- Yessupercollider.github.io
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linuxsupercollider.github.io
Facts
- Purpose
- SuperCollider is a platform for audio synthesis and algorithmic composition used by musicians, artists and researchers working with sound.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Core components
- It includes scsynth, sclang and scide, plus the alternative multithreaded supernova server.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Audio engine
- scsynth is a real-time audio server with hundreds of unit generators for audio analysis, synthesis and processing.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Client architecture
- Its client/server architecture allows multiple clients to connect to and control the server.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Language integrations
- Client implementations are available in Python, JavaScript, Haskell and Scala in addition to the native sclang client.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Package manager
- sclang includes the Quarks package manager for downloading and managing packages containing classes, extension methods, documentation and UGens.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Plugin APIs
- scsynth and supernova support third-party plugins through C and C++ APIs.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Additional platforms
- SuperCollider can be used on Raspberry Pi, the Bela platform and in browsers through WebAssembly.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Current release
- The current version listed by the project is 3.14.1.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Platform limits
- The downloads page lists macOS 11 or later for the universal binary, Windows 10 and 11 support, and Linux builds requiring gcc version 9 or later.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Release security
- The project states that macOS builds are signed and notarized and provides a GPG signature for the Linux source tarball.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- Official support and discussion are provided through the scsynth.org forum, Slack, documentation and mailing-list archives.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- License
- SuperCollider is free software available under version 3 of the GNU General Public License.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Community
- SuperCollider is developed by a community and its official communities include scsynth.org, sccode.org and the SuperCollider GitHub organization.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Origin
- SuperCollider was developed by James McCartney and originally released in 1996.supercollider.github.io · 30 Sept 2026
Company
- Founded
- 1996supercollider.github.io · 23 Sept 2026
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Sources
- supercollider.github.io· checked 30 Sept 2026
- github.com/supercollider/supercollider· checked 30 Sept 2026
- supercollider.github.io/downloads· checked 30 Sept 2026
- supercollider.github.io/community· checked 30 Sept 2026