java for dsp?

[Ross Bencina]

Hi there,

I've been trying to come to terms with the issues involved in creating a
flexible, real-time, user programmable music dsp environment... using java.
What I am thinking of is controlling signal flow within java methods (using
native code dsp routines) not just plugging together a synth network that's
asynchronously managed in C/C++ (which is how jsyn does it as far as I can
tell(?))...

You would have a "SignalVector" type, and classes that operated on it (some
using native methods) such as (the following stupid example):

Class StupidExample{

public Update( SignalVector outSig, freq, amp )
{
    SignalVector sig1, sig2;
    Oscillator osc1,osc2;

    osc1.Update( sig1, freq*2, amp );
    osc2.Update( sig2,  freq + sig1*.01, amp );

    outSig = sig1 * sig2;
}

Has anyone examined the issues involved... could (native code assisted) java
functions be used to synthesize sound in real-time... are there threading /
gc issues? Is this just a dumb idea and why?

Thanks,

Ross.

P.S. I've switched to 'research' mode on the "universal software synthesis
component" issue... I'll post an update when I have finished the web page.