SuperCollider on Small Computers

This chapter explores the use of SuperCollider on a range of small computers, defined as cheap, single-board computers with ARM CPUs. Several exemplar systems have been selected: the NanoPi Neo, Beaglebone, and Raspberry Pi model 2 and 4. Different ways to pass audio into and out of the computers are considered, including direct wiring, daughterboards and USB sound cards. Audio quality measurements for these I/O methods are examined, using total harmonic distortion + noise and signal to noise ratio metrics. The SuperCollider performance capabilities of these exemplar systems are measured through the number of oscillators and FFTs they can run under various conditions. The chapter concludes with several case study projects which demonstrate the kinds of applications one might consider for SuperCollider on small computers