Abstract:

This article introduces the fundamentals of parallel computing and discusses its benefits for musicians. It begins by introducing classic parallel architectures and parallel programming strategies. Next, it discusses the benefits of parallel computing for a specific area of computer music research: sound synthesis. The article then concludes with a brief discussion on the future of the musician's desktop computer. It is suggested that new paradigms for computer music will emerge from parallel computing technology, but it is up to our community to find the right approaches to them.