ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the processes that take place inside the computer and therefore what it is that digital musicians actually do. It is necessarily rather technical, but does not go into any great depth regarding the mathematical and engineering aspects of digital signal processing (DSP), preferring to focus instead on its creative and musical consequences. All of digital music is fundamentally a form of digital signal processing, so these are very important concepts. There are further reading recommendations to the many excellent books on computer music. At all stages, examples are given from the repertoire and the creative projects are designed to take this rapidly into the practical area. Nevertheless, understanding the processes that take place inside the computer may be taken as core knowledge for a digital musician.
