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What is Core Audio?

Core Audio is designed to handle all audio needs in Mac OS X. You can use Core Audio to generate, record, mix, edit, process, and play audio. Using Core Audio, you can also generate, record, process, and play MIDI data, interfacing with both hardware and software MIDI instruments.

Core Audio combines C programming interfaces with tight system integration, resulting in a flexible programming environment that still maintains low latency through the signal chain. Some of Core Audio's benefits include:

• Plug-in interfaces for audio synthesis and audio digital signal processing (DSP)

• Built in support for reading and writing a wide variety of audio file and data formats

• Plug-in interfaces for handling custom file and data formats

• A modular approach for constructing signal chains

• Scalable multichannel input and output

• Easy synchronization of audio and MIDI data during recording or playback

• A standardized interface to all built-in and external hardware devices, regardless of connection type (USB, Firewire, PCI, and so on)

Contents:

Core Audio in Mac OS X
A Core Audio Recording Studio
Development Using the Core Audio SDK

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