Learning Core Audio: A Hands-On Guide to Audio Programming for Mac and iOS

Audio can affect the human brain in the most powerful and profound ways. Using Apple’s Core Audio, you can leverage all that power in your own Mac and iOS software, implementing features ranging from audio capture to real-time effects, MP3 playback to virtual instruments, web radio to VoIP support. The most sophisticated audio programming system ever created, Core Audio is not simple. In Learning Core Audio, top Mac programming author Chris Adamson and legendary Core Audio expert Kevin Avila fully explain this challenging framework, enabling experienced Mac or iOS programmers to make the most of it. In plain language, Adamson and Avila explain what Core Audio can do, how it works, and how it builds on the natural phenomena of sound and the human language of audio. Next, using crystal-clear code examples, they guide you through recording, playback, format conversion, Audio Units, 3D audio MIDI connectivity, and overcoming unique challenges of Core Audio programming for iOS. Coverage includes: mastering Core Audio’s surprising style and conventions; recording and playback with Audio Queue; synthesizing audio; perform effects on audio streams; capturing from the mic; mixing multiple streams; managing file streams; converting formats; creating 3D positional audio; using Core MIDI on the Mac; leveraging your Cocoa and Objective-C expertise in Core Audio’s C-based environment, and much more. When you’ve mastered the “black arts” of Core Audio, you can do some serious magic. This book will transform you from an acolyte into a true Core Audio wizard.

Table of Contents

Part I: Understanding Core Audio
Chapter 1 Overview of Core Audio
Chapter 2 The Story of Sound
Chapter 3 Audio Processing with Core Audio

Part II: Basic Audio
Chapter 4 Recording
Chapter 5 Playback
Chapter 6 Conversion

Part III: Advanced Audio
Chapter 7 Audio Units: Generators, Effects, and Rendering
Chapter 8 Audio Units: Input and Mixing
Chapter 9 Positional Sound

Part IV: Additional Topics
Chapter 10 Core Audio on iOS
Chapter 11 Core MIDI
Chapter 12 Coda