Bidule vs SuperCollider

Bidule is a modular audio application for connecting modules to build instruments and effects. It runs as a standalone app on Windows and macOS and can also operate as a plug-in in compatible hosts. FFT modules split audio into frequencies and magnitudes for spectral processing. Bidule can play and record multichannel audio files with up to 64 channels and render ambisonic files offline. Users can save module collections as reusable groups, and free community groups are available through the in-app catalogue. MIDI devices can control mapped internal module parameters when connected to the graph. Its OSC server can control linked parameters, start processing, or open a .bidule file. Listed plug-in formats are VST2, VST3, and AU. The one-time price is 95.00 USD, and a fully functioning demo is available. However, the current standalone trial period has ended; Plogue says a new trial will be available with a new version. Plug-in versions are limited to registered users and require the standalone version to be installed and registered first.

SuperCollider is a free platform for audio synthesis and algorithmic composition for musicians, artists, and researchers working with sound. Its components include scsynth, a real-time audio server with hundreds of unit generators for analysis, synthesis, and processing; sclang, its language; and scide, its development environment. The alternative supernova server supports multithreaded operation. A client/server design lets multiple clients control the server, with client implementations in Python, JavaScript, Haskell, and Scala as well as native sclang. sclang includes Quarks for managing packages with classes, extension methods, documentation, and UGens. Third-party plugins can connect through C and C++ APIs. SuperCollider runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can also be used on Raspberry Pi, Bela, and in browsers through WebAssembly. The project lists version 3.14.1 as its current release. Its downloads page lists macOS 11 or later, Windows 10 and 11, and Linux builds requiring gcc 9 or later. It is free software under version 3 of the GNU General Public License.