pyquist

pyquist provides basic utilities for low-level computer music programming in Python and NumPy.

pyquist is designed for learning and is the teaching library for CMU's 15-322 Intro to Computer Music. Its primary purpose is to provide a barebones foundation for working with audio in Python, e.g., allocating sample buffers, audio file decoding and playback. Accordingly, it intentionally lacks a lot of functionality found in full-fledged computer music programming frameworks, such as a rich collection of unit generators.

Want to try it without installing anything?

import numpy as np
import pyquist as pq

# A 1-second, 440 Hz sine wave at CD quality.
sr = 44100
t = np.arange(sr) / sr
audio = pq.Audio(0.5 * np.sin(2 * np.pi * 440 * t), sample_rate=sr)

pq.play(audio)        # play through default output (or notebook widget)
pq.plot(audio)        # waveform
pq.plot_spec(audio)   # spectrogram

Loading and transforming:

from pyquist.paths import TEST_DATA_DIR

riff = pq.Audio.from_file(
    TEST_DATA_DIR / "388954__fullmetaljedi__blues-riff-in-g-nylon.wav"
)
clip = riff.segment(offset=5.0, duration=3.0).resample(8000)
pq.play(clip)

Rendering a Score with a custom instrument. An instrument is called as instrument(**event.kwargs) — declare the kwargs you use and absorb the rest with **kwargs:

from pyquist.score import Score, BasicMetronome
from pyquist.helper import pitch_to_frequency

def sine_instrument(pitch, duration, **kwargs):
    sr = 44100
    t = np.arange(int(duration * sr)) / sr
    freq = pitch_to_frequency(pitch)
    return pq.Audio(0.3 * np.sin(2 * np.pi * freq * t) * np.exp(-3 * t), sample_rate=sr)

score = Score([
    (0, {"pitch": 60, "duration": 0.5}),
    (1, {"pitch": 64, "duration": 0.5}),
    (2, {"pitch": 67, "duration": 0.5}),
])
pq.play(score.render(sine_instrument, metronome=BasicMetronome(bpm=120)))

For a guided walkthrough — visualization, MIDI parsing, scores, instruments — open examples/HelloPyquist.ipynb or run it in Colab.

Requires Python 3.10 or later.

brew install python@3.10          # or 3.11, 3.12, 3.13
python3.10 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pyquist

If pq.play(...) is silent, give Terminal (or your IDE) microphone/audio access in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.

Install Python and the PortAudio system library that sounddevice wraps:

# Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt install python3 python3-venv libportaudio2

# Fedora
sudo dnf install python3 python3-virtualenv portaudio

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pyquist

Install Python (3.10 or later, with "Add Python to PATH" checked), then open Command Prompt:

python -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
pip install --upgrade pyquist

For hacking on pyquist itself:

git clone https://github.com/gclef-cmu/pyquist.git
cd pyquist
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -e ".[dev,notebook]"
pre-commit install

Once installed, the pyquist CLI lets you choose persistent default input/output devices (handy for laptops with multiple interfaces):

pyquist devices

pip install jupyter ipykernel ipywidgets
python -m ipykernel install --user --name=pyquist --display-name "Pyquist"
cd examples
jupyter notebook

Then open HelloPyquist.ipynb and select the Pyquist kernel.

Inspired in part by:

• Nyquist
• Tone.js
• JUCE