What, in your opinion, is the best
API to utilize in developing an
application that handles both
realtime MIDI and audio input and
output? This would be for an
application that is used in the
process of making music as opposed to
playing audio or MIDI files. I'm aware that this may be a subjective question, but if you know of an API that is dominantly used for these purposes, please share it.
I'm agnostic about which language the
API is for, and I also don't care
about portability. The real concern
is for an API that is well
documented, well designed (e.g.
thought out and intuitive to
developers using it), and actively
maintained. OS portability would be
nice, but it is second to having an
API/Language that meets the previous
requirements.
Please note that the emphasis is not
on API's for sound synthesis or for
composing music with code. It is
intended for the handling of sound
file and MIDI data in a real-time
context.