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The Mind Amplifier: Software Composition in José Vicente Asuar’s COMDASUAR

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2026

Federico Schumacher Open the ORCID record for Federico Schumacher [Opens in a new window] ,
Juan Parra  and
Rodrigo F. Cadiz Open the ORCID record for Rodrigo F. Cadiz [Opens in a new window]
Federico Schumacher*
Affiliation:
Sonido, University of Chile, Chile
Juan Parra
Affiliation:
Orpheus Institute, Belgium
Rodrigo F. Cadiz
Affiliation:
Music Institute and Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
*
Corresponding author: Federico Schumacher; Email: federico.schumacher@uchile.cl
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Abstract

This paper re-evaluates the significance of José Vicente Asuar (1933–2017), a pioneering figure in Latin American computer music, shifting the focus from the hardware construction of his COMDASUAR system to the innovative software he developed for algorithmic composition. While Asuar’s hybrid digital-analog computer is noteworthy, the true core of his contribution lies in his original machine language programs designed for the Intel 8080 microprocessor. This study examines how Asuar thought about and designed algorithms specifically created for generating musical structures, processing symbolic data in real-time, and enabling interactive performance. By analyzing newly discovered handwritten notebooks containing his meticulous code documentation, we uncover Asuar’s deep engagement with low-level programming to express complex musical ideas. His approach, focused on the computer as an “amplifier of the imagination,” prioritized the development of software to facilitate generative composition and real-time manipulation of musical parameters. This paper argues that Asuar’s legacy rests not solely on the COMDASUAR hardware but primarily on his visionary software architecture, which transformed the computer into a dynamic compositional partner. In doing so, he anticipated later developments in interactive music systems, demonstrating a pioneering approach to computer music that placed software innovation at its center.

Keywords

AsuarCOMDASUARcomputer musicelectroacousticsChile

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Type
Article
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Organised Sound , Volume 31 , Issue 1: Sound, music and technology in Latin America , April 2026 , pp. 11 - 20
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© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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