I'd position pd not against low-level stuff but as a complementary to them, just as Matlab. It is easier to prototype new ideas and algorithms in an environment

I'd position pd not against low-level stuff but as a complementary to them, just as Matlab. It is easier to prototype new ideas and algorithms in an environment with higher abstraction level. After you know what you want, HC-implementation can begin.. :-) I can certainly appreciate your appetite to drive DACs on a breadboard! For likeminded hackers with an itch to solder, I suggest also looking at some analog synth projects, such as the great x0xb0x: http://www.ladyada.net/make/x0xb0x/ http://www.ladyada.net/make/x0xb0x/ It's a precise clone of the legendary acid synth Roland TB-303 and what's best, it's completely open source! :-) I'm building mine just now..