The acronym "OSC" represents a variety of things including the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Ontario Securities Commission, and the Open Sound Control protocol. As the spelling doesn't closely correspond to pronunciation, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is useful for explaining. The first two letters are pronounced with a long "o" sound, represented by /oʊ/. The final letter is pronounced with a soft "s" sound, represented by /s/. Together, the word is pronounced as "oh-ess-see" (/oʊs/ + /s/).
OSC stands for Open Sound Control. It is an open and widely-used protocol that facilitates the communication and exchange of data between software and hardware devices, predominantly in the fields of music, sound synthesis, and multimedia.
With OSC, information is transmitted in the form of messages that contain specific data and instructions. These messages can be sent and received over various network protocols such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or even the internet. They are structured in a way that enables precise control over parameters like pitch, volume, timing, or other application-specific data.
OSC is highly versatile as it can be employed not only in traditional music production and performance settings but also in interactive installations and other creative applications. It allows for real-time, bidirectional communication between different devices, enabling seamless integration and synchronization.
The protocol employs a simple, human-readable syntax, which makes it relatively easy to understand and implement. Additionally, its open nature encourages interoperability among different software and hardware platforms, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of digital sound and multimedia.
Overall, OSC plays a crucial role in modern electronic music and multimedia art by providing a standardized framework for the seamless exchange of data and control instructions between various devices and software systems.