In Csound [Bou00] , the database is called a score (this usage was widespread among software synthesis packages at the time Csound was under development). Scores in Csound consist mostly of `notes', which are commands for a synthesizer. The `score' is essentially a timed sequence. A possible score might be as shown:
i1 0 1 440 i1 1 1 660 i1 2 1 1100 e
A Csound performance works as shown in Figure 1. Part (a) shows the ``classical" performance configuration, in which parameters in the notes update synthesis control values, each note acting at an effective time also calculated from the note's parameters.
Part (b) of the figure shows how to use real-time inputs (here from MIDI messages) in a Csound performance. The real-time inputs are simply merged with the (pre-scheduled) notes. In effect, there is no facility for intercommunication between the two control streams; they simply affect different variables in the orchestra, and the orchestra's audio output is controlled by the union of the two sets of variables.