Orkestrave

Orkestrave is a cross-platform open-source software framework for real-time orchestration of live performers, electronic instruments, and multimedia. Designed for contemporary music and interactive installations, it coordinates multiple agents—musicians, software instruments, and sensors—through a unified scheduling and event-processing system. Orkestrave emphasizes reproducible workflows, compositional flexibility, and low-latency communication across devices and networks.

Its architecture centers on a small core engine that handles timing, scheduling, and synchronization, complemented by a plugin API for instrument drivers and media modules. Scoring and configuration are expressed in a declarative language that maps musical events to actions such as triggering samples, sending MIDI/OSC messages, or adjusting sound parameters. The platform supports MIDI, OSC, and CV/gate protocols, and includes a lightweight REST/WebSocket interface for remote control and collaboration.

Key features include time-stamped event scheduling, tempo and metric modulation, live looping and conditional events, latency compensation, and multi-user collaboration with conflict resolution. It provides a modular set of drivers for synthesizers, DAWs, and hardware controllers, plus a library of example scores and templates for ensemble setups and interactive installations.

Orkestrave was initiated by an international collective of composers and technologists seeking to bridge traditional orchestration with networked media. The project is released under the MIT License and has an active community contributing drivers, documentation, and tutorials.

Typical applications include contemporary concerts with mixed ensembles, gallery and theater installations, and educational settings where students experiment with score-driven performances and live electronics.

While praised for its flexibility and openness, users note that the learning curve can be steep and that robust documentation is essential for effective adoption.