Since we are all here, I have a question. I personally am much more interested in audio sample triggering and/or loop based production in this context than synthesis/wave generation -- and it seems like the overwhelming majority of tools are focused on the latter.

In my head, I'm imagining a more programmatic approach to "arrangement of samples and loops," as in, instead of, or perhaps complementing, the classic "grid" or "buttons" view -- something like,e.g.:

- Specify 4/4 @ 95bpm for the piece

- Sample 1, a drum loop stretched/and or pitched

- Sample 2, a hit on the 2nd beat of each interval

- Sample 3, a simple electric piano melody, repeating over X intervals.

- Sample 4, a pad with an echo/reverb

etc. Now, what should be easy to do is to switch out, e.g. which drum loop, or change your piano to a trumpet. I get that MIDI is okay for this -- but is of course better for the latter situation and not great for effects and audio samples.

Your Abletons and so forth are not bad at this, of course, but - and maybe this what I'm describing -- Ableton's features -- but doable in vim, perhaps with the ability to create functions et al on the fly, which strikes me as a potentially powerful way to "group" musical sounds/ideas/intervals/melodies/chords/effects etc etc