In Csound there are nine statement types, each of which provides a heading for the descriptive sections that follow in this chapter:
assignment statements signal generator statements
orchestra header statements signal modifier statements
instrument block statements ignal display statements
program control statements soundfile access statements
duration control statements
Throughout this document, opcodes are indicated in boldface and their argument and result mnemonics, when mentioned in the text, are given in italics. Argument names are generally mnemonic (amp, phs), and the result is denoted the letter r. Both are preceded by a type qualifier i, k, a or x (e.g. kamp, iphs, ar). The prefix i denotes scalar values valid at note Init time; prefixes k or a denote control (scalar) and audio (vector) values, modified and referenced continuously throughout performance (i.e. at every control period while the instrument is active). Arguments are used at the prefix-listed times; results are created at their listed times, then remain available for use as inputs elsewhere. The validity of inputs is defined by the following:
All arguments, unless otherwise stated, can be expressions whose results conform to the above. Most opcodes (such as linen and oscil) can be used in more than one mode, which one being determined by the prefix of the result symbol.