0 Freed, Adrian 1993 C Users Journal 85(9) Signal processing algorithms programmed in C must be as efficient and clear as possible because of their importance to time-critical applications. Careful programming and use of an optimizing compiler for a modern processor make it possible to make the algorithms efficient without sacrificing clarity. The first audio signal processing library function listed uses C's ability to express low-level operations to optimize code performance for a specific compiler or machine, while the second listing is clearer and uses no register variables, pointers, or temporary variables; it also makes no special case for vectors of contiguous elements. The simpler version was found to run slightly faster than the hand-optimized version by eliminating the test for the special case of increments by one. Guidelines for choosing the right algorithm, choosing and controlling data types, and memory layout are described. http://cnmat.berkeley.edu/publications/guidelines_signal_processing_applications_c