How to start...

[whyterabbyt]

Yeah, PD can be run on the Pi, and also the Beagleboard. CSound as well (though of unlike PD, that's text-based).

MAX/MSP gen code or Faust could probably work as well, with a little bit of work, as per the Hoxton/Rebel Tech Owl.

OP : The article below gives the design of a Pi + Arduino system (that eventually became the QuBit Nebula eurorack module, AFAIR) that might be quite different from what you're interested in doing, but it shows how the Arduino can be used the hardware 'front end' of a system running CSound as a software synthesiser on a Pi.

http://www.csounds.com/journal/issue18/eurorack.html

Also, since you talked about things like the SammichSID and PreenFM, then from the Arduino-only perspective, there's also been stuff like this

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/13 ... or-arduino

[whyterabbyt]

Oh, and if you're after books, keep an eye on this webpage, every day.

https://www.packtpub.com/packt/offers/free-learning

They effectively give away one of their commercial books as a free ebook every day. Ive scored several on Arduinos, RasPi and Python (as commonly used on the Pi) there, as well as some other stuff. There's a few 'extra' free ones at the moment including a Pi one and an Arduino one.