Sukandar Kartadinata

using 'import' on a [buffer~] object for a 4min MP3 file takes less than 10s on my MacBookPro but 3min on my client's Windows laptop and 10+min in my virtual WindowsXP machine.

My guess was that it was my old Quicktime installation, but after I updated to the latest version (7.6.6) nothing changed much.

(also, opening the patch takes 2min compared to 5s on my Mac, but that's tolerable as you only do it once per session)

Hi,
using 'import' on a [buffer~] object for a 4min MP3 file takes less than 10s on my MacBookPro but 3min on my client's Windows laptop and 10+min in my virtual WindowsXP machine.
My guess was that it was my old Quicktime installation, but after I updated to the latest version (7.6.6) nothing changed much.
Any suggestions?

slow-mp3-import-under-windows

- turns out that upgrading to the latest Quicktime version DID change something: not only is MP3 import still very slow - MaxMSP is now crashing with a 30% chance when trying to do so. This is pretty consistent across 3 installations (my VM, the client's Toshiba, and a third machine, all WinXP-SP2).

- it has nothing to do with my patch, as I'm just using the [buffer~] help patch to test import.

The documentation advises to "install QuickTime and choose a complete install of all optional components". I've no idea how to proceed about that latter part. The Quicktime installer sure didn't offer any options during the install process.

OK, some additional details:
- turns out that upgrading to the latest Quicktime version DID change something: not only is MP3 import still very slow - MaxMSP is now crashing with a 30% chance when trying to do so. This is pretty consistent across 3 installations (my VM, the client's Toshiba, and a third machine, all WinXP-SP2).
- it has nothing to do with my patch, as I'm just using the [buffer~] help patch to test import.

thanks for the suggestion, will write to support then

the outside-of-Max conversion is what we're currently doing. It's sure good enough for myself, but not really for my client, and definitely not for *his* clients

Sukandar, any solutions to this problem? I am having the same issue with import mp3s into buffer.

Sukandar, any solutions to this problem?  I am having the same issue with import mp3s into buffer.


Support confirmed the problem and suggested to use "jit.qt.movie read->export to different format->reopen in buffer~". It is a bit cumbersome but sorta OK for our application.

can you explain the export from jit.qt.movie? Does that write an aif or wav file to the HD? Then you open the aif or wav into buffer~?

can you explain the export from jit.qt.movie?  Does that write an aif or wav file to the HD?  Then you open the aif or wav into buffer~?


you also got to query for exporterlist and stuff if you want to make sure a format is supported

I've attached the subpatch to give you an idea

but please don't ask for details, I can hardly remember....

yes, basically that's the procedure
you also got to query for exporterlist and stuff if you want to make sure a format is supported

I've attached the subpatch to give you an idea
but please don't ask for details, I can hardly remember....


Thanks for the help. I created my own patch yesterday that implemented this type of system but is a little less flashy. I do however have one problem still... I need to save the my temp file somewhere on the PC. I tried just saving to C: but I found that on vista and window 7 not all users will have read and write access to this directory. Do you know of a way to find the current users my documents folder? Or a way to find any other folder that all users will have both read and write access to? My app runs directly from the CD drive so finding a relative directory to that wont help much. Thanks for any help you may have.

Thanks for the help.  I created my own patch yesterday that implemented this type of system but is a little less flashy.  I do however have one problem still...  I need to save the my temp file somewhere on the PC.  I tried just saving to C: but I found that on vista and window 7 not all users will have read and write access to this directory.  Do you know of a way to find the current users my documents folder?  Or a way to find any other folder that all users will have both read and write access to?  My app runs directly from the CD drive so finding a relative directory to that wont help much.  Thanks for any help you may have.


slow MP3 import under Windows