i’m an intermediate max user with (what is probably) an accordingly intermediate question. i’m using a matrixctrl object to monitor the state of several buffers – i.e., are they full?, are they playing?, are they currently recording? – and am looking for a way to generate responses responses to that data. basically, i want the computer to be able to select an action (record, play, or erase) based on the buffer information so that it doesn’t, say, erase something that’s currently being played, or play something with nothing in it.

i’ve done the patching to get the data about what’s happening into matrixctrl (simple enough… made each buffer’s data into a column, each of which has a “recording now?” “playing now?” and “saved now?” row). and i can query and sort each column so that, when the i ask about, say, the third buffer, the patch can tell me the answers to all the questions above. that part was fairly easy.

but now, i need it to be able to figure out possible options given the buffer’s state, and then choose one. i have some vague ideas about how to do this, but it involves a lot of toggles, if/thens, and a whole lot of other tedious/processing intensive stuff that probably isn’t necessary.

any thoughts? very much appreciated. (& i’m happy to upload or send along a patch if that would elucidate what i’m trying to ask.)

best,
max