large files streaming from disk

dsmd's icon

Hi all,

A recent project I'm working on involves loading several (8 to 12) large
files. These files are 309mb mono 16 bit 44100 hz. So they have a duration
of an hour.
This amount of data is way to much for the laptop (g4 2024 mb ram) to
handle. Ofcourse I could convert the files to 22100 hz, then they are half
the size. I can imagine, however, that the composer isn't going to be to
happy about such a rash action. I have thought of cutting the files in
smaller files and then loading the files when the time comes to play the
file. Only loading files into buffer~ when the patch is running seems to
disrupt the accuracy of the patch. Which is very important......

Is there a way to stream files from the harddisc instead of using up all of
the ram memory?

Or has someone dealt with this sort of issues in the past? I've searched the
archives and haven't found anything.

Thanx

Wilco Alkema
student musictechnology & composition
HKU, hilversum, holland.

Jeremy's icon

sfplay~ -- this is pretty basic stuff, and is covered in the MSP
Tutorials and Topics book. You might want to go back to that for a
refresher.

jb

pdelges's icon

Wilco,

it is possible to do direct-to-disk within Max/MSP. Check the [sfplay~
] object.

But if for whatever reason, you have to use buffers, they are so big
that you can't use the [play~] object anymore, you have to use
[hr.play~] instead (you'll have to download it, it's not in the
standard distribution). Please check the forum's archive.

p

_____________________________
Patrick Delges

Centre de Recherches et de Formation Musicales de Wallonie asbl
http://users.skynet.be/crfmw/max

dsmd's icon

Thanx,

Completely overlooked the preload part....

wilco