Computer audio output

hrstrm's picture

Hi. I'm very new to QC so I might have to apologise right away for my lack of knowledge.

I'm wondering: is there any possibility to get a sound visualizer based on the sound/audio that the computer plays (audio output)?

I've checked out the Kineme audio tools but don't really know what to use.

Erik

jstrecker's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Yes, absolutely. The composition audio-frequency.qtz in the Audio Tools example compositions is a good starting point.

cybero's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Audio Tools Macro - thanks to toneburst. If you attach that as per the picture file attached below, then you will be able to easily make a sound visualizer based upon the sound / audio used.

I've not placed the picture inline because its pretty large pixel size wise :-)

You would also benefit from using the generally excellent SoundFlowerBed - search within this site and you'll find examples utilising both the Audio Tools and SoundFlower in conjunction to good effect.

Hope that helps.

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audio frequency and toneburst macro.jpg
audio frequency and toneburst macro.jpg379.21 KB

gtoledo3's picture
Re: Computer audio output

It's worth noting that one function that can be achieved with the "Audio File Input" that can't be achieved by the device input/audio input combo is the ability to change the sample buffer, which allows you to get more or less resolution from the spectrum.

So, you can use the Audio File Input and a Audio File Player to play your music "in QC" and get a little bit more functionality - it also works for offline renders. This obviously may not be applicable to your scenario, but if you can get a file path, it will work.

hrstrm's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Thanks for all your replies. But I'm actually a bit lost in where to connect what.

I would like to show the sound that's playing from my computer with different graphics for the 16 different spectrums.

It's probably pretty easy, but I can't really sort it out.

What is the best to use and how?

hrstrm's picture
Re: Computer audio output

I succeeded after installing Soundflower and changed the audio input to Soundflower (16ch) in QC and in the System Preferences.

But is there any better way?

I'm also thinking of connecting Ableton Live to get better sync and options, but is there any need of doing that?

I attach a image of what the thing i did looks like.

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Skärmavbild 2010-10-10 kl. 22.01.58.png
Skärmavbild 2010-10-10 kl. 22.01.58.png212.69 KB

cybero's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Sorry, but its two channels of 17 members apiece. [0, 16] using Frequency with Frequency mode set to Quadratic Average.

See deliberately simplified version of the Kineme Audio Tools sample composition for audio frequency with added tb macro as per the picture posted earlier by myself attached below.

Hope that helps.

BTW - just seen your current state of progress, with SoundFlower installed, that will provide an additional couple of Audio Inputs [2 ch and 16 ch] - although you would also seem to have moved away from what you'd originally enquired about - using Kineme Audio Tools, which is what the posted example on this post is about.

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audio-frequency_with-tb-macro.qtz55 KB

hrstrm's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Thank you cybero, but the composition for audio frequency with added tb macro you attached seems to only have the microphone as input. Is it possible to set the audio input to the computer output instead? So that all sound that plays on the computer is picked up by QC without using the microphone?

Would you say that the way I did it is a worse way to pick up the sound than any other?

cybero's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Yeah, you're right, hrstrm, this isn't working quite as you, nor I, would like. Actually there is a File path input too, but that'll hardly helps you with , say , running a visualizer off of the internal audio stream

Apologies. [As it happens, I'm a bit under the proverbial weather - fatigued].

Shall look into this again, in due course, otherwise I'm sure that someone else might well leap in to help you out more timeously than I find myself currently able to do.

harrisonpault's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Erik,

If you have Soundflower installed then you are almost there. Use the accompanying "Soundflowerbed" application to route Soundflower channels to your computer audio output device. Use System Prefs to make Soundflower your default audio output device. Select Soundflower in QC audio patches as the input device. You can use Kineme Audio Input Device to obtain the needed device id, I think. Your composition then gets the same audio signal as your speakers. I think this is what you want?

Paul

hrstrm's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Hi harrisonpault, thanks for your respons. I've tried to do this, but don't really succeed. The thing is that I no matter what I do get more than two channels in QC. I've got my Soundflower on 16ch, I don't know what to do in this phase I'm in.

I would really appreciate if you could take a look at my composition and see what has gone wrong.

Erik

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output_16ch_projekt_soundflower_3.qtz19.06 KB

harrisonpault's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Erik, I'm in the Windows world today sans Mac, so I will look at your qc later. I guess the question I have is, do you actually have more than 2 channels of audio? Not frequency bands, but channels? If your audio source is a mixer with multiple channels out (kick, guitar, voice 1, voice 2, bass, snare drum...) then you have more than 2 channels to work with. Or a surround-sound demuxing player with LF, CF, RF, LS, RS, Sub (then you have 6 channels). If you just have a stereo source then you only have 2 channels to work with. If you have truely multiple channels, then you use OS X Sys Prefs and Audio/Midi app to route these channels to Soundflower's 16 channels. And QC should be happy. How do you get multiple channels to play out of your computer? -Paul

hrstrm's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Thanks for your reply. At this moment I'm only using iTunes and other music players, does that explain everything?

harrisonpault's picture
Re: Computer audio output

Erik,

Yes, that probably explains your problem. I finally got around to doing a quick and dirty experiment to show greater than 2 channels. It works just fine. I played a walkman with a minijack output and plugged it into the the line in jack on my imac. Then I ran iTunes. Voila, 4 channels: Line In L, Line In R, Mic L, Mic R. Using Audio Devices, I created an aggregate device with both as input. Voila! A 4 channel input audio device with live data. Kineme Audio Input picks up all channels just fine.

In the meantime, if you want to have 16 independent objects reacting to different aspects of your 2 channel music, I suggest the old trusty Apple patch with it's spectrum.

Paul

Eleonora's picture
Re: Computer audio output mistery patch

does anybody know the aim and how to use the patch -audio processing? (snow leopard) I'd like to out pu music on a composition but I don't know how to do.

cybero's picture
Re: Computer audio output

You would simply need to change the structure index member from 0 to whatever audio input you have available. [like Soundlower, perhaps]