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PD version: Pd-0.42.5-extended-20100501<br>
Mac OS X: 10.5.8, 4GM, 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo<br>
<br>
Hi PD List,<br>
<br>
I'm replying to my own thread, started a couple of years ago,
concerning crackles and pops<br>
in VFOs driven by modulating accelerometer signals (such as from a
Wiimote).<br>
<br>
I've been creating some new 3D GEM visuals (and making videos from
them),<br>
however the quality is compromised by pops, crackles, and glitches in
the audio.<br>
<br>
One can hear the sound problems (and see the nice videos) at:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2592">Gallery: 3D Drancel RGB
visuals and sound synthesis with a PureData/GEM Prototype of DranceWare</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2592">http://www.webel.com.au/node/2592</a><br>
<br>
Some videos that demonstrate the sound hiccups include:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2617">Video: The Drancel RGB
virtual triaxial accelerometer: colour=sound synthesis principle in 3D
(with 3 VFOs and simulated sinusoidal signals)</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2617">http://www.webel.com.au/node/2617</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2616">Video: Drancel RGB
accelerometer "light horns" sound=colour synthesis
principle (with 3 Variable Frequency Oscillators): driven by Wiimote</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2616">http://www.webel.com.au/node/2616</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2618">Video: 1 Drancer
(acceleration avatar) with 5 Drancel RGB virtual
triaxial accelerometers: colour=sound synthesis principle in 3D
(PureData/GEM) 3 VFOs per Drancel and simulated sinusoidal signals</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2618">http://www.webel.com.au/node/2618</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2614">Video: 2 Drancers
(acceleration avatars) each with 5 Drancels: in PureData/GEM Prototype
of DranceWare: rotating camera: driven by Wiimote</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.webel.com.au/node/2614">http://www.webel.com.au/node/2614</a><br>
<br>
I can conclude so far:<br>
<br>
- It happens whether or not I show the 3D GEM visuals (I can remove the
[gemhead] and it makes no difference to the sound).<br>
<br>
- It happens even for the simplest of my systems with only 3VFOs (and
does not seem to
get proportionally worse with number of elements).<br>
<br>
- It happens whether or not I use smooth simulated (sinuisoidal) or
real accelerometer signals driving VFOs<br>
(I can safely exclude the accelerometer sensor signal quality).<br>
<br>
- It also happens even when I do not monitor signals in widgets<br>
(I've come up with a nice little checkbox/spigot-based bypass system
for number and slider widgets,<br>
because they can definitely eat a lot of CPU, and they can cause
disturbances).<br>
<br>
- It happens even when I am not changing parameters in the graphical
interface. It "just happens" sometimes.<br>
<br>
- It happens no matter what time-smoothing scale I use to smooth
changes in the driving frequency of the VFOs.<br>
<br>
- I don't think it is a CPU problem, it happens even when the CPU usage
is modest.<br>
<br>
And, by comparison, it definitely does not happen on an older Java/JSyn
version of my system,<br>
with very similar parameters and synthesis, so I don't think the
algorithm is to blame.<br>
<br>
I am clueless as to why I am still getting these pops and crackles in
PureData+GEM on Mac OS X.<br>
<br>
I would be most grateful for suggestions of any other tests I might
perform to isolate the problem.<br>
<br>
Q: Is there a standard patch I can use to test/benchmark performance of
PureData on my maschine ? <br>
<br>
Yours Gesturally Accelerated,<br>
<br>
<br>
Dr Darren Kelly (Webel IT Australia)<br>
<br>
<br>
Darren Kelly wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:48887E60.5020806@webel.com.au" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi PD list,
I have uploaded an example of the problem as about 20 rather unmusical
seconds of me waving 1 Wiimote
as accelerometer driving frequencies of 3 [osc~], almost nothing else
running, and no visuals, sliders, atoms:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.webel.com.au/project/drancing/puredata/audio/drancing.VFO.3osc.crackles.mp3">http://www.webel.com.au/project/drancing/puredata/audio/drancing.VFO.3osc.crackles.mp3</a>
It is panned quite left (when I use 2 Wiimotes I pan them leftish and
rightish).
Will keep breaking it down further to isolate the problem.
The patches including visuals (now disconnected) can be viewed at:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.webel.com.au/project/drancing/puredata/index.jsp?page=DranceWarePureDataWii">http://www.webel.com.au/project/drancing/puredata/index.jsp?page=DranceWarePureDataWii</a>
Darren
Collin Oldham wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I think you are getting those crackles from the atoms (number boxes)
that are trying to redraw every time they get a new number from the
accelerometers. (which is probably pretty often!) That would explain
why it only happens you are using the sensors, and why your very
sensible solutions didn't work. Just a hunch! I'd try hiding it all in
a sub patch, and if that works, you could use something like
[speedlim] (from cyclone?) to limit the refresh rate on the atoms.
Collin
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://homepage.mac.com/coldham/klang">http://homepage.mac.com/coldham/klang</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Webel IT, "The Elements of the Web"
Specialists in Drupal CMS web engineering, UML, SysML, Java and XML,
Darren Kelly, BSc, PhD
phone: +61 (2) 9386 0090
mobile: 0405 029 008
post: PO Box 1816, Bondi Junction, NSW 1355, Australia
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.webel.com.au">http://www.webel.com.au</a>
</pre>
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