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line~

Linear ramp generator

Description

Use the line~ object to generate a signal ramp or envelope. It uses the Max time format syntax; envelope times can be either single valued fixed or tempo-relative.

Examples

Linearly changing signal, or a function made up of several line segments

Arguments

initial-value [float or int]

Optional

Sets an initial value for the signal output. The default value is 0.

Attributes

Common Box Attributes

annotation [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in the Clue window when the user moves the mouse over the object.

background [int] (default: 0)

Adds or removes the object from the patcher's background layer. background 1 adds the object to the background layer, background 0 removes it. Objects in the background layer are shown behind all objects in the default foreground layer.

color [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object box outline.

fontface [int]

Sets the type style used by the object. The options are:

plain
bold
italic
bold italic

Possible values:

0 = 'regular'
1 = 'bold'
2 = 'italic'
3 = 'bold italic'

fontname [symbol]

Sets the object's font.

fontsize [float]

Sets the object's font size (in points).

Possible values:

'8'
'9'
'10'
'11'
'12'
'13'
'14'
'16'
'18'
'20'
'24'
'30'
'36'
'48'
'64'
'72'

hidden [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object is hidden when the patcher is locked.

hint [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in as a pop-up hint when the user moves the mouse over the object in a locked patcher.

ignoreclick [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object ignores mouse clicks in a locked patcher.

patching_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 100. 0.)

Sets the position and size of the object in the patcher window.

position [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's x and y position in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its size unchanged.

presentation [int] (default: 0)

Sets whether an object belongs to the patcher's presentation.

presentation_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 0. 0.)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in the patcher's presentation, leaving its patching position unchanged.

rect [4 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation).

size [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's width and height in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its position unchanged.

textcolor [float]

Sets the color for the object's text in RGBA format.

textjustification [int]

Text Justification

Possible values:

0 = 'left'
1 = 'center'
2 = 'right'

varname [symbol]

Sets the patcher's scripting name, which can be used to address the object by name in pattr, scripting messages to thispatcher, and the js object.

Messages

int

Arguments

target-value/delta-time [int]
In left inlet: The number is the target value, to be arrived at in the time specified by the number in the right inlet. If no time has been specified since the last target value, the time is considered to be 0 and the output signal jumps immediately to the target value.

In right inlet: The number is the time, in milliseconds, in which the output signal will arrive at the target value.

float

Arguments

target-value/delta-time [float]
In left inlet: The number is the target value, to be arrived at in the time specified by the number in the right inlet. If no time has been specified since the last target value, the time is considered to be 0 and the output signal jumps immediately to the target value.

In right inlet: The number is the time, in milliseconds, in which the output signal will arrive at the target value.

list

Arguments

target-value [float]
delta-time [number]
In left inlet: The first number specifies a target value and the second number specifies a total amount of time (in milliseconds) in which line~ should reach the target value. In the specified amount of time, line~ generates a ramp signal from its current value to the target value.
line~ accepts up to 128 target-time pairs in a list, to generate compound ramps. (An example would be 0 1000 1 1000, which would go from the current value to 0 in a second, then to 1 in a second.) Once one of the ramps has reached its target value, the next one starts. A subsequent list, float, or int in the left inlet clears all ramps yet to be generated.

In right inlet: A list may be used to specify time in one of the Max time formats.

anything

Arguments

target-value [float]
delta-time [number]
In left inlet: The first number specifies a target value and the second number specifies a total amount of time (in milliseconds) in which line~ should reach the target value. In the specified amount of time, line~ generates a ramp signal from its current value to the target value.
line~ accepts up to 128 target-time pairs in a list, to generate compound ramps. (An example would be 0 1000 1 1000, which would go from the current value to 0 in a second, then to 1 in a second.) Once one of the ramps has reached its target value, the next one starts. A subsequent list, float, or int in the left inlet clears all ramps yet to be generated.

In right inlet: A list may be used to specify time in one of the Max time formats.

pause

In left inlet: Pauses the internal ramp but does not change the target value nor clear pending target-time pairs. line~ will continue outputting whatever value was its current value when the pause message was received, until either it receives a resume message or until a new ramp is input.

stop

In left inlet: Stops the internal ramp and clears pending target-time pairs. line~ will continue outputting whatever value was its current value when the stop message was received, resetting its target value to that value.

resume

In left inlet: Resumes the internal ramp and subsequent pending target-time pairs if the line~ object was paused as a result of the pause message.

Output

bang

Out right outlet: When line~ has finished generating all of its ramps, bang is sent out.

signal

Out left outlet: The current target value, or a ramp moving toward the target value according to the currently stored value and the target time.

See Also

Name Description
adsr~ ADSR envelope generator
click~ Create an impulse
curve~ Exponential ramp generator
transport Control a master clock
zigzag~ Linked list function editor
MSP Basics Tutorial 2: Adjustable Oscillator MSP Basics Tutorial 2: Adjustable Oscillator