A newer version of Max is available. Click here to access the latest version of the Max documentation

playlist~ Reference

Play sound files

playlist~

Description

Use playlist~ to organize sets of soundfiles and play them back. Each sound is given a visual representation in a clip where a selection from the entire sound file may be choosen. Clips may be dragged within a playlist~ to re-order them, or they may be dragged to other playlist~ objects by using the handle (dot) on the left side of the clip.

Discussion

Please note that playlist~ is not intended for high performance random access needs, as the object reads samples from disk. For high performance random access needs, please see buffer~ or polybuffer~.

Arguments

None.

Attributes

accentcolor [4 floats]

Set the color of the loop icon when turned off.

allowreorder [int] (default: 1)

Allow the re-ordering of clips in playlist~ by dragging the handle (dot on the left side) of a clip above or below other clips. Possible values:

0 = 'Off'
1 = 'On'
2 = 'Automatic'

basictuning [int]7.0.0

Set a tuning standard based on a frequency for A for pitch correction operations (440 = default, range is 400 - 500). Both timestretch and pitchcorrection need to be enabled to adjust the basic tuning.

bgcolor [4 floats]

Set the background color of playlist~.

channelcount [int] (default: 2)

Number of audio channels to playback. Changing this attribute will clear the playlist~ content.

clipheight [float] (default: 30.)

Height alloted for each clip to be displayed. This value may be altered when dragging new clips into the playlist~ according to the expansion attribute.

color [4 floats]

Set the color for the waveform and controls.

elementcolor [4 floats]

Set the clip divider color.

expansion [symbol] (default: squeeze)

Style of accomodation for adding clips to a playlist~ with no empty space available. Possible values:

'squeeze' ( Maintain the size of the box and reduce the height of all clips to make room. )
'static' ( Maintain both the size of the box and the height of all clips. A scroll bar will need to be used to access clips out of view. )
'grow' ( Expand the size of the box downward, while maintaining the height of all clips. )

followglobaltempo [int]7.0.0

When followgobaltempo is enabled for a clip in playlist~, sfplay~ will calculate the current tempo out of the ratio between originaltempo and global tempo and adapt to global tempo changes.

formant [float] (default: 1.)7.0.0

Set the amount of formant scaling when pitchshifting is performed. timestretch must be enabled to adjust the formant scaling.

formantcorrection [int]7.0.0

Turn on formant correction when pitch correction is performed. Both timestretch and pitchcorrection need to be enabled first.

loop [int]

Turn looping on/off.

loopreport [int] (default: 0)

When enabled, the message "loopnotify", followed by the clip number and file name, is sent out the fourth outlet of playlist~ every time a loop occurs.

mode [int]7.0.0

Set the timestretching mode to be used. Each mode is optimized for handling different kinds of audio material. All modes are zero latency. timestretch must be enabled first. Possible values:

'basic'
'monophonic'
'rhythmic'
'general'
'extremestretch'
'efficient'

name [symbol]

Name

originallength [Time Value]7.0.0

The original length of the the audio file. This can be measured in ticks, bars.beats.units, or notevalues. Used by followglobaltempo to calculate the speed in relation to the global transport speed. Setting the originallength will calculate the originaltempo. followglobaltempo must be enabled first.

originaltempo [float]7.0.0

The original tempo of the the audio file. Used by followglobaltempo to calculate the speed in relation to the global transport speed. Setting the originaltempo will calculate the originallength. followglobaltempo must be enabled first.

parameter_enable [int]

Enables use of this object with Max for Live Parameters and allows for setting initial parameter values in the Max environment.

parameter_mappable [int] (default: 1)

When parameter_mappable is enabled, the object will be available for mapping to keyboard or MIDI input using the Mappings feature.

pitchcorrection [int]7.0.0

Enable/disables the formant-corrected chromatic intonation correction. timestretch must be enabled first. For more extensive real-time intonation correction, use the retune~ object.

pitchshift [float] (default: 1.)7.0.0

Specify pitchshift as a factor of the original pitch (i.e. 2.0 = doubling of pitch, .5 = halving of the original pitch, etc.). timestretch must be enabled first.

pitchshiftcent [int] (default: 0)7.0.0

Specify pitchshift as positive or negative cent values (i.e. 100 = semitone up, -1200 = octave down). Cents may be specified as ints or floats. timestretch must be enabled first.

quality [int]7.0.0

Choose the quality for timestretching output. Possible values:

'basic'
'good'
'better'
'best'

reportprogress [int] (default: 0)

Report the progress (0. - 1.) of the currently playing media file via the notification output.

selectioncolor [4 floats]

Set the color of selections.

showname [int] (default: 1)

Show the file name for each clip.

slurtime [float] (default: 0.)7.0.0

Set the time it takes for the correction to reach the full corrected amount. Typically, notes are a bit unstable at the beginning, because the attack phase of a sound has a higher amount of noise, and because singers gradually adjust their tuning after the onset of the note. The slur time makes the pitch correction sound natural because it models this effect. Higher values will yield a slower adaptation time and it will take longer for the correction to produce the corrected pitch. However, longer slur times will also preserve vibrato better. timestretch and pitchcorrection must be enabled first.

speed [float]

Set the playback speed. 1.0 = original speed, 0.5 = half-speed, etc.

style [symbol] (default: )

Sets the style to be applied to the object. Styles can be set using the Format palette.

textcolor [4 floats]

Set the color of the file name text.

timestretch [int]7.0.0

Disable/enable timestretching. When timestretch is set to 1, you can control the quality of the conversion with the mode, quality, and formant attributes.

waveformdisplay [int] (default: 1)

Display style for waveforms that represent each clip. Possible values:

0 = 'Bi-Polar'
1 = 'Rectified'

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.

jspainterfile [symbol]

JS Painter File

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 [4 floats]

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

textjustification [int]

Sets the justification for the object's text. 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.

Parameter Attributes

Order

Typeint

Sets the order of recall of this parameter. Lower numbers are recalled first. The order of recall of parameters with the same order number is undefined.

Parameter Mode Enable

Typeint

Parameter Mode Enable (not available from Parameters window)

Link to Scripting Name

Typeint

When checked, the Scripting Name is linked to the Long Name attribute.

Long Name

Typesymbol

The long name of the parameter. This name must be unique per patcher hierarchy.

Short Name

Typesymbol

Sets the short name for the object's visual display. The maximum length varies according to letter width, but is generally in a range of 5 to 7 characters.

Type

Typeint

Specifies the data type. The data types used in Max for Live are:

Float
Int
Enum (enumerated list)
Blob

Note: By convention, the Live application uses floating point numbers for its calculations; the native integer representation is limited to 256 values, with a default range of 0-255 (similar to the char data type used in Jitter). When working with Live UI objects whose integer values will exceed this range, the Type attribute should be set to Float, and the Unit Style attribute should be set to Int.

Range/Enum

Typelist

When used with an integer or floating point data type, this field is used to specify the minimum and maximum values of the parameter.
When used with an enumerated list (Enum) data type, this field contains a space-delimited list of the enumerated values (if list items contain a space or special characters, the name should be enclosed in double quotes).

Clip Modulation Mode

Typeint

Sets the Clip Modulation Mode used by the Live application. The modulation modes are:

None
Unipolar
Bipolar
Additive
Absolute

Clip Modulation Range

Typelist

This parameter is only used with the Absolute modulation mode. It specifies defines the range of values used.

Initial Enable

Typeint

When checked (set to 1), the UI object can store an initialization value. The value is set using the Initial attribute (see below).

Initial

Typelist

Sets the initial value to be stored and used when the Initial Enable attribute is checked.

Unit Style

Typeint

Sets the unit style to be used when displaying values. The unit style values are: Int: displays integer values
Float: displays floating point values
Time: displays time values in milliseconds (ms)
Hertz: displays frequency values (Hz/kHz).
deciBel: displays loudness (dB)
%: Percentage
Pan: displays Left and Right values
Semitones: displays steps (st)
MIDI: displays pitch corresponding to the MIDI note number
Custom: displays custom data type
Native: defaults to floating point values

Custom Units

Typesymbol

Sets the units to be used with the 'Custom' unit style (see "Unit Style", above). Custom unit strings may be simple symbols (e.g. "Harmonic(s)"), in which case the parameter's value will be displayed in its 'Native' display mode, followed by the symbol (e.g. "12 Harmonic(s)" for an Int-typed parameter or "12.54 Harmonic(s)" for a Float-typed parameter). For additional control over the numerical component displayed, a sprintf-style string may be used (e.g. "%0.2f Bogon(s)", which would display a value such as ".87 Bogons").

Exponent

Typefloat

When set to a value other than 1., the parameter's input and output values will be exponentially scaled according to the factor entered in this column.

Steps

Typeint

The number of steps available between the minimum and maximum values of a parameter. For instance, if the parameter has a range from 0.-64., with Steps set to 4, the user can only set the parameter to 0, 21.33, 42.66 and 64.

Parameter Visibility

Typeint

For automatable parameters (Int, Float, Enum), 'Stored Only' disables automation, although parameter values are stored in presets. 'Hidden' causes the parameter's value to be ignored when storing and recalling data. Non-automatable parameters (Blob) are 'Stored Only' by default, and can be set to 'Hidden', if desired.

Update Limit (ms)

Typeint

Speed limits values triggered by automation.

Defer Automation Output

Typeint

Defers values triggered by automation.

Messages

int

Arguments

clip [int]
0 stops soundfile playback. A number greater than zero begins playback of the clip with that index. Indices begin counting at 1.

append

Arguments

soundfile [symbol]
clip-number [int]
Add a new soundfile to the list. First (optional) argument specifies the soundfile. Second (optional) argument specifies the slot number for the clip (starting at 1). If no arguments are listed, clicking the append message in a locked patcher will open a dialog box where you can choose a file to append.

clear

Remove all clips from the playlist. To remove just one clip, right-click on the file you wish to remove in a locked patcher and choose "Remove" from the contextual menu.

(drag)

Create a new playlist~ object by dragging and dropping an audio file into an unlocked patch. To load additional audio files into a playlist~ object, drag the new file onto the playlist~ UI until a line appears above or below the currently loaded file. To rearrange tracks within playlist~, click and drag the handle (dot on the left side) up or down in a locked patch. To replace a currently loaded file, drag the new file over the old one until the entire track is highlighted.

getcontent

The word getcontent sends the contents and behavior of all clips out the last outlet of playlist~ in dictionary format. Connect the last outlet to a dict.view object to see the contents. Please note that for the "absolutepath" entry, the full file path for each clip will only be displayed if the file is not in Max's search path. If the file is in Max's search path, only the file name will be displayed.

(mouse)

Use your mouse to play and stop the playlist, also use it to select small parts of the sample for playback.

next

Plays the next clip loaded in playlist~.

pause

Pause playback of the current clip at the current position.

remove

Arguments

clip-number [int]
The word remove, followed by a clip number starting at 1, removes that clip from the list.

resume

Resume playback from the current position if playback has been paused. This message has no effect when using signal-driven playback.

selection

Arguments

clip [int]
start [float]
end [float]
Select playback endpoints for a clip using a normalized range (0.0 is the beginning, 1.0 is the end). The first argument specifies which clip (starting at 1). The second argument is the start point for the clip, and the third argument is the end point. If only two arguments are given, they serve as the start and end points for all clips in playlist~. If only one argument is given, it serves as the clip number and clears any selection from that clip.

selectionms

Arguments

clip [int]
start [float]
end [float]
Select playback endpoints for a clip in milliseconds. The first argument specifies which clip (starting at 1). The second argument is the start point for the clip, and the third argument is the end point. If only two arguments are given, they serve as the start and end points for all clips in playlist~. If only one argument is given, it serves as the end point for all clips in playlist~.

setclip

Arguments

clip [int]
attribute [symbol]
value [anything]
sfplay~ attributes are available in playlist~. To control a specific clip, use the "setclip" message followed by the clip number, attribute name, and value. The message "setclip 2 loop 1" will turn looping on for clip 2.

signal

An input signal may be used for the sample-accurate triggering of prestored cues. When a signal value is received in the left inlet, the integer portion of the signal value is monitored. When the integer portion of the input signal changes to a value equal to the index of a prestored cue, that cue is triggered. Indexes start at 1. A signal value of 0 stops audio. Negative values are ignored.

Output

dictionary

The rightmost outlet sends a dictionary summary of the playlist~ content in response to the 'getcontent' message.

list

2nd from right outlet sends messages of the form 'start N clipname' or 'done N clipname' where N is the index and 'clipname' is the name of the clip.

signal

There is one signal outlet for each of the playlist~ object's output channels.

These are followed by a signal indicating the position of the playback head. The integer part of the number is the index of the clip that is playing. The fractional part of the number is the instantaneous position within that clip.

See Also

Name Description
mc.playlist~ Play sound files with multichannel output
jit.playlist Play video files
sfplay~ Play audio file from disk
mc.sfplay~ Play audio file from disk (multichannel)
waveform~ buffer~ viewer and editor