Hi forum,

at [pdp_theorin] help patch there is two things i dont understand:

What is this line for?

"[bang< [stop< [metro 70] [bang< [0] In manual mode..."

And the next line?

"[thread $1< [X] [1< [loadbang] Activate threading..."

What is threading?

br.
GARFF

hi,

looks like you can start pdp_theorin~ playing in two different ways:

auto: just open a file & it starts playing.

manual: you have to bang it with a metro object (at the playback rate you want). So in that case, you need to open a file, then start the metro - likewise, stop the metro to pause playback.

• this is my crappy explanation of multi-threading (flame-free zone thanks) -

Threading allows the computer to run tasks 'concurrently' - that is, with the illusion that the CPU is handling several tasks simultaneously (really, it's devoting a slice of time to every program that's open/running at any moment). Having the option for pdp_theorin~ means that it gets it's own subprocess (to do it's thing - like fetch data from the disk etc) running alongside anything else that PD happens to be doing (like telling the metro object to fire when the time is right).

Most of the pdp player objects allow for threading - It can help file playback/recording in terms of efficiency in the case where the rest of PD doesn't actually have work to do at that instant. As to 'when to turn threading on/off' - well, that's going to be harder to decide - just keep an eye on the CPU load meter & experiment...

It's also somewhat more than this - you should look at the help file for pdp_control. The point is to be able to tune the processes that can kill other parts of a complicated PD patch (ie. processing video vs. avoiding audio glitches).

• end of blah - it's been a while since I wrote anything other than perl scripts really -

What sort of quality are you getting from theora/ogg files?

Ash