Hi,

Does the tabplay object consume cpu when it is not playing?

Let's contextualize.

I create a patch called "sample.pd" which contains:

• a table named $0-table
• a "tabplay $0-table" object
  -an inlet, which is connected to the tabplay, and which is expected to receive a bang
  -an outlet~ which is connected to the tabplay output

Now I create a main patch, containing N instances of object "sample", each one with a bang connected to its inlet; finally, I connect all the "sample" objects to the same "dac~".

Suppose that I fill in all tables with some audio data.

My question is...

When no tabplay is playing, or when just very few of them are playing, Is my patch consuming nearly the same amount of cpu as if all tabplay objects were playing at the same time?

Or:
Are the tabplay objects wasting cpu time by outputting a constant flow of zeros?
Is this cpu usage significant?

By the way..... what if I asked the same question about "idle" "vline~" objects which are outputting a constant 0 level? And about multiplier ("*~") objects whose left or right inlet is inputting a constant 0?

Thanks in advance
Bye
Teo

Yes.

Audio rate objects that are active in the current sheet are computed every cycle even when they output zeros / are "turned off".

The way to control CPU usage is to use the [switch~] object.

Wrap sub-parts (subpatches or abstractions) of your patch and include a [switch~]. When this set to 0 all computation in the local block is turned off.
When set to 1 all computation is turned back on again.

Wow, great!

Though at the same time: Oh shit! (I mean, had I known it before...)

Thank you so much Obiwannabe