Sampling: Using Audio Files in Faust

Using 'soundfile'

Under the hood, using sound files in Faust is based on libsndfile. This part of Faust is less documented and lacks full integration. The soundfile primitive, which is the basis for reading and playing audio files, is not yet managed in the Faust Web IDE and can not be used with all targets.

When using wav files in Faust, their content is combined with the generated binary when compiling. Files can thus not be read dynamically. Compiling with support for managing audio files is enabled with the -soundfile flag:

$ faust2jaqt -soundfile sample_trigger.dsp

Samples With a Trigger

The soundfiles.lib library includes convinient functions for handling sound files and playing them:

https://github.com/grame-cncm/faustlibraries/blob/master/soundfiles.lib

Using the provided methods, basic use of audio files is granted with little code. The example sample_trigger.dsp makes use of the play method for soundfiles. A set of audio files is read and selected files can be triggered with buttons.

// sample_trigger.dsp
//
// Read files and make them playable with a trigger.
//
// - makes use of the
//
// Henrik von Coler
// 2020-05-28

import("stdfaust.lib");

// read a set of wav files
s = soundfile("label[url:{'../WAV/kick.wav'; '../WAV/cowbell.wav'; '../WAV/my_model.wav'}]", 1);

// a slider for controlling the level of all samples:
level = hslider("level",1,0,2,0.01);

// sample objects
kick = so.sound(s, 0);
bell = so.sound(s, 1);

process = kick.play( level, button("kick") ),  bell.play( level, button("bell")) :>  _   <: _,_ ;

Looping a Sample

sample_looper.dsp defines a looping function which can play a chosen sample with fracional playrates, allowing reverse looping.

// sample_looper.dsp
//
// Read a set of samples from wav files
//
// - loop sample with slider for speed
// - select active sample
//
// Henrik von Coler
// 2020-05-28

import("stdfaust.lib");

// read a set of wav files
s = soundfile("label[url:{'../WAV/kick.wav'; '../WAV/cowbell.wav'; '../WAV/my_model.wav'}]", 1);

// a slider for selecting a sound file:
file_idx = hslider("file_idx",0,0,2,1);

// a slider for controlling the playback speed:
speed = hslider("speed",1,-100,100,0.01);

// a logic for reverse loops (wrap to positive indices)
wrap(l,x) = select2((x>=0),l-abs(x),x);


// the loop function
loop(s, idx) = (idx, reader(s)) : outs(s)
with {

// get recent file's properties
length(s) = idx,0 : s : _,si.block(outputs(s)-1);
srate(s)  = idx,0 : s : !,_,si.block(outputs(s)-2);

// the playback position (a recursive counter)
reader(s) = (speed * float(srate(s)))/ma.SR : (+,length(s):fmod)~  _ : wrap(length(s)) : int;

// read from sample
outs(s)   = s : si.block(2), si.bus(outputs(s)-2);

};

process = loop(s,file_idx) <: _,_ ;