Wire Tutorial - Audio Input
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Wire can process audio input as well as generate audio output. In this example we will ring modulate an input signal by multiplying it by a sine wave.
 

Note that some older PC audio cards that are ISA based, for example the AWE64, and some PC laptops do not support simultaneous audio input and output at full resolution. You may have reduced fidelity, or it may not work at all. :-(

Enabling Audio Input

  1. Use your operating system control panels to configure audio input. Make sure the input gain is turned up and that the appropriate input (Line In or Microphone)  is selected. Also make sure your microphone or mixer is connected.
  2. In the Top Patch window, select "Main Window" from the View menu.
  3. In the Main Wire Window, select "InputOutput" from the Engine menu. This enables simultaneous audio input and output.

Ring Modulating an Audio Input

Let's clear the top patch and start a new patch.
  1. Back in the Top Patch window, click in the background and drag a rectangle around all of the modules to select them all. Then hit the Delete key.
  2. Select "SynthNote Patch" from the Add menu.
  3. Double click the patch to open it.
  4. Add a SineOscillator from the "Add, Oscillators" menu.
  5. Add an InputPort from the the "Add, ExternalPorts" menu. Leave the name as "input".
  6. Connect the modules as shown.

  7. Select "Parent" from the View menu.
  8. Add a LineOut from the "Add, I/O" menu.
  9. Add a LineIn from the "Add, I/O" menu. This is the module that captures the audio input.
  10. Connect the modules as shown.

  11. Play an instrument or sing into the microphone. You should hear a bell like distortion of the input.
  12. While playing, click "Play Keys: and then play the ASCII keyboard.
You will probably notice a significant delay between the input and output, like an echo. This is because of the latency of the operating system. Modern operating systems such as Mac OS X, and Linux allow lower latencies. So these delays will be reduced significantly in the near future.

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