Jackbytes, a simple tool to get sound data into other applications using JACK
Artist name:
URL:
Statement:
JACKBYTES was inspired by the discovery that seemingly the best way to get sound data from other applications into a Processing sketch was by using a non-open non-free library , that only works on Microsoft Windows platforms. Now that Processing is open, this was a missing link for for artists wishing to use an open toolchain for creating reactive audio-visual applciations in processing
Although some similar usage may be feasable with either java-jack or using OSC, a simple single-purpose server was developed to simply send a packet of sound data or sound spectrum data to the application, using a network port. The spectrum may be obtained by using FFTW (arbitrary size packet) or a hard-coded simple fft routine (2**n size data packet only)
A processing client was written to allow nearly drop-in replacement (a network port needs to be specified) of the non-free library, and to allow direct use of the (open) sonia-helper library. A c++ client object was written to allow any C++ application to use the server. The specification is so simple that clients for other languages shoudl be very easy to write, the trade-off is that of course the program does not do very much!
I would like to present this as a short explanation, with a demonstration using my own applications for sound and visuals communicating via JACK and jackbytes
Software:
c++ , C compilers (gcc) and standard libraries
Jack audio connection kit
FFTW library (optional)
Demonstrated using the author's variseq and breakimage applications and a processing sketch