ecasound-iam(1)

NAME
ecasound-iam - ecasound interactive mode

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

Ecasound library contains an interpreter module that understands a set of commands aimed at controlling various library services. This is called the ecasound interactive mode (EIAM). All programs linked to ecasound library can use this facility.

ECI API and return types
A special case of EIAM use is ecasound's control interface (ECI), which is a small library providing easy access to the EIAM commands from outside of libecasound. When issuing EIAM commands using ECI, it's possible that commands also return information. Currently supported return value types are: string [s], list of strings [S] (elements separated by commas; escaped if necessary), integer [i], long integer [li] and floating-point number [f]. These definitions are used throughout this document. Commands that return nothing (void) are marked with [-]. Additionally, return type [e] marks an error condition. When an EIAM results in an error, a error string explaining the condition is returned.

Real-time commands
It's not possible to use all EIAM commands to modify and control objects that belong to a connected chainsetup. Commands that do support this are: 'start', 'stop', 'setpos', 'rewind', 'forward', 'c-select', 'c-muting', 'c-bypass', 'cop-select', 'copp-select', 'copp-value', 'ctrlp-select' and 'ctrlp-value'.

Another set of commands are those which can be used with connected chainsetups, but not without an audible break. These are: 'cop-add', 'cop-remove', 'ctrl-add', 'ctrl-select', 'ctrl-remove'

In addition, most non-modifying (const) commands work with connected setups.

GENERAL

quit, q
    Quit ecasound session. What this means in practice depends on the client (library throws an exception). [-]

start, t
    Processing is started (play). Error string is return if any errors upon startup are encountered. [e]

stop, s
    Stop processing. [-]

run Like 'start' but blocks until processing is finished. Error string is return if any errors upon startup, or during process, are encountered. [e]

debug 'debug-level'
    Set debug level to 'debug-level'. Notice that client programs can reimplement the debug routines. [-]

resource-file 'path-to-file'
    Overrides the global and user resource files. Does not affect already created objects. This command is equivalent to '-R' ecasound option (see ecasound (1) man page).

-prefix:arg1,...,argN
    Equivalent to issuing 'cs-option -prefix:arg1,...,argN). See documentation for 'cs-option'.

help', 'h'
    Help! [-]

GLOBAL

engine-status
    Returns a string describing the engine status (running, stopped, finished, error, not ready). See also cs-status. [s]

engine-launch
    Starts the real-time engine. Engine will execute the currently connected chainsetup (see 'cs-connect). This action does not yet start actual processing (see start and stop). When ecasound is used as a JACK client, issuing engine-launch makes ecasound an active JACK client (i.e. ecasound's ports can be connected to other JACK clients). [-]

engine-halt
    Stops the engine. Does not disconnect the chainsetup that was running. See also cs-disconnet and stop. When ecasound is used as a JACK client, engine-halt will cause ecasound to become a deactivated client (all JACK connections are torn down). [-]

CHAINSETUPS
Chainsetup is the central data object. All other objects (inputs, outputs, chains, etc) are connected to some chainsetup. There can be many chainsetups but only one can be connected. Similarly only one chainsetup can be selected. If not otherwise specified operations are done on the selected chainsetup. Some operations also require that selected chainsetup is not connected.

cs-add 'name'
    Adds a new chainsetup with name 'name'. 'name' is now the selected chainsetup. [-]

cs-remove
    Removes currently selected chainsetup. [-]

cs-list
    Returns a list of all chainsetups. [S]

cs-select 'name'
    Selects chainsetup 'name'. [-]

cs-selected
    Returns the name of currently selected chainsetup. [s]

cs-index-select 'cs_index', cs-iselect 'cs_index'
    Selects a chainsetup based on a short index string. Chainsetup names can be rather long. This command can be used to avoid typing these long names. 'cs_index' is an integer value, where '1' refers to the first audio input/output. You can use 'cs-list' and 'cs-status' to get a full list of currently available chainsetups. [-]

cs-load 'filename'
    Adds a new chainsetup by loading it from file 'filename'. 'filename' is now the selected chainsetup. [-]

cs-save
    Saves the currently selected chainsetup to file. If chainsetup was loaded from a file, the saved version will replace the original. If it doesn't have a default filename, it's saved to "chainsetup_name.ecs". [-]

cs-save-as 'filename'
    Saves currently selected chainsetup to file 'filename'. [-]

cs-edit
    Currently selected chainsetup is saved to a temporary file. This file is loaded to an external editor (see ecasoundrc (5)). After editing, the chainsetup is loaded back to ecasound. [-]

cs-is-valid
    Whether currently selected chainsetup is valid (=can be connected)? [i]

cs-connect
    Connect currently selected chainsetup to engine. When connecting, all resources (e.g. files, soundcard devices, external programs) needed to execute the chainsetup are reserved. Only one chainsetup can be connected at a time. Error string is returned if connection fails (for instance due to error in allocating the resources). [e]

cs-disconnect
    Disconnect currently connected chainsetup. This action will free all external resources needed by the chainsetup. [-]

cs-connected
    Returns the name of currently connected chainsetup. [s]

cs-rewind 'time-in-seconds', rewind 'time-in-seconds', rw 'time-in-seconds'
    Rewinds the current chainsetup position by 'time-in-seconds' seconds. Position of all inputs and outputs attached to the selected chainsetup is also affected. [-]

cs-forward 'time-in-seconds', forward 'time-in-seconds', fw 'ttime-in-seconds'
    The current chainsetup position is forwarded by 'time-in-seconds' seconds. Position of all inputs and outputs attached to the selected chainsetup is also affected. [-]

cs-set-position 'time-in-seconds', cs-setpos 'time-in-seconds', setpos 'time-in-seconds', set-position 'time-in-seconds'
    Sets the chainsetup position to 'time-in-seconds' seconds from the beginning. Position of all inputs and outputs attached to the selected chainsetup is also affected. [-]

cs-set-position-samples 'time-in-samples'
    Sets the chainsetup position to 'time-in-samples' samples from the beginning. Position of all inputs and outputs attached to the selected chainsetup is also affected. [-]

cs-get-position, cs-getpos, getpos, get-position
    Returns the current chainsetup position in seconds. [f]

cs-get-position-samples
    Returns the current chainsetup position in samples. [li]

cs-get-length, get-length
    Returns the chainsetup length in seconds (if known). [f]

cs-get-length-samples, get-length-samples
    Returns the chainsetup length in samples (if known). [li]

cs-set-length 'seconds'
    Sets processing time in seconds (doesn't have to be an integer value). A special-case value of '-1' will set the chainsetup length according to the longest input object. [-]

cs-set-length-samples 'samples'
    Sets processing time in samples. [-]

cs-toggle-loop
    Toggle looping. When processing is finished, engine will start again from the initial position. It's not always possible to enable looping (for instance all inputs and outputs have infinite length and chainsetup length is not explicitly set with 'cs-set-length'). [-]

cs-set-param
    Interpret general chainsetup parameters like for example "-b" (buffersize), "-n" (name), etc. See ecasound (1) for more info. [-]

cs-set-audio-format 'bits,channels,sample_rate'
    Set the default sample parameters for currently selected chainsetup. For example cd-quality audio would be "16,2,44100". This does the same as command-line argument "-f" (see ecasound (1)). [-]

cs-status, status, st
    Prints out status information about available chainsetup. Detailed information is printed out for connected (=available for running) nd selected (=available for editing) chainsetups. Other chainsetups are listed, but further details are suppressed. To get full details of a specific chainsetup, select it with 'cs-select' or 'cs-iselect', and then issue 'cs-select'. [s]

cs-option '-prefix:arg1,...,argN'
    One powerful feature of the interactive-mode is that it provides full access to ecasound's command-line syntax. For instance, command "cs-option -efb:400,200" means that a bandpass filter is added to the currently selected chain, with initial parameters 400 (center frequency) and 200 (width in Hz).

Note that session level options (such as setting debug level) can not be used with 'cs-option' (i.e. only options that modify chainsetups).

Note! EIAM implicitly interprets all strings beginning with a '-' as "cs-option string".

CHAINS
Chain is a simple signal flow abstraction. Every chain has one input and one output. All chain operators and their controllers are attached to chains. Chains can be muted, unmuted and be bypassed. If not otherwise stated, all operations are done to currently selected chainsetup.

c-add 'cname1,...,cnameN'
    Adds a set of chains. Added chains are automatically selected. Note that commas in chain names are not allowed. [-]

c-remove
    Removes selected chains. [-]

c-list
    Returns a list of all chains. [S]

c-select 'cname1,...,cnameN'
    Selects chains. Other chains are automatically deselected. [-]

c-index-select 'index1,...,indexN', c-iselect 'index1,...,indexN'
    Selects a set of chains based on the list of indixes. Each index is an integer value, where '1' refers to the first chain. You can use 'c-list' and 'c-status' to get a full list of currently available chains. [-]

c-select-all
    Selects all chains. [-]

c-select-add 'cname1,...,cnameN'
    Selects more chains. [-]

c-deselect 'cname1,...,cnameN'
    Deselects chains. [-]

c-selected
    Returns a list of selected chains. [S]

c-clear
    Clear selected chains by removing all chain operators and controllers. Doesn't change how chains are connected to inputs and outputs. [-]

c-rename 'new_name'
    Renames the selected chain. When using this command, exactly one chain must be selected. [-]

c-muting
    Toggle chain muting. When chain is muted, all data that goes through is muted. [-]

c-mute
    Toggle chain muting. Note! Deprecated, use c-muting instead. [-]

c-bypass
    Toggle chain bypassing. When chain is bypassed, sample data is passed through unprocessed (all chain operators are disabled for the given chain). [-]

c-status, cs
    Print status info about all chains. [s]

AUDIO INPUT/OUTPUT OBJECTS
If not otherwise stated, all operations are done to currently selected object. All commands with ai- prefix operate on audio inputs, while commands with ao- operate on outputs.

ai-add 'input_format_string'
    Adds a new input object. See ecasound (1) man page for more info about the argument format ('-i' option). Note on syntax: if any of the parameters (such as a filename) contains commas, the parameter should be enclosed in double-quotes. [-]

ao-add 'output_format_string'
    Adds a new output object. See ecasound (1) man page for more info about the argument format ('-o' option). If argument is omitted, a default output device is added (see ecasoundrc (5)). Note on syntax: if any of the parameters (such as a filename) contains commas, the parameter should be enclosed in double-quotes. [-]

ao-add-default
    Adds the default output device (see ecasoundrc (5)). [-]

ai-describe, ao-describe
    Returns a Ecasound Option Syntax (EOS) compliant string describing the input/output. See the Ecasound User's Guide for more information about EOS. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.4. [s]

ai-select 'aobject_name', ao-select 'aobject_name'
    Selects an audio object. 'aobject_name' refers to the string used when creating the object (the first argument given to ai-add/ao-add). Note that as a important difference to ai-add/ao-add, one should not enclose the object name in double quotes for ai-select/ao-select. In the case a chainsetup contains multiple inputs, or outputs, with identical name, 'ai-select' and 'ao-select' will select the first matching instance. In order to select a specific instance, the 'ai-iselect' and 'ao-iselect' commands need to be used. [-]

ai-index-select 'aobject_index', ai-iselect 'aobject_index', ao-index-select 'aobject_index', ao-iselect 'aobject_index'
    Select some audio object based on a short index string. Especially file names can be rather long. This command can be used to avoid typing these long names when selecting audio objects. 'aobject_index' is an integer value, where '1' refers to the first audio input/output. You can use 'ai-list' and 'ao-list' to get a full list of currently available inputs/outputs. [-]

ai-selected, ao-selected
    Returns the name of the currently selected audio object. [s]

ai-attach, ao-attach
    Attaches the currently selected audio object to all selected chains. [-]

ai-remove, ao-remove
    Removes the currently selected audio object from the chainsetup. [-]

ai-forward 'time_in_seconds', ai-fw 'time_in_seconds', ao-forward 'time_in_seconds', ao-fw 'time_in_seconds'
    Selected audio object is forwarded by 'time-in-seconds' seconds. Time should be given as a floating point value (eg. 0.001 is the same as 1ms). [-]

ai-rewind 'time_in_seconds', ai-rw 'time_in_seconds', ao-rewind 'time_in_seconds', ao-rw 'time_in_seconds'
    Selected audio object is rewinded by 'time-in-seconds' seconds. Time should be given as a floating point value (eg. 0.001 is the same as 1ms). [-]

ai-setpos 'time_in_seconds', ai-set-position 'time_in_seconds', ao-setpos 'time_in_seconds', ao-set-position 'time_in_seconds'
    Set audio object position to 'time_in_seconds'. [-]

ai-set-position-samples 'time_in_samples', ao-set-position-samples 'time_in_samples'
    Set audio object position to 'time_in_samples'. [-]

ai-getpos, ai-get-position, ao-getpos, ao-get-position
    Returns the audio object position in seconds. [f]

ai-get-position-samples, ao-get-position-samples
    Returns the audio object position in samples. [li]

ai-get-length, ao-get-length
    Returns the audio object length in seconds. [f]

ai-get-length-samples, ao-get-length-samples
    Returns the audio object length in samples. [li]

ai-get-format, ao-get-format
    Returns the audio format of the selected audio input/output as a formatted string. See documentation for '-f' command-line option. [s]

ai-wave-edit, ao-wave-edit
    The currently selected audio object is loaded into an external wave editor (see ecasoundrc (5)). [-]

ai-list, ao-list
    Returns a list of all input/output objects. [S]

aio-register
    Prints a list of registered audio object types. [s]

aio-status
    Audio object status (index strings, position, length, etc). [s]

CHAIN OPERATORS
Chain operators are used to process and analyze sample data. They are attached to chains. If not otherwise stated, currently selected chainsetup and chain are used. Also, 'chainop_id' and 'param_id' are used to select chain operators and their parameters. First valid value for these parameters is 1.

cop-add 'cop_format_string'
    Adds a new chain operator. In addition to normal chain operators, this commmand can also be used to add effect presets and various plugins. Note; it is not possible to add operators to multiple chains at once. In other words only one chain should be selected when issuing 'cop-add'. See ecasound (1) man page for more info. [-]

cop-describe
    Returns a Ecasound Option Syntax (EOS) compliant string describing the chain operator. See the Ecasound User's Guide for more information about EOS. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.4. [s]

cop-remove
    Removes the selected chain operator. [-]

cop-list
    Returns a list of all chain operators attached to the currently selected chain. [S]

cop-select 'param_id', cop-index-select 'param_id', cop-iselect 'param_id'
    Selects a chain operator. [-]

cop-selected
    Returns the index number of currently selected chain operator. [i]

cop-set 'chainop_id, param_id, value'
    Changes the value of a single chain operator parameter. Unlike other chain operator commands, this can also be used during processing. [-]

cop-status
    Returns info about chain operator status. [s]

copp-list
    Returns a list of selected chain operator's parameters. [S]

copp-select 'param_id', copp-index-select 'param_id', copp-iselect 'param_id'
    Selects a chain operator parameter. [-]

copp-selected
    Returns the index number of currently selected chain operator parameter. [i]

copp-set 'value'
    Sets the selected parameter value to 'value'. [-]

copp-get
    Returns the selected parameter value. [f]

cop-register
    Prints a list of registered chain operators. [s]

preset-register
    Prints a list of registered effect presets. [s]

ladspa-register
    Prints a list of registered LADSPA plugins. [s]

CONTROLLERS
Controllers are used to control individual chain operator parameters. They are attached to chains. If not otherwise stated, currently selected chainsetup and chains are used.

ctrl-add 'copc_format_string'
    Adds a new controller and attach it to currently selected chain operator. The argument syntax is either "-<id_string>:par1,...,parN" or just "<id_string>:par1,...,parN". If parameter itself contains commas, the parameter should be enclosed in double-quotes. See ecasound (1) man page for more info. [-]

ctrl-describe
    Returns a Ecasound Option Syntax (EOS) compliant string describing the controller. See the Ecasound User's Guide for more information about EOS. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.4. [s]

ctrl-remove
    Removes the selected controller. [-]

ctrl-list
    Returns a list of all controllers attached to the currently selected chain. [S]

ctrl-select 'param_id', ctrl-index-select 'param_id', ctrl-iselect 'param_id'
    Selects a controller. [-]

ctrl-selected
    Returns the index number of currently selected controller. [i]

ctrl-status
    Returns info about controller status. [s]

ctrl-register
    Prints a list of registered controllers. [s]

ctrl-get-target
    Returns the index number of the chain operator that is connected to the selected controller. The returned index refers to the currently selected chain (see 'cop-list'). [i]

ctrlp-list
    Returns a list of all controller parameters. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.2. [S]

ctrlp-select
    Selects a controller parameter. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.2. [-]

ctrlp-selected
    Returns the index number of currently selected controller parameter. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.2. [i]

ctrlp-get
    Returns the selected controller parameter value. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.2. [f]

ctrlp-set
    Sets the selected controller parameter value to 'value'. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.2. [-]

INTERNAL COMMANDS
Internal commands are not directly aimed at normal use. They are primarily meant for use in scripting and frontends.

int-cmd-list
    Returns a list of all registered EIAM commands. [S]

int-log-history
    Returns recent log messages sent by libecasound modules. This is a good tool for debugging ECI/EIAM scripts and applications. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.0. [s]

int-output-mode-wellformed
    Select the well-format output format for log messages. [-]

int-set-float-to-string-precision
    Sets precision used in float to text conversions. Note that this can be used to control the precision of float return values for ECI commands. [-]

int-set-log-history-length
    Sets the log history length. Defaults to 0 items. This command was introduced in ecasound 2.4.0. [-]

int-cmd-version-string
    Returns EIAM parser version string. [s]

int-cmd-version-lib-current
    Returns EIAM library interface version (libtool). [i]

int-cmd-version-lib-revision
    Returns EIAM library interface revision (libtool). [i]

int-cmd-version-lib-age
    Returns EIAM library interface age (libtool). [i]

OBJECT MAPS
Object maps are central repositories for commonly used object types. By querying the maps, applications can get a list of all registered object types and their properties.

map-cop-list
    Prints a list of registered chain operators using the format specified in section OPERATOR DESCRIPTIONS. [s]

map-preset-list
    Prints a list of registered effect presets using the format specified in section OPERATOR DESCRIPTIONS. [s]

map-ladspa-list
    Prints a list of registered LADSPA plugins using the format specified in section OPERATOR DESCRIPTIONS. [s]

map-ladspa-id-list
    Prints a list of registered LADSPA plugins using the format specified in section OPERATOR DESCRIPTIONS. Numerical LADPSA plugin identifiers are used. [s]

map-ctrl-list
    Prints a list of registered controllers using the format specified in section OPERATOR DESCRIPTIONS. [s]

DUMP COMMANDS
The following dump commands are not meant for normal use. Their primary purpose is to provide an easy way to get internal state information from libecasound. All dump commands output a single line with syntax "key value" to the selected output stream (defaults to stdout).

dump-target 'filename'
    Set target stream for dumping. [-]

dump-status
    Dumps engine status - 'running', 'stopped', 'finished' or 'notready'. [-]

dump-position
    Dumps the global position. Printed in seconds using a floating-point representation. [-]

dump-length
    Dumps the overall processing length. Printed in seconds using a floating-point representation. [-]

dump-cs-status
    Dumps status string for the currently selected chainsetup - 'connected', 'selected' or an empty string. [-]

dump-c-selected
    Dumps the name of currently selected chain. [-]

dump-ai-selected
    Dumps label of currently selected audio input. If no input is selected, dumps an empty string. [-]

dump-ai-position
    Dumps position of currently selected audio inputs. Printed in seconds, using a floating-point representation. [-]

dump-ai-length
    Dumps length of currently selected audio input. Printed in seconds, using a floating-point representation. [-]

dump-ai-open-state
    Dumps audio input state info. Either 'open' or 'closed'. [-]

dump-ao-selected
    Dumps label of currently selected audio output. If no output is selected, dumps an empty string. [-]

dump-ao-position
    Dumps position of currently selected audio outputs. Printed in seconds, using a floating-point representation. [-]

dump-ao-length
    Dumps length of currently selected audio output. Printed in seconds, using a floating-point representation. [-]

dump-ao-open-state
    Dumps audio output state info. Either 'open' or 'closed'. [-]

dump-cop-value 'chainop,param'
    Dumps chain operator parameter value. 'chainop' and 'param' are operator and parameter index values (1...n). [-]

OPERATOR DESCRIPTIONS

    The map-xxx-list commands return a string containing all registered objects of the given type xxx. Each line of the output describes one registered type. The used syntax is:

    'keyword,name,description,num_of_params,par1_def,par2_def,...'

    parX_def describes one object parameter. This definition is present for all parameters of the described object type. The used syntax is:

    'name,description,defaultvalue,upper_bound_flag,upper_bound, lower_bound_flag,lower_bound,toggled_flag,integer_flag, logarithmic_flag,output_flag'

    For exact descriptions of these fields, please see the header file emph(ecasound/libecasound/eca-operator.h).

SEE ALSO

    ecasound (1), ecatools (1), ecasoundrc (5)

AUTHOR

    Kai Vehmanen, <kvehmanen -at- eca -dot- cx <kvehmanen -at- eca -dot- cx>>