>I have a version of csound that generates 8 channel files. It runs on
>SGI IRIX...
Wonderful. Did you write the opcodes yourself?  Can they be incorporated 
in a general release?

>You already have quad output.  Due to the internal structure a
>multiple output opcode as you seem to suggest is rather hard. There is
>clearly a need/desire for 6 channels, but that is not an task to be
>undertaken lightly.
>
>==John 
Why do we need to stop at 6 channels?
If it is "hard" let's conquer it.  There are plenty of opcodes that 
hardly anyone uses, a multichannel output may only be used by a few 
percent of people immediately, but let's keep Csound at the forefront.  
Quad is nothing - we did that in the 70s (some of us anyway), then we 
"modelled" for ideally placed listeners.  Back in 1991-92 I did some 
pieces for 8 and even 16 channels.
I have attended concerts where stereo DAT and CD pieces have been 
diffused over multiple speakers (18-23 speakers) and they have been 
spectacular, but in a spatial sense, have achieved a kind of monody 
rather than counterpoint.  Some people think multichannel pieces in 
concert situations just have the same problems as stereo, but multiplied 
by the number of speakers, but not necessarily, IMO - we just need to 
learn how to "play" such set ups.


>I think Richard hit on a very important point here, it isn't that people are
>unwilling to write software which utilises Quadfiles, the problem is that
>although manufacturers are starting to make soundcards with multiple outs,
>they are not providing Quadrophonic/Octaphonic driver software to go with
>them. 
(JamieB)

Nope.  There are at least half a dozen cards currently available for 
multichannel analog or digital playback and more coming.  We Csounders 
are behind the times.
Emagic, Lucid, Sekd, Digidesign, Korg, Sonorus, Yamaha, MOTU and probably 
others all have 8 or 16 channel analog or digital cards (or cards plus 
external boxes).
Mostly they have drivers for Windows systems, but Mac too. 


> Fernando Rodrigues, fmr@mail.telepac.pt wrote:

> AudioMulch is in the same way. [i.e. 2 channel]
Sorry, but Ross Bencina has written an add on for AudioMulch for 8 
channel output. I heard and saw it at a concert 2 Saturdays ago.  This is 
a Windows app, not Mac.



Check:


Have PC and Mac multichannel cards and software listted as well.

On Thu, 11 Jun 1998, Graeme Gerrard wrote:

> >I have a version of csound that generates 8 channel files. It runs on
> >SGI IRIX...
> Wonderful. Did you write the opcodes yourself?  Can they be incorporated 
> in a general release?
yes I added an opcoded called outo. It was pretty simple... The code
should work on any unix system I dont see why it woulded work in
anyversion of csound though.... I use it on my O2 at home, mostly to write
8 channel soundfiles that I mix with a program called mixie for the SGI.
This program will read any number of channels contained in a soundfile. I
have had 4 8channels soundfiles 4 2channel files and 3 mono channels being
mixed at once on my O2 without any audio breakup. 

I have run csound with 8channel output in real-time on the O2 as well...
reading in 2 or 3 soundfiles and then panning them through the 8 channels,
each with its own path, using equal power panning. Csound is just too
slow to do anymore sounds in realtime.


 > >You already have quad output.
Due to the internal structure a
> >multiple output opcode as you seem to suggest is rather hard. There is
> >clearly a need/desire for 6 channels, but that is not an task to be
> >undertaken lightly.
> >
> >==John 
> Why do we need to stop at 6 channels?
> If it is "hard" let's conquer it.  There are plenty of opcodes that 
> hardly anyone uses, a multichannel output may only be used by a few 
> percent of people immediately, but let's keep Csound at the forefront.  
> Quad is nothing - we did that in the 70s (some of us anyway), then we 
> "modelled" for ideally placed listeners.  Back in 1991-92 I did some 
> pieces for 8 and even 16 channels.
> I have attended concerts where stereo DAT and CD pieces have been 
> diffused over multiple speakers (18-23 speakers) and they have been 
> spectacular, but in a spatial sense, have achieved a kind of monody 
> rather than counterpoint.  Some people think multichannel pieces in 
> concert situations just have the same problems as stereo, but multiplied 
> by the number of speakers, but not necessarily, IMO - we just need to 
> learn how to "play" such set ups.
I think most people dont want to add an opcode that cant be used on all
platforms. Seems that csound is a big deal on desktops now(Mac, PeeCee's)
and multichannel support isnt totally intergrated into the systems yet.
There is really no reason for these systems not to be ablee to read
multichannel files it just hasnt been something that is needed
commercially. I understand that... but, why not add it to csound? if you
dont want to use it then dont use it....
 > 
> >I think Richard hit on a very important point here, it isn't that people are
> >unwilling to write software which utilises Quadfiles, the problem is that
> >although manufacturers are starting to make soundcards with multiple outs,
> >they are not providing Quadrophonic/Octaphonic driver software to go with
> >them. 
> (JamieB)
> 
> Nope.  There are at least half a dozen cards currently available for 
> multichannel analog or digital playback and more coming.  We Csounders 
> are behind the times.
> Emagic, Lucid, Sekd, Digidesign, Korg, Sonorus, Yamaha, MOTU and probably 
> others all have 8 or 16 channel analog or digital cards (or cards plus 
> external boxes).
> Mostly they have drivers for Windows systems, but Mac too. 
yes, but they dont read/write more than 2 channels in a soundfile...
atleast thats what I get out of this whole thing.
 
> 
> > Fernando Rodrigues, fmr@mail.telepac.pt wrote:
> 
> > AudioMulch is in the same way. [i.e. 2 channel]
> Sorry, but Ross Bencina has written an add on for AudioMulch for 8 
> channel output. I heard and saw it at a concert 2 Saturdays ago.  This is 
> a Windows app, not Mac.
> 
> 
Michael

 
> Check:
> 
> 
> Have PC and Mac multichannel cards and software listted as well.
> 

> > diffused over multiple speakers (18-23 speakers) and they have been 
> > spectacular, but in a spatial sense, have achieved a kind of monody 
> > rather than counterpoint.  Some people think multichannel pieces in 

	you can get counterpoint with many speakers over 2-channel
tape - different speakers and different placement in the space has
different frequency response, etc.. so can sound as if more than 2-tracks
(plus adding a "performer" at the mixing desk....)

> > concert situations just have the same problems as stereo, but multiplied 
> > by the number of speakers, but not necessarily, IMO - we just need to 
> > learn how to "play" such set ups.

	same thing as above + where audience member is in the space can
actually mess up desired effect of composer - especially when you have
computer simulate spatial placement (ala chowning mover instr)	

	granted, combination of the two (what you mena by "play" possibly)
attitudes might be interesting...  or how about multiple tape/cd/computer 
decks also, so you could "play" with placement in time as well...

	joe - do you care to share your BEAST perspective?

> commercially. I understand that... but, why not add it to csound? if you
> dont want to use it then dont use it....

	well, that seems the prevailing attitude over the past few
years...

-matt