Detach Audio Objects in Ecasound Interactive Mode

Managing signal routing dynamically in Ecasound Interactive Mode (EIAM) often requires modifying signal chains by disconnecting or deleting audio inputs and outputs. This article explains how to identify, select, and detach audio objects from chains using EIAM commands such as ai-remove, ao-remove, and target selection directives.

Step 1: Pause or Stop the Engine

Before modifying chain setups, the audio engine should typically be halted to prevent processing errors while routing changes occur. Enter:

stop

Step 2: Identify and Select the Audio Object

Audio objects in Ecasound are categorized as inputs (ai) or outputs (ao). To detach an object, you must first verify which object is targeted by listing and selecting it.

To inspect existing inputs and outputs:

• Run ai-list to list all currently defined audio inputs.
• Run ao-list to list all currently defined audio outputs.

Once you have identified the target object by its index number or label, set it as the active object:

• For an audio input: ai-select <index_or_name>
• For an audio output: ao-select <index_or_name>

If the object is tied to a specific chain, select the chain first using c-select <chain_name>, though object selection can also be performed globally by index.

Step 3: Detach and Remove the Object

Ecasound treats detaching an audio object from the active chain setup via removal commands:

• Detach an Audio Input: Run ai-remove. This command unbinds and removes the currently selected audio input from the active chainsetup.
• Detach an Audio Output: Run ao-remove. This command unbinds and removes the currently selected audio output from the active chainsetup.
• Detach General I/O: Run aio-remove to remove the currently selected input or output object depending on your current context.

If an input or output is attached to multiple chains and you only want to clear the association without deleting the underlying source definition, inspect the chain bindings using c-status. In standard interactive sessions, ai-remove and ao-remove completely sever the object's attachment to the current setup.

Step 4: Verify and Restart the Engine

Confirm that the audio object has been detached by running ai-list or ao-list again. The detached device or file should no longer appear in the active chain routing.

To apply the changes and resume processing:

cs-connect
start