Set Loop Boundaries in Ecasound Interactive Mode

This article provides a quick overview and guide on configuring playback loop points within Ecasound's interactive mode (EIAM). It details the specific interactive commands required to define loop start and end boundaries by time or samples, explains how to activate the loop functionality, and outlines a clear workflow for immediate execution.

The Loop Boundary Commands

To set loop boundary start and end points in Ecasound interactive mode, use the cs-set-loop-points command.

Time-Based Boundaries (Seconds)

The standard command accepts values formatted in seconds (including decimals):

cs-set-loop-points <start_position> <end_position>

• <start_position>: The beginning boundary of the loop in seconds.
• <end_position>: The ending boundary of the loop in seconds.

Example: To set a loop between 5.0 seconds and 15.5 seconds:

cs-set-loop-points 5.0 15.5

Sample-Accurate Boundaries

If sample precision is required, use the sample-based counterpart:

cs-set-loop-points-samples <start_sample> <end_sample>

Example: To set a loop starting at sample 220500 and ending at sample 441000:

cs-set-loop-points-samples 220500 441000

Enabling and Managing the Loop

Setting the boundaries does not automatically activate loop playback. To manage the loop behavior, use the accompanying interactive commands:

1. Enable/Disable Looping: Toggle loop playback on or off using:

   cs-toggle-loop

2. Check Current Status: View the current loop boundaries and overall chainsetup settings:

   cs-status

Interactive Workflow Example

A typical session in Ecasound interactive mode follows these steps:

1. Launch Interactive Mode:

   ecasound -c -i input.wav -o alsa

2. Define Boundaries:

   cs-set-loop-points 10.0 20.0

3. Activate Looping:

   cs-toggle-loop

4. Start Playback:

   start

Ecasound will play through to the 20-second mark and seamlessly jump back to the 10-second mark until stopped or toggled off.