Switch Chainsetups in Ecasound Interactive Mode

This guide explains how to toggle between multiple loaded chainsetups within Ecasound’s interactive mode interface. Managing multiple chainsetups allows you to preconfigure different audio routing configurations, inputs, outputs, and effect paths, and switch between them dynamically without restarting the Ecasound engine.

1. View Currently Loaded Chainsetups

Before switching, check which chainsetups are currently present in your session. In the Ecasound interactive prompt, execute:

cs-list

This returns a list of all chainsetups loaded in memory. The currently active chainsetup is typically marked or indicated by the prompt status.

2. Stop and Disconnect the Current Chainsetup

Ecasound permits only one chainsetup to be connected and running audio processing at any given time. If your current chainsetup is actively processing audio, you must halt and disconnect it before activating a new one:

stop
cs-disconnect

3. Select the Target Chainsetup

Switch the focus of interactive mode to your desired setup using the cs-select command followed by the setup's name:

cs-select <chainsetup_name>

Replace <chainsetup_name> with the identifier shown earlier in the cs-list output. Once selected, all subsequent chain, parameter, and controller commands will apply directly to this chainsetup.

You can verify that the selection was successful by running:

cs-status

This displays the configuration details, chains, and inputs/outputs assigned to the selected chainsetup.

4. Connect and Start the New Setup

After selecting the desired chainsetup, bind the audio subsystem to its routing tree and start processing:

cs-connect
start

To switch to another setup later, repeat the sequence: execute stop, cs-disconnect, cs-select <new_name>, cs-connect, and start.