The SamplePlay utility series includes SamplePlay (requiring a
MIDI controller) and SamplePlayASC (performed on the ASCII keyboard
alone). Both can handle mono or stereo soundfiles, and up to 25
samples and a single background loop. The files can be of any sample
rate and a variety of uncompressed formats including WAV and AIFF;
also Ogg/Vorbis, but not MP3. The Ogg/Vorbis format is only possible
when the Sugar version is later than 0.84; this excludes the original
XO-1 and SoaS (Sugar-on-a-Stick) Strawberry.

*However*, the ogg vorbis format (which is written by later versions
of the Record activity) *can* be used by SoaS (Strawberry) 0.84 if
libsndfile is updated. This can be done while connected to the
internet by issuing the following commands in the Terminal:
su
yum update libsndfile
Neither the XO-1.5, nor XO-1 upgraded to Sugar 0.84 require this mod.

Students are encouraged to create their own soundfiles, especially
to make their own nature soundscapes. (This is the primary intent
behind these utilities. The 25 bird samples and background loop
included here are collectively called OISEAUX ORDINAIRES, in honor of
the French composer Olivier Messiaen, his fascination with nature -
especially unique bird calls, and his piano composition, Oiseaux
Exotiques.)

The natural vehicle for soundfile creation is the Record activity.
This activity is fairly simple and straightforward; the only problem
is that many versions of it do not work with various incarnations of
Sugar. The following pairings of Record with Sugar seem to work
reliably: v86 with XO-1.5 and XO-1 upgraded to Sugar 0.84, Sugar-on-
a-Stick Strawberry (0.84) and Blueberry (0.86). Sugar 0.86 and above
(as of 9/2011) are compatible with Record v90, including XO's
updated to at least 0.90. Please note that Record prior to v74
(except for v61-64) produce ogg *speex* files; these files are
incompatible with SamplePlay.

Soundfiles must be moved into the folder where this file resides,
and be renamed soundin.0 (for the background loop) and soundin.1
through soundin.25 (for the samples). Alternatively, and more
practically, however, user soundfiles may be loaded/imported from the
Journal (Sugar 0.84 and later). In this case, only wav and ogg/vorbis
formats are allowed. (The README explains how advanced students may create soundfiles with the excellent Audacity application or on an external system, save them [in wav or ogg/vorbis format] to a USB drive, and load them via the Journal. For more on Audacity, see http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Audacity.)

Important: For the MIDI version, the controller must be attached AFTER boot, and BEFORE the version is selected. It is assumed that the controller is a USB device.

English text only; for older children.

This activity is co-hosted at:
http://www.arthunkins.com

Git repository:

git://git.sugarlabs.org/sampleplay/mainline.git

NOTE: The built-in speakers of the XO-1, or any laptop/netbook, are completely inadequate for anything but testing. Even the least expensive set of stereo headphones is quite satisfactory however. Otherwise, a decent stereo system with spaced speakers is required.

Creator/Maintainer: Art Hunkins (www.arthunkins.com)

Image Gallery

Support

Support for this activity is provided by the developer at http://www.arthunkins.com or by sending an e-mail to abhunkin at uncg dot edu

Developer Comments

Please report bugs or other issues to the author at:
abhunkin@uncg.edu

Version 4 — November 1, 2011 — 11,673 KB

Version 4:
documentation change

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