Thanks for this module, I’m having a lot of fun with it 
To add a bit of flexibility, would you consider adding support for the sdif file format?
yo, @dan.tilley ? 
I’m having 1990s “The Orb” flashbacks… very fun stuff!
I need to do some deeper research, but on first glance it might be possible to add SDIF import, but not export.
The main issue is the Kapow format and SDIF format store data in different ways, so there would have to be some compromises:
Spectral Data should be compatible directly.
Pitch Reference Kapow stores this as a ratio for the fundamental, SDIF seems to optionally store this as absolute Hz, Kapow would have to estimate this or use a default value.
Time Grid Kapow uses a fixed 5ms step, SDIF has variable-rate timestamps that would need to be interpolated.
Envelope Kapow saves an explicit envelope and transient position, SDIF has no envelope or transient data so it would have to be computed on import.
Noise Kapow stores a noise level and tilt, SDIF has no data on noise so it would have to default to zero.
Partials Kapow stores up to 128 only, SDIF doesnt seem to have a limit so any extra would have to be truncated.
All this is to say, yes it seems like I could add SDIF support to import the spectral data, but it would likely sound quite different to the SDIF when loaded, and its probable that there will be some SDIF files that have edge case data that won’t load.
Do you have any SDIF files you would share that I could test with?
TBH unless there are some other request for SDIF support, I’m not sure if its worth the effort currently (I have a number of other ongoing projects currently, including a potential commercial module).
Vote if you want this feature
- Yes, I would use SDIF import
- No, I don’t need SDIF import
- Maybe?
0
voters
Ok, it would just be nice to exchange additive data between Max, Csound, pd, supercollider and Spear for example. If it’s so hard, and people don’t want it, don’t waste any time on it.
btw, I’ve found no way to upload sdif files, as they lack an “authorized extension”
I would be interested to find out what SDIF sounds like in Kapow, so its not a never, its just not top of the todo list right now.
If my commercial module goes well and gets done before December, then perhaps it could work its way up the todo list by early next year, sorry thats all I can offer atm
If you put the SDIF in a zip does that work? Or can you pop one on drive or dropbox?
Nope sorry, apparently zip is also not authorized and I don’t have google drive or dropbox accounts…
There’s no rush though, let me know after December if you have time.
/edit/
I just tried a dm to you on the vcv discord with three sdif files attached, let me know if it works.
Good idea, yes that worked, thanks
Ok good. You should know this about them:
They are analyzed and written by this:
which is a python wrapper for this:
That means they are of type rbep, the partials contain a noise percentage - you can read about it above.
If you wanna check and/or edit the files, you can use this:
Good ol’ SPEAR! I remember messing around with an old desktop version of it, many moons ago.