General advice re: syncing to audio input

[the_psychologist]

Hi

I have a friend who uses her integrated MacBook microphone (!) to synchronize parameters in Module8 to the DJ's audio output. It's not super tight synchronization, but it is somewhat close to the selected frequency.

I have figured out how to choose line input in Resolume, and sync a parameter to it, but I seem to have trouble isolating the kick drum and getting tight synchronization.

What are some general tips for syncing Resolume to external audio? Is there a tutorial somewhere? Should I be using tap tempo, a mic to capture the external audio, or a line input?

I'm really looking to have a master clock that is always in sync with at least the kick drum of the audio. Tap tempo is useful, but it doesn't account for non-4/4 kick drum patterns. How would you sync to breakbeats?

Thanks

[Tschoepler]

1. Definitely use a line-input!
2. Get a dedicated audio–interface. Maybe even one with DSP as I can tell FFT is quite CPU intensive. I'll get myself a Saffire from Focusrite soon.
sidenote to the developers: Does a DSP featured interface help Avenue process the FFT?
3. There is no perfect FFT algorithm in the real world. Maybe some secret labs got one And it gets worse when the music is very dense/complex. Compare minimal electro to free jazz. The only possibility I can think of a perfect beat match at the moment is by using midi notes from a DAV like Ableton Live.
4. I would use tapping/BPM for the overall sync. FFT is good for implementing a noise factor to your visuals.
5. There is a tutorial for syncing Ableton Live with Avenue in the manual.