Question 1

How to set up PortAudio for low-latency audio recording on Linux?

Accepted Answer

Compile PortAudio with ALSA or JACK support for best results, use examples like paex_saw.c as a reference, and configure buffer sizes in the stream parameters to minimize latency, as shown in the test directory.

Question 2

PortAudio vs SDL for audio: which is better for game development?

Accepted Answer

PortAudio offers lower-level control and cross-platform audio I/O with minimal overhead, while SDL provides higher-level multimedia features including audio; choose PortAudio for fine-tuned real-time audio, SDL for integrated game development with graphics and input.

Question 3

What audio formats does PortAudio support natively?

Accepted Answer

PortAudio processes formats like 32-bit floating point, 16-bit integer, and others, with internal conversion to native hardware formats, but developers must specify formats in the API and handle data accordingly.

Question 4

Can PortAudio handle multiple audio devices at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes, PortAudio allows opening multiple streams on different devices, but synchronization and management are up to the developer, as evidenced by test programs like patest_sync.c for audio-video sync.

Question 5

Is PortAudio thread-safe for real-time callbacks?

Accepted Answer

PortAudio callbacks should be designed for real-time use with minimal blocking, but thread safety depends on host API implementation; developers must avoid heavy processing in callbacks to prevent audio dropouts.

Question 6

How does PortAudio compare to JACK for professional audio applications?

Accepted Answer

PortAudio is a library for audio I/O abstraction across platforms, while JACK is a sound server with advanced routing and low-latency features; PortAudio can use JACK as a host API but is more general-purpose for embedded or cross-platform apps.

PortAudio

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