javascriptaudioweb-audio-apiarraybufferaudiocontext

How can I play an audio file at specified times in JavaScript AudioContext?


How can I play an audio file at specified times in JavaScript AudioContext ?

    const context = new AudioContext();
    const source = context.createBufferSource();
    const audioBuffer = await fetch('./Sound.wav')
      .then(res => res.arrayBuffer())
      .then(ArrayBuffer => context.decodeAudioData(ArrayBuffer));

    source.buffer = audioBuffer;
    source.connect(context.destination);
    source.start(1,3,5,7,20,30,40); // I want to play many times this file at these seconds. (Sound.wav length is 1second)
 

Solution

  • The AudioBufferSourceNode#start() method accepts optionals offset and duration parameters in seconds as its second and third params (the first one being the usual when to start playing).

    However you can start such a node only once (even though you can make it loop). So you will have to create a new node every time you want to start playing your audio file. But don't worry, these nodes have an extremely small footprint and won't eat your memory.

    (async () => {
      const url = "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/transcoded/d/dc/Strawberry_Fields_Forever_%28Beatles_song_-_sample%29.ogg/Strawberry_Fields_Forever_%28Beatles_song_-_sample%29.ogg.mp3";
      const context = new AudioContext();
      const audioBuffer = await fetch(url)
        .then(res => res.arrayBuffer())
        .then(buffer => context.decodeAudioData(buffer));
    
      const play = (startTime, duration) => {
        const source = context.createBufferSource();
        source.buffer = audioBuffer;
        source.connect(context.destination);
        source.start(context.currentTime, startTime, duration);
      };
    
      [1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 18].forEach((startTime) => {
        const btn = document.createElement("button");
        btn.onclick = (evt) => play(startTime, 1);
        btn.textContent = "start at " + startTime + "s";
        document.body.append(btn);
      });
    })().catch(console.error)
    body {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
      gap: 5px;
    }