[playhead]

Overview

The [playhead] object receives playhead information from the DAW, including transport state, timing, tempo, and position data. This object only works in the plugin version of plugdata. With [playhead], you can synchronize your patches with the DAW’s timeline, respond to transport changes, and create tempo-synchronized effects.

Outlets

float

Playing stateOutputs 1 if the DAW is playing, 0 otherwise. Use this to trigger actions when playback starts or stops.

float

Recording stateOutputs 1 if the DAW is recording, 0 otherwise.

list

Loop informationOutputs a list of three floats: <loop_active, loop_start, loop_end>

First value: 1 if looping is enabled, 0 otherwise
Second value: Loop start position (in PPQ)
Third value: Loop end position (in PPQ)

When looping is disabled, all three values are 0.

float

Edit timeThe current edit time in the DAW (useful for offline processing).

float

Frame rateThe DAW’s frame rate (frames per second). Common values include 24, 25, 30, 60, etc.

float

BPM (Tempo)The current tempo in beats per minute. Use this to create tempo-synchronized effects.

float

Last bar positionThe position of the last bar in the timeline (in PPQ).

list

Time signatureA list containing the time signature information: <numerator, denominator>For example, 4/4 time outputs 4 4, and 6/8 time outputs 6 8.

list

Position informationA list of three floats providing the current playhead position in different formats:

PPQ position: Position in Pulses Per Quarter note (musical time)
Time in samples: Position in sample frames
Time in seconds: Position in seconds

Example output: 16.0 176400 4.0 (at 4 seconds, 16 quarter notes, 176400 samples at 44.1kHz)

Usage Example

#N canvas 0 0 600 400;

// Monitor transport state
[playhead]
|
[sel 1 0]
|    |
|    [print "Stopped"]
|
[print "Playing"]

// Sync to tempo
[playhead]
|           \ outlet 6 (BPM)
[unpack f f f f f f f f f f]
              |
              [/ 60]  // Convert BPM to beats per second
              |
              [/ $0]  // Get milliseconds per beat
              |
              [metro]  // Metronome synced to DAW tempo

// Get position in bars and beats
[playhead]
|           \ outlet 9 (position)
[unpack f f f f f f f f f f]
  |
  [/ 4]  // Convert PPQ to quarter notes (assuming 4 PPQ)
  |
  [int]  // Get current beat

// Loop detection
[playhead]
|           \ outlet 3 (loop info)
[unpack f f f f f f f f f f]
    |
    [sel 1]
    |
    [print "Looping active"]

// Time signature display
[playhead]
|           \ outlet 8 (time signature)
[unpack f f f f f f f f f f]
        |
        [pack f f]
        |
        [print "Time signature"]

Advanced Example: Beat Counter

#N canvas 0 0 450 300;

// Count beats synchronized to DAW
[playhead]
|\_____________________________ outlet 9
| \____________________________ outlet 6  
|  \___________________________ outlet 1
[unpack f f f f f f f f f f]
  |     |     |
  |     |     [sel 1]  // When playing
  |     |     |
  |     |     [1(  // Enable counter
  |     |     |
  |     |     [spigot]
  |     |     |
  |     |     [bang~]
  |     |     |
  |     [/ 60]  // BPM to Hz
  |     |
  [/]  // Divide position by beat duration
  |
  [int]  // Get current beat number
  |
  [% 4]  // Modulo 4 for 4/4 time
  |
  [+ 1]  // 1-based counting
  |
  [print "Beat"]

Notes

This object only works in plugin mode, not in standalone
Position data is provided in multiple formats for convenience
PPQ (Pulses Per Quarter) is the standard MIDI timing format
All outlets update whenever the playhead information changes
Use [change] objects to detect when specific values change if needed

Plugin Objects

Core Classes

Overview

Outlets

Usage Example

Advanced Example: Beat Counter

Notes

​Overview

​Outlets

​Usage Example

​Advanced Example: Beat Counter

​Notes

Overview

Outlets

Usage Example

Advanced Example: Beat Counter

Notes