AudioParam.exponentialRampToValueAtTime()

The exponentialRampToValueAtTime() method of the AudioParam Interface schedules a gradual exponential change in the value of the AudioParam. The change starts at the time specified for the previous event, follows an exponential ramp to the new value given in the value parameter, and reaches the new value at the time given in the endTime parameter.

Note: Exponential ramps are considered more useful when changing frequencies or playback rates than linear ramps because of the way the human ear works.

Syntax

var AudioParam = AudioParam.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(value, endTime)

Parameters

value
A floating point number representing the value the AudioParam will ramp to by the given time.
endTime
A double representing the exact time (in seconds) after the ramping starts that the changing of the value will stop.

Returns

A reference to this AudioParam object. In some browsers older implementations of this interface return void.

Examples

In this example, we have a media source with two control buttons (see the audio-param repo for the source code, or view the example live.) When these buttons are pressed, exponentialRampToValueAtTime() is used to fade the gain value up to 1.0, and down to 0, respectively. This is pretty useful for fade in/fade out effects:

// create audio context
var AudioContext = window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext;
var audioCtx = new AudioContext();

// set basic variables for example
var myAudio = document.querySelector('audio');
var pre = document.querySelector('pre');
var myScript = document.querySelector('script');

pre.innerHTML = myScript.innerHTML;

var expRampPlus = document.querySelector('.exp-ramp-plus');
var expRampMinus = document.querySelector('.exp-ramp-minus');

// Create a MediaElementAudioSourceNode
// Feed the HTMLMediaElement into it
var source = audioCtx.createMediaElementSource(myAudio);

// Create a gain node and set its gain value to 0.5
var gainNode = audioCtx.createGain();

// connect the AudioBufferSourceNode to the gainNode
// and the gainNode to the destination
gainNode.gain.setValueAtTime(0, audioCtx.currentTime);
source.connect(gainNode);
gainNode.connect(audioCtx.destination);

// set buttons to do something onclick
expRampPlus.onclick = function() {
  gainNode.gain.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(1.0, audioCtx.currentTime + 2);
}

expRampMinus.onclick = function() {
  gainNode.gain.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(0.01, audioCtx.currentTime + 2);
}

Note: A value of 0.01 was used for the value to ramp down to in the last function rather than 0, as an invalid or illegal string error is thrown if 0 is used — the value needs to be positive.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Web Audio API
The definition of 'exponentialRampToValueAtTime' in that specification.
Working Draft

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
exponentialRampToValueAtTimeChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Partial support 25
Notes
Partial support 25
Notes
Notes Does not work (see bug 1171438 and bug 1567777).
IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Partial support 18
Notes
Partial support 18
Notes
Notes This sets the target volume at the specified time, but it doesn’t ramp to it, causing this function to behave like setValueAtTime().
Firefox Android Partial support 26
Notes
Partial support 26
Notes
Notes Does not work (see bug 1171438 and bug 1567777).
Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
Partial support
Partial support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also