AudioBuffer

The AudioBuffer interface represents a short audio asset residing in memory, created from an audio file using the AudioContext.decodeAudioData() method, or from raw data using AudioContext.createBuffer(). Once put into an AudioBuffer, the audio can then be played by being passed into an AudioBufferSourceNode.

Objects of these types are designed to hold small audio snippets, typically less than 45 s. For longer sounds, objects implementing the MediaElementAudioSourceNode are more suitable. The buffer contains data in the following format: non-interleaved IEEE754 32-bit linear PCM with a nominal range between -1 and +1, that is, 32bits floating point buffer, with each samples between -1.0 and 1.0. If the AudioBuffer has multiple channels, they are stored in separate buffer.

Constructor

AudioBuffer()
Creates and returns a new AudioBuffer object instance.

Properties

AudioBuffer.sampleRate Read only
Returns a float representing the sample rate, in samples per second, of the PCM data stored in the buffer.
AudioBuffer.length Read only
Returns an integer representing the length, in sample-frames, of the PCM data stored in the buffer.
AudioBuffer.duration Read only
Returns a double representing the duration, in seconds, of the PCM data stored in the buffer.
AudioBuffer.numberOfChannels Read only
Returns an integer representing the number of discrete audio channels described by the PCM data stored in the buffer.

Methods

AudioBuffer.getChannelData()
Returns a Float32Array containing the PCM data associated with the channel, defined by the channel parameter (with 0 representing the first channel).
AudioBuffer.copyFromChannel()
Copies the samples from the specified channel of the AudioBuffer to the destination array.
AudioBuffer.copyToChannel()
Copies the samples to the specified channel of the AudioBuffer, from the source array.

Example

The following simple example shows how to create an AudioBuffer and fill it with random white noise. You can find the full source code at our webaudio-examples repository; a running live version is also available.

var audioCtx = new (window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext)();

// Create an empty three-second stereo buffer at the sample rate of the AudioContext
var myArrayBuffer = audioCtx.createBuffer(2, audioCtx.sampleRate * 3, audioCtx.sampleRate);

// Fill the buffer with white noise;
// just random values between -1.0 and 1.0
for (var channel = 0; channel < myArrayBuffer.numberOfChannels; channel++) {
  // This gives us the actual array that contains the data
  var nowBuffering = myArrayBuffer.getChannelData(channel);
  for (var i = 0; i < myArrayBuffer.length; i++) {
    // Math.random() is in [0; 1.0]
    // audio needs to be in [-1.0; 1.0]
    nowBuffering[i] = Math.random() * 2 - 1;
  }
}

// Get an AudioBufferSourceNode.
// This is the AudioNode to use when we want to play an AudioBuffer
var source = audioCtx.createBufferSource();

// set the buffer in the AudioBufferSourceNode
source.buffer = myArrayBuffer;

// connect the AudioBufferSourceNode to the
// destination so we can hear the sound
source.connect(audioCtx.destination);

// start the source playing
source.start();

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
AudioBufferChrome Full support 14Edge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
AudioBuffer() constructorChrome Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes The context parameter was supported up until version 57, but has now been removed.
Edge Full support ≤79Firefox Full support 53IE No support NoOpera Full support 42
Notes
Full support 42
Notes
Notes The context parameter was supported up until version 44, but has now been removed.
Safari ? WebView Android Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes The context parameter was supported up until version 57, but has now been removed.
Chrome Android Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes The context parameter was supported up until version 57, but has now been removed.
Firefox Android Full support 53Opera Android Full support 42
Notes
Full support 42
Notes
Notes The context parameter was supported up until version 44, but has now been removed.
Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
Notes
Full support 6.0
Notes
Notes The context parameter was supported up until Samsung Internet 7.0, but has now been removed.
copyFromChannelChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 13Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
copyToChannelChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 13Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
durationChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
getChannelDataChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
lengthChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
numberOfChannelsChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
sampleRateChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Compatibility unknown
Compatibility unknown
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also