BaseAudioContext.createScriptProcessor()

Deprecated
This feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. Avoid using it, and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

The createScriptProcessor() method of the BaseAudioContext interface creates a ScriptProcessorNode used for direct audio processing.

Note: As of the August 29 2014 Web Audio API spec publication, this feature has been marked as deprecated, and was replaced by AudioWorklet (see AudioWorkletNode).

Syntax

var scriptProcessor = audioCtx.createScriptProcessor(bufferSize, numberOfInputChannels, numberOfOutputChannels);

Parameters

bufferSize
The buffer size in units of sample-frames. If specified, the bufferSize must be one of the following values: 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384. If it's not passed in, or if the value is 0, then the implementation will choose the best buffer size for the given environment, which will be a constant power of 2 throughout the lifetime of the node.
This value controls how frequently the audioprocess event is dispatched and how many sample-frames need to be processed each call. Lower values for bufferSize will result in a lower (better) latency. Higher values will be necessary to avoid audio breakup and glitches. It is recommended for authors to not specify this buffer size and allow the implementation to pick a good buffer size to balance between latency and audio quality.
numberOfInputChannels
Integer specifying the number of channels for this node's input, defaults to 2. Values of up to 32 are supported.
numberOfOutputChannels
Integer specifying the number of channels for this node's output, defaults to 2. Values of up to 32 are supported.

Important: Webkit currently (version 31) requires that a valid bufferSize be passed when calling this method.

Note: It is invalid for both numberOfInputChannels and numberOfOutputChannels to be zero.

Returns

A ScriptProcessorNode.

Example

The following example shows basic usage of a ScriptProcessorNode to take a track loaded via AudioContext.decodeAudioData(), process it, adding a bit of white noise to each audio sample of the input track (buffer) and play it through the AudioDestinationNode. For each channel and each sample frame, the scriptNode.onaudioprocess function takes the associated audioProcessingEvent and uses it to loop through each channel of the input buffer, and each sample in each channel, and add a small amount of white noise, before setting that result to be the output sample in each case.

Note: For a full working example, see our script-processor-node github repo (also view the source code.)

var myScript = document.querySelector('script');
var myPre = document.querySelector('pre');
var playButton = document.querySelector('button');
      
// Create AudioContext and buffer source
var audioCtx = new AudioContext();
source = audioCtx.createBufferSource();

// Create a ScriptProcessorNode with a bufferSize of 4096 and a single input and output channel
var scriptNode = audioCtx.createScriptProcessor(4096, 1, 1);
console.log(scriptNode.bufferSize);

// load in an audio track via XHR and decodeAudioData

function getData() {
  request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  request.open('GET', 'viper.ogg', true);
  request.responseType = 'arraybuffer';
  request.onload = function() {
    var audioData = request.response;

    audioCtx.decodeAudioData(audioData, function(buffer) {
    myBuffer = buffer;   
    source.buffer = myBuffer;
  },
    function(e){"Error with decoding audio data" + e.err});
  }
  request.send();
}

// Give the node a function to process audio events
scriptNode.onaudioprocess = function(audioProcessingEvent) {
  // The input buffer is the song we loaded earlier
  var inputBuffer = audioProcessingEvent.inputBuffer;

  // The output buffer contains the samples that will be modified and played
  var outputBuffer = audioProcessingEvent.outputBuffer;

  // Loop through the output channels (in this case there is only one)
  for (var channel = 0; channel < outputBuffer.numberOfChannels; channel++) {
    var inputData = inputBuffer.getChannelData(channel);
    var outputData = outputBuffer.getChannelData(channel);

    // Loop through the 4096 samples
    for (var sample = 0; sample < inputBuffer.length; sample++) {
      // make output equal to the same as the input
      outputData[sample] = inputData[sample];

      // add noise to each output sample
      outputData[sample] += ((Math.random() * 2) - 1) * 0.2;         
    }
  }
}

getData();

// wire up play button
playButton.onclick = function() {
  source.connect(scriptNode);
  scriptNode.connect(audioCtx.destination);
  source.start();
}
      
// When the buffer source stops playing, disconnect everything
source.onended = function() {
  source.disconnect(scriptNode);
  scriptNode.disconnect(audioCtx.destination);
}

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
createScriptProcessorChrome Full support 10
Prefixed
Full support 10
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit
Edge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 53
Notes
Full support 53
Notes
Notes Originally implemented on AudioContext in Firefox 25.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 22
Full support 22
Full support 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit
Safari Full support 6
Prefixed
Full support 6
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit
WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 33Firefox Android Full support 53
Notes
Full support 53
Notes
Notes Originally implemented on AudioContext in Firefox Android 26.
Opera Android Full support 22
Full support 22
Full support 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit
Safari iOS Full support 6
Prefixed
Full support 6
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit
Samsung Internet Android Full support 2.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also