An audio buffer is simply a portion of the computer's random access memory (RAM) that has been reserved for the recording and playback of digital audio. Audio buffers have the advantage of being very fast - faster than reading sound files from the hard disk for example - and are therefore in some respects more flexible. However, the amount of RAM is usually much less than the amount of free hard disk space, meaning that only comparatively short sound files can be played back from or recorded to buffers. This tutorial outlines how to create a buffer using the buffer~ object. It also describes how to play back audio from a buffer in two different ways: using the groove~ object; and using the play~ object. The process of recording audio to a buffer, using the record~ object, is also outlined.
