# Inconsistent frame rate using saveFrame for Audio Visualisation

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/inconsistent-frame-rate-using-saveframe-for-audio-visualisation/42751>\
**Category:** Libraries\
**Created:** [September 12, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/inconsistent-frame-rate-using-saveframe-for-audio-visualisation/42751 "2023-09-12T19:16:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![shaival](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shaival](https://discourse.processing.org/u/shaival)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/inconsistent-frame-rate-using-saveframe-for-audio-visualisation/42751/1 "2023-09-12T19:16:08Z")

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I am trying to create an audio visualiser using Processing sound library. And the visualiser runs okay while running the sketch but as soon as I use saveFrame, the frame rate drops considerably and the visuals are out of sync with the audio.

Problems:

1. Audio is playing in real time but frames are exported at a slow rate. Hence the mismatch.

Possible Solutions and associated problems:

**1. Use saveFrame in a different thread.**  
The problem here is draw function speed is too fast for the other thread to keep up.

**2. Sample audio at fixed intervals and map the visuals to it.**  
Let’s say the audio is 5 seconds long with a sample rate of 44100khz. That amounts to 220500 frames in 5 seconds. Now if the video is supposed to be 30fps with a total of 150 frames for 5 seconds, I have to sample the audio at every 44100/30 = 1470 frames. Now, reading only the audio sample values at 150 frames instead of 220500 frames loses a great deal of information.  
also, how do I run FFT on the 150 frame audio sample? and what are the values that have been read in the sample? Is that amplitude? Sorry, I have zero knowledge about audio engineering.

**3. Save frames to a PImage array and export only after the program is finished**  
Suppose the audio is 1 min long and resolution of video is full HD, that would result in 1800 PImages in the array with a size of 1920x1080. Not very memory friendly, I’d say.

I have been stuck at this problem for very long. Please help me with an easy solution. I just want to make some audio reactive stuff, nothing too complex.