softPut set a (number) parameter in an environment conditionally


See also softSet, softVol_.


changes an existing numerical value for key in a dictionary only  in two conditions: 


* if the new value is close enough to the current value at that key;

*or  if the setting controller knows the previous value and sends it 

along. the idea here is that if the controller knows it did the last 

value change, it has authority to jump now.

softPut(param, val, within = 0.025, lastVal, mapped = true, spec)

param - the name of the parameter (key) to set

val - the value to set the param to (can be mapped or unmapped)

within  the normalized range within which the set is accepted - default is 0.025

mapped a flag whether val is mapped (within the range of param.asSpec) or unmapped (0.0-1.0)

lastVal the previous value that a control has set - see last examples.

spec a ControlSpec can be passed in. if nil, param.asSpec is used.


NOTE: if no spec is given, or no value exists yet, softSet simply allows setting.



Typical uses would be switching to a new preset, then using a faderbox, 

and avoiding sudden controller jumps that could occur (soft takeover).


(

e = (amp: 0.1, dur: 0.2);

Tdef(\test, { 

var dur;

loop { 

dur = e.dur;

(amp: e.amp, dur: dur, degree: 7.rand).play;

dur.wait;

};

}).play;

)


e.put(\amp, 0.03); // just set it

e.put(\amp, 0.1);

e.softPut(\amp, 0.11); // small change, OK to set

e.put(\amp, 0.1);

e.softPut(\amp, 0.15); // no bigger change

e.softPut(\amp, 0.15, 0.1); // bigger change is OK with larger within value


e.softPut(\amp, 0.01); // no

e.softPut(\amp, 0.01, lastVal: 0.15); // can make big jumps when lastVal is close to current.


// no spec for dur exists by default:

\dur.asSpec


e.softPut(\dur, 0.05); // so this always really sets.




// PatternProxies ( e.g. Tdefs, Pdefs) have a softSet method, which 

// forwards softPut to their envirs:


Pdef(\test, Pbind(\degree, Pseq((0..7), inf))).play;


Pdef(\test).set(\amp, 0.03)

Pdef(\test).envir.softPut(\amp, 0.06); // no, too big

Pdef(\test).envir.softPut(\amp, 0.06, 0.1); // ok with wider range


// equivalent: 

Pdef(\test).set(\amp, 0.03)

Pdef(\test).softSet(\amp, 0.1); // no, too big

Pdef(\test).softSet(\amp, 0.06, 0.1); // ok with wider "within"

Pdef(\test).get(\amp)


Pdef(\test).softSet(\amp, 0.5); // no!

Pdef(\test).softSet(\amp, 0.5, lastVal: 0.06); // ok!

Pdef(\test).softSet(\amp, 0.05, lastVal: 0.5); // ok


Pdef(\test).softSet(\dur, 0.05); // alsways ok, no spec for dur.

Pdef(\test).softSet(\dur, 0.1); // ok 


Pdef(\test).softSet(\dur, 0.05, spec: [0.03, 3, \exp]); // not OK with that spec



// softPut and softSet can be risky - one can lose a parameter when moving a controller

// too quickly. So, if we know the last value (e.g. because the same controller 

// knows it has set to that value),  it is OK to jump:


// example of softSet, softSet which knows lastVal,

// softVol_ and softVol_ which knows lastVol:

(

w = Window("softSet, softVol", Rect(500, 200, 400, 240)).front;

w.view.addFlowLayout;

PdefGui(Pdef(\test), 2, w, 340@80);


// can lose control if wiggled too fast

EZSlider(w, 340@30, \softSetDur, [0.03, 3, \exp], { |sl| 

Pdef(\test).softSet(\dur, sl.value, 0.05)

});


// knows it was in control

EZSlider(w, 340@30, \knowsLast, [0.03, 3, \exp], Routine { |sl| 

var newVal, lastVal; 

loop { 

newVal = sl.value;

Pdef(\test).softSet(\dur, newVal, 0.05, lastVal: lastVal);

lastVal = newVal;

\dummy.yield;

}

});

)