[Openal-devel] AL_MSEC_OFFSET

[Jason Daly]

>> 1. Perhaps restrict the signature of AL_MSEC_OFFSET from "i,f" to 
>> just "f"?
>> AL_SAMPLE_OFFSET and AL_BYTE_OFFSET are of course naturally integers 
>> but AL_MSEC_OFFSET is more naturally a float (especially since sample 
>> rate is not guaranteed to be a multiple of 1000 Hz).
>
Since things like AL_MAX_DISTANCE and AL_PITCH are also restricted to 
"f", this makes sense.  I think it would be convenient to allow an 
integer version as well (which is then converted to a float), but 
consistency is more important.

>>
>> 2. Change AL_MSEC_OFFSET to AL_SEC_OFFSET (or, even better, just call 
>> it AL_TIME_OFFSET) and have the time expressed in seconds instead of 
>> milliseconds.  I think it is nicer to have a uniform time unit for 
>> everything.  Also, having time expressed in seconds would be more 
>> useful than milliseconds in calculations since frequency is already 
>> expressed in Hz.
>
This makes sense to me.  Aside from the uniformity that Alexandre 
mentioned, if we're going to allow fractions of a unit to be specified, 
then we should use the basic unit (seconds).  As far as the name (TIME 
vs. SEC), I could go either way.

-- 

--"J"

"I'm a castaway stranded in a desolate land,
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	--Neil Peart