Dynamically Play Audio Files from a Drive

Last updated 5 May 2026

The Audio:Stream node loads and plays audio files directly from disk at runtime — no importing into the Assets window required. This makes it suitable for installations where audio files are updated frequently, selected by an operator, or chosen dynamically by show logic.

Before you start

  • Your audio files are on a local drive accessible to the Backstage server
  • You have an audio output device configured (ASIO or WDM)
  • You have the Node Editor open

Steps

1. Initialise your audio device

Add an Audio:InitDevice node (right-click → Audio → InitDevice). Set Enable to 1 and select your output device. This only needs to be done once per project.

2. Add an Audio:Stream node

Right-click the canvas → Audio → Stream.

3. Load an audio file

Click the stream dropdown on the node and type the full path to your audio file:

C:\Audio\track.wav

File paths on Windows require backslashes. C:\Audio\track.wav works; C:/Audio/track.wav does not.

4. Connect to an output

Add an Audio:Output node (right-click → Audio → Output). Select your audio device. Connect the channel outputs from the Stream node to the Output node.

5. Control playback

Manual: Click the Play/Stop button on the Stream node.

From the graph: Connect a trigger to Play/Stop (Bang) (toggles) or a 0/1 integer to Play/Stop (Int) for explicit control.

On project load: Connect a Control:LoadBang to the Play/Stop pin.

6. Enable looping (optional)

Open the node's Options panel. Check Looped to loop the file continuously.

Switch files at runtime / scan a directory

Connect a String value to the Path input pin. When the string changes, the node loads the new file. The string can come from a UDPReceiver, a Datatype:String node, or any other String output.

To scan a directory, add a Filesystem:Glob node. Set the directory path and Depth to 0. The node outputs a Pack of matching file paths that you can index into and feed to the Stream node's Path input.

Common Mistakes

  • Audio:Stream node reports an error loading the file — file paths must use backslashes on Windows.

  • File loads but no audio plays — the Audio:InitDevice node is missing or its Enable is 0, or no Audio:Output node is connected.

  • Audio cuts out when switching files at runtime — the file is on a slow or network drive. Keep audio files on a local SSD.

Tips

  • Volume is controlled by the Volume slider on the node or via the Volume input pin (0.0 = silent, 1.0 = full).

  • There is no seek control — playback always starts from the beginning of the file.

  • To play multiple files simultaneously, add multiple Audio:Stream nodes each with their own file path and Output connection.

Installation Scenarios — all installation scenarios

Node Reference — full index of all available nodes