Provided by: libxmp-dev_4.2.3-1_amd64 
NAME
libxmp - A tracker module player library
INTRODUCTION
Libxmp is a module player library supporting many mainstream and obscure module formats
including Protracker MOD, Scream Tracker III S3M and Impulse Tracker IT. Libxmp loads the
module and renders the sound as linear PCM samples in a buffer at rate and format
specified by the user, one frame at a time (standard modules usually play at 50 frames per
second).
Possible applications for libxmp include stand-alone module players, module player plugins
for other players, module information extractors, background music replayers for games and
other applications, module-to-mp3 renderers, etc.
Concepts
• Player context: Most libxmp functions require a handle that identifies the module player
context. Each context is independent and multiple contexts can be defined
simultaneously.
• Sequence: Each group of positions in the order list that loops over itself, also known
as "subsong". Most modules have only one sequence, but some modules, especially modules
used in games can have multiple sequences. "Hidden patterns" outside the main song are
also listed as extra sequences, certain module authors such as Skaven commonly place
extra patterns at the end of the module.
• State: [Added in libxmp 4.2] The player can be in one of three possible states:
unloaded, loaded, or playing. The player is in unloaded state after context creation,
changing to other states when a module is loaded or played.
• External sample mixer: [Added in libxmp 4.2] Special sound channels can be reserved
using xmp_start_smix() to play module instruments or external samples. This is useful
when libxmp is used to provide background music to games or other applications where
sound effects can be played in response to events or user actions
A simple example
This example loads a module, plays it at 44.1kHz and writes it to a raw sound file:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <xmp.h>
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
xmp_context c;
struct xmp_frame_info mi;
FILE *f;
/* The output raw file */
f = fopen("out.raw", "wb");
if (f == NULL) {
fprintf(stderr, "can't open output file\n");
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
/* Create the player context */
c = xmp_create_context();
/* Load our module */
if (xmp_load_module(c, argv[1]) != 0) {
fprintf(stderr, "can't load module\n");
exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}
/* Play the module */
xmp_start_player(c, 44100, 0);
while (xmp_play_frame(c) == 0) {
xmp_get_frame_info(c, &mi);
if (mi.loop_count > 0) /* exit before looping */
break;
fwrite(mi.buffer, mi.buffer_size, 1, f); /* write audio data */
}
xmp_end_player(c);
xmp_release_module(c); /* unload module */
xmp_free_context(c); /* destroy the player context */
fclose(f);
exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
}
A player context can load and play a single module at a time. Multiple contexts can be
defined if needed.
Use xmp_test_module() to check if the file is a valid module and retrieve the module name
and type. Use xmp_load_module() to load the module to memory. These two calls return 0 on
success or <0 in case of error. Error codes are:
-XMP_ERROR_INTERNAL /* Internal error */
-XMP_ERROR_FORMAT /* Unsupported module format */
-XMP_ERROR_LOAD /* Error loading file */
-XMP_ERROR_DEPACK /* Error depacking file */
-XMP_ERROR_SYSTEM /* System error */
-XMP_ERROR_STATE /* Incorrect player state */
If a system error occurs, the specific error is set in errno.
Parameters to xmp_start_player() are the sampling rate (up to 48kHz) and a bitmapped
integer holding one or more of the following mixer flags:
XMP_MIX_8BIT /* Mix to 8-bit instead of 16 */
XMP_MIX_UNSIGNED /* Mix to unsigned samples */
XMP_MIX_MONO /* Mix to mono instead of stereo */
XMP_MIX_NEAREST /* Mix using nearest neighbor interpolation */
XMP_MIX_NOFILTER /* Disable lowpass filter */
After xmp_start_player() is called, each call to xmp_play_frame() will render an audio
frame. Call xmp_get_frame_info() to retrieve the buffer address and size. xmp_play_frame()
returns 0 on success or -1 if replay should stop.
Use xmp_end_player(), xmp_release_module() and xmp_free_context() to release memory and
end replay.
SDL example
To use libxmp with SDL, just provide a callback function that renders module data. The
module will play when SDL_PauseAudio(0) is called:
#include <SDL/SDL.h>
#include <xmp.h>
static void fill_audio(void *udata, unsigned char *stream, int len)
{
xmp_play_buffer(udata, stream, len, 0);
}
int sound_init(xmp_context ctx, int sampling_rate, int channels)
{
SDL_AudioSpec a;
a.freq = sampling_rate;
a.format = (AUDIO_S16);
a.channels = channels;
a.samples = 2048;
a.callback = fill_audio;
a.userdata = ctx;
if (SDL_OpenAudio(&a, NULL) < 0) {
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", SDL_GetError());
return -1;
}
}
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
xmp_context ctx;
if ((ctx = xmp_create_context()) == NULL)
return 1;
sound_init(ctx, 44100, 2);
xmp_load_module(ctx, argv[1]);
xmp_start_player(ctx, 44100, 0);
SDL_PauseAudio(0);
sleep(10); // Do something important here
SDL_PauseAudio(1);
xmp_end_player(ctx);
xmp_release_module(ctx);
xmp_free_context(ctx);
SDL_CloseAudio();
return 0;
}
SDL callbacks run in a separate thread, so don't forget to protect sections that
manipulate module data with SDL_LockAudio() and SDL_UnlockAudio().
API REFERENCE
Version and player information
const char *xmp_version
A string containing the library version, such as "4.0.0".
const unsigned int xmp_vercode
The library version encoded in a integer value. Bits 23-16 contain the major version
number, bits 15-8 contain the minor version number, and bits 7-0 contain the release
number.
char **xmp_get_format_list()
Query the list of supported module formats.
Returns
a NULL-terminated array of strings containing the names of all supported module
formats.
Context creation
xmp_context xmp_create_context()
Create a new player context and return an opaque handle to be used in subsequent
accesses to this context.
Returns:
the player context handle.
void xmp_free_context(xmp_context c)
Destroy a player context previously created using xmp_create_context().
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
Module loading
int xmp_test_module(char *path, struct xmp_test_info *test_info)
Test if a file is a valid module. Testing a file does not affect the current player
context or any currently loaded module.
Parameters:
path pathname of the module to test.
test_info
NULL, or a pointer to a structure used to retrieve the module title and
format if the file is a valid module. struct xmp_test_info is defined
as:
struct xmp_test_info {
char name[XMP_NAME_SIZE]; /* Module title */
char type[XMP_NAME_SIZE]; /* Module format */
};
Returns:
0 if the file is a valid module, or a negative error code in case of error.
Error codes can be -XMP_ERROR_FORMAT in case of an unrecognized file format,
-XMP_ERROR_DEPACK if the file is compressed and uncompression failed, or
-XMP_ERROR_SYSTEM in case of system error (the system error code is set in
errno).
int xmp_load_module(xmp_context c, char *path)
Load a module into the specified player context.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
path pathname of the module to load.
Returns:
0 if sucessful, or a negative error code in case of error. Error codes can be
-XMP_ERROR_FORMAT in case of an unrecognized file format, -XMP_ERROR_DEPACK if
the file is compressed and uncompression failed, -XMP_ERROR_LOAD if the file
format was recognized but the file loading failed, or -XMP_ERROR_SYSTEM in case
of system error (the system error code is set in errno).
int xmp_load_module_from_memory(xmp_context c, void *mem, long size)
[Added in libxmp 4.2] Load a module from memory into the specified player context.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
mem a pointer to the module file image in memory. Multi-file modules or
compressed modules can't be loaded from memory.
size the size of the module, or 0 if the size is unknown or not specified. If
size is set to 0 certain module formats won't be recognized, the MD5
digest will not be set, and module-specific quirks won't be applied.
Returns:
0 if sucessful, or a negative error code in case of error. Error codes can be
-XMP_ERROR_FORMAT in case of an unrecognized file format, -XMP_ERROR_LOAD if the
file format was recognized but the file loading failed, or -XMP_ERROR_SYSTEM in
case of system error (the system error code is set in errno).
void xmp_release_module(xmp_context c)
Release memory allocated by a module from the specified player context.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
void xmp_scan_module(xmp_context c)
Scan the loaded module for sequences and timing. Scanning is automatically performed by
xmp_load_module() and this function should be called only if xmp_set_player() is used
to change player timing (with parameter XMP_PLAYER_VBLANK) in libxmp 4.0.2 or older.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
void xmp_get_module_info(xmp_context c, struct xmp_module_info *info)
Retrieve current module data.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
info pointer to structure containing the module data. struct xmp_module_info
is defined as follows:
struct xmp_module_info {
unsigned char md5[16]; /* MD5 message digest */
int vol_base; /* Volume scale */
struct xmp_module *mod; /* Pointer to module data */
char *comment; /* Comment text, if any */
int num_sequences; /* Number of valid sequences */
struct xmp_sequence *seq_data; /* Pointer to sequence data */
};
Detailed module data is exposed in the mod field:
struct xmp_module {
char name[XMP_NAME_SIZE]; /* Module title */
char type[XMP_NAME_SIZE]; /* Module format */
int pat; /* Number of patterns */
int trk; /* Number of tracks */
int chn; /* Tracks per pattern */
int ins; /* Number of instruments */
int smp; /* Number of samples */
int spd; /* Initial speed */
int bpm; /* Initial BPM */
int len; /* Module length in patterns */
int rst; /* Restart position */
int gvl; /* Global volume */
struct xmp_pattern **xxp; /* Patterns */
struct xmp_track **xxt; /* Tracks */
struct xmp_instrument *xxi; /* Instruments */
struct xmp_sample *xxs; /* Samples */
struct xmp_channel xxc[64]; /* Channel info */
unsigned char xxo[XMP_MAX_MOD_LENGTH]; /* Orders */
};
See the header file for more information about pattern and instrument
data.
Module playing
int xmp_start_player(xmp_context c, int rate, int format)
Start playing the currently loaded module.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
rate the sampling rate to use, in Hz (tipically 44100). Valid values range
from 8kHz to 48kHz.
flags bitmapped configurable player flags, one or more of the following:
XMP_FORMAT_8BIT /* Mix to 8-bit instead of 16 */
XMP_FORMAT_UNSIGNED /* Mix to unsigned samples */
XMP_FORMAT_MONO /* Mix to mono instead of stereo */
Returns:
0 if sucessful, or a negative error code in case of error. Error codes can be
-XMP_ERROR_INTERNAL in case of a internal player error, -XMP_ERROR_INVALID if
the sampling rate is invalid, or -XMP_ERROR_SYSTEM in case of system error (the
system error code is set in errno).
int xmp_play_frame(xmp_context c)
Play one frame of the module. Modules usually play at 50 frames per second. Use
xmp_get_frame_info() to retrieve the buffer containing audio data.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
Returns:
0 if sucessful, -XMP_END if the module ended or was stopped, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE
if the player is not in playing state.
void xmp_get_frame_info(xmp_context c, struct xmp_frame_info *info)
Retrieve current frame data.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
info pointer to structure containing current frame data. struct
xmp_frame_info is defined as follows:
struct xmp_frame_info { /* Current frame information */
int pos; /* Current position */
int pattern; /* Current pattern */
int row; /* Current row in pattern */
int num_rows; /* Number of rows in current pattern */
int frame; /* Current frame */
int speed; /* Current replay speed */
int bpm; /* Current bpm */
int time; /* Current module time in ms */
int total_time; /* Estimated replay time in ms*/
int frame_time; /* Frame replay time in us */
void *buffer; /* Pointer to sound buffer */
int buffer_size; /* Used buffer size */
int total_size; /* Total buffer size */
int volume; /* Current master volume */
int loop_count; /* Loop counter */
int virt_channels; /* Number of virtual channels */
int virt_used; /* Used virtual channels */
int sequence; /* Current sequence */
struct xmp_channel_info { /* Current channel information */
unsigned int period; /* Sample period */
unsigned int position; /* Sample position */
short pitchbend; /* Linear bend from base note*/
unsigned char note; /* Current base note number */
unsigned char instrument; /* Current instrument number */
unsigned char sample; /* Current sample number */
unsigned char volume; /* Current volume */
unsigned char pan; /* Current stereo pan */
unsigned char reserved; /* Reserved */
struct xmp_event event; /* Current track event */
} channel_info[XMP_MAX_CHANNELS];
};
This function should be used to retrieve sound buffer data after
xmp_play_frame() is called. Fields buffer and buffer_size contain the
pointer to the sound buffer PCM data and its size. The buffer size will
be no larger than XMP_MAX_FRAMESIZE.
int xmp_play_buffer(xmp_context c, void *buffer, int size, int loop)
[Added in libxmp 4.1] Fill the buffer with PCM data up to the specified size. This is a
convenience function that calls xmp_play_frame() internally to fill the user-supplied
buffer -- don't call both functions in the same replay loop, choose one of them. If you
don't need equally sized data chunks, xmp_play_frame() will result in better
performance.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
buffer the buffer to fill with PCM data, or NULL to reset the internal state.
size buffer size in bytes.
loop stop replay when the loop counter reaches the specified value, or 0 to
disable loop checking.
Returns:
0 if sucessful, -XMP_END if module was stopped or the loop counter was reached,
or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing state.
void xmp_end_player(xmp_context c)
End module replay and releases player memory.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
Player control
int xmp_next_position(xmp_context c)
Skip replay to the start of the next position.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
Returns:
The new position index, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing
state.
int xmp_prev_position(xmp_context c)
Skip replay to the start of the previous position.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
Returns:
The new position index, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing
state.
int xmp_set_position(xmp_context c, int pos)
Skip replay to the start of the given position.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
pos the position index to set.
Returns:
The new position index, -XMP_ERROR_INVALID of the new position is invalid or
-XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing state.
void xmp_stop_module(xmp_context c)
Stop the currently playing module.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
void xmp_restart_module(xmp_context c)
Restart the currently playing module.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
int xmp_seek_time(xmp_context c, int time)
Skip replay to the specified time.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
time time to seek in milliseconds.
Returns:
The new position index, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing
state.
int xmp_channel_mute(xmp_context c, int channel, int status)
Mute or unmute the specified channel.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
channel
the channel to mute or unmute.
status 0 to mute channel, 1 to unmute or -1 to query the current channel status.
Returns:
The previous channel status, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing
state.
int xmp_channel_vol(xmp_context c, int channel, int vol)
Set or retrieve the volume of the specified channel.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
channel
the channel to set or get volume.
vol a value from 0-100 to set the channel volume, or -1 to retrieve the
current volume.
Returns:
The previous channel volume, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing
state.
void xmp_inject_event(xmp_context c, int channel, struct xmp_event *event)
Dynamically insert a new event into a playing module.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
channel
the channel to insert the new event.
event the event to insert. struct xmp_event is defined as:
struct xmp_event {
unsigned char note; /* Note number (0 means no note) */
unsigned char ins; /* Patch number */
unsigned char vol; /* Volume (0 to basevol) */
unsigned char fxt; /* Effect type */
unsigned char fxp; /* Effect parameter */
unsigned char f2t; /* Secondary effect type */
unsigned char f2p; /* Secondary effect parameter */
unsigned char _flag; /* Internal (reserved) flags */
};
Player parameter setting
int xmp_set_instrument_path(xmp_context c, char *path)
Set the path to retrieve external instruments or samples. Used by some formats (such as
MED2) to read sample files from a different directory in the filesystem.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
path the path to retrieve instrument files.
Returns:
0 if the instrument path was correctly set, or -XMP_ERROR_SYSTEM in case of
error (the system error code is set in errno).
int xmp_get_player(xmp_context c, int param)
Retrieve current value of the specified player parameter.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
param player parameter to get. Valid parameters are:
XMP_PLAYER_AMP /* Amplification factor */
XMP_PLAYER_MIX /* Stereo mixing */
XMP_PLAYER_INTERP /* Interpolation type */
XMP_PLAYER_DSP /* DSP effect flags */
XMP_PLAYER_FLAGS /* Player flags */
XMP_PLAYER_CFLAGS /* Player flags for current module*/
XMP_PLAYER_SMPCTL /* Control sample loading */
XMP_PLAYER_VOLUME /* Player master volume */
XMP_PLAYER_STATE /* Current player state*/
See xmp_set_player for the list of valid values for each parameter.
Valid states are:
XMP_STATE_UNLOADED /* Context created */
XMP_STATE_LOADED /* Module loaded */
XMP_STATE_PLAYING /* Module playing */
Returns:
The parameter value, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the parameter is not
XMP_PLAYER_STATE and the player is not in playing state.
int xmp_set_player(xmp_context c, int param, int val)
Set player parameter with the specified value.
Parameters:
param player parameter to set. Valid parameters are:
XMP_PLAYER_AMP /* Amplification factor */
XMP_PLAYER_MIX /* Stereo mixing */
XMP_PLAYER_INTERP /* Interpolation type */
XMP_PLAYER_DSP /* DSP effect flags */
XMP_PLAYER_FLAGS /* Player flags */
XMP_PLAYER_CFLAGS /* Player flags for current module*/
XMP_PLAYER_SMPCTL /* Control sample loading */
XMP_PLAYER_VOLUME /* Player master volume */
val the value to set. Valid values are:
• Amplification factor: ranges from 0 to 3. Default value is 1.
• Stereo mixing: percentual left/right channel separation. Default is 70.
• Interpolation type: can be one of the following values:
XMP_INTERP_NEAREST /* Nearest neighbor */
XMP_INTERP_LINEAR /* Linear (default) */
XMP_INTERP_SPLINE /* Cubic spline */
• DSP effects flags: enable or disable DSP effects. Valid effects are:
XMP_DSP_LOWPASS /* Lowpass filter effect */
XMP_DSP_ALL /* All effects */
• Player flags: tweakable player parameters. Valid flags are:
XMP_FLAGS_VBLANK /* Use vblank timing */
XMP_FLAGS_FX9BUG /* Emulate Protracker 2.x FX9 bug */
XMP_FLAGS_FIXLOOP /* Make sample loop value / 2 */
• [Added in libxmp 4.1] Player flags for current module: same flags as
above but after applying module-specific quirks (if any).
• [Added in libxmp 4.1] Control sample load. Valid values are:
XMP_SMPCTL_SKIP /* Don't load samples */
Disabling sample loading when loading a module allows allows
computation of module duration without decompressing and loading large
sample data, and is useful when duration information is needed for a
module that won't be played immediately.
• [Added in libxmp 4.2] Set the player master volume, in a 0-100 scale.
Returns:
0 if parameter was correctly set, -XMP_ERROR_INVALID if parameter or values are
out of the valid ranges, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing
state.
EXTERNAL SAMPLE MIXER API
Libxmp 4.2 includes a mini-API that can be used to add sound effects to games and similar
applications, provided that you have a low latency sound system. It allows module
instruments or external sample files in WAV format to be played in response to arbitrary
events.
Example
This example using SDL loads a module and a sound sample, plays the module as background
music, and plays the sample when a key is pressed:
#include <SDL/SDL.h>
#include <xmp.h>
static void fill_audio(void *udata, unsigned char *stream, int len)
{
xmp_play_buffer(udata, stream, len, 0);
}
int sound_init(xmp_context ctx, int sampling_rate, int channels)
{
SDL_AudioSpec a;
a.freq = sampling_rate;
a.format = (AUDIO_S16);
a.channels = channels;
a.samples = 2048;
a.callback = fill_audio;
a.userdata = ctx;
if (SDL_OpenAudio(&a, NULL) < 0) {
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", SDL_GetError());
return -1;
}
}
int video_init()
{
if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) < 0) {
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", SDL_GetError());
return -1;
}
if (SDL_SetVideoMode(640, 480, 8, 0) == NULL) {
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", SDL_GetError());
return -1;
}
atexit(SDL_Quit);
}
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
SDL_Event event;
xmp_context ctx;
if ((ctx = xmp_create_context()) == NULL)
return 1;
video_init();
sound_init(ctx, 44100, 2);
xmp_start_smix(ctx, 1, 1);
xmp_smix_load_sample(ctx, 0, "blip.wav");
xmp_load_module(ctx, "music.mod");
xmp_start_player(ctx, 44100, 0);
xmp_set_player(ctx, XMP_PLAYER_VOLUME, 40);
SDL_PauseAudio(0);
while (1) {
if (SDL_WaitEvent(&event)) {
if (event.type == SDL_KEYDOWN) {
if (event.key.keysym.sym == SDLK_ESCAPE)
break;
xmp_smix_play_sample(ctx, 0, 60, 64, 0);
}
}
}
SDL_PauseAudio(1);
xmp_end_player(ctx);
xmp_release_module(ctx);
xmp_free_context(ctx);
xmp_end_smix(ctx);
SDL_CloseAudio();
return 0;
}
SMIX API reference
int xmp_start_smix(xmp_context c, int nch, int nsmp)
Initialize the external sample mixer subsystem with the given number of reserved
channels and samples.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
nch number of reserved sound mixer channels (1 to 64).
nsmp number of external samples.
Returns:
0 if the external sample mixer system was correctly initialized,
-XMP_ERROR_INVALID in case of invalid parameters, -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player
is already in playing state, or -XMP_ERROR_SYSTEM in case of system error (the
system error code is set in errno).
int xmp_smix_play_instrument(xmp_context c, int ins, int note, int vol, int chn)
Play a note using an instrument from the currently loaded module in one of the reserved
sound mixer channels.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
ins the instrument to play.
note the note number to play (60 = middle C).
vol the volume to use (0 to the maximum volume value used by the current
module.
chn the reserved channe to use to play the instrument.
Returns:
0 if the instrument was correctly played, -XMP_ERROR_INVALID in case of invalid
parameters, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing state.
int xmp_smix_play_sample(xmp_context c, int ins, int vol, int chn)
Play an external sample file in one of the reserved sound channels. The sample must
have been previously loaded using xmp_smix_load_sample().
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
ins the sample to play.
vol the volume to use (0 to the maximum volume value used by the current
module.
chn the reserved channel to use to play the sample.
Returns:
0 if the sample was correctly played, -XMP_ERROR_INVALID in case of invalid
parameters, or -XMP_ERROR_STATE if the player is not in playing state.
int xmp_smix_channel_pan(xmp_context c, int chn, int pan)
Set the reserved channel pan value.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
chn the reserved channel number.
pan the pan value to set (0 to 255).
Returns:
0 if the pan value was set, or -XMP_ERROR_INVALID if parameters are invalid.
int xmp_smix_load_sample(xmp_context c, int num, char *path)
Load a sound sample from a file. Samples should be in mono WAV (RIFF) format.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
num the slot number of the external sample to load.
path pathname of the file to load.
Returns:
0 if the sample was correctly loaded, -XMP_ERROR_INVALID if the sample slot
number is invalid (not reserved using xmp_start_smix()), -XMP_ERROR_FORMAT if
the file format is unsupported, or -XMP_ERROR_SYSTEM in case of system error
(the system error code is set in errno).
int xmp_smix_release_sample(xmp_context c, int num)
Release memory allocated by an external sample in the specified player context.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
num the sample slot number to release.
Returns:
0 if memory was correctly released, or -XMP_ERROR_INVALID if the sample slot
number is invalid.
void xmp_end_smix(xmp_context c)
Deinitialize and resease memory used by the external sample mixer subsystem.
Parameters:
c the player context handle.
AUTHOR
Claudio Matsuoka and Hipolito Carraro Jr.