Re: Storing wave files in database

On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 02:16:55 +0200, "nicolasr" <nicolasrNOSPAMATSIGNgmx.net> wrote:

¤ Hi,
¤
¤ in my current project I need to record audio data
¤ analyse them and store everything in some sort of database.
¤
¤ I have not much experience with databases except for
¤ some small tests with ADO and MS Access, MySql
¤ and Paradox.
¤
¤ The goal is to record sample files for test speakers
¤ and store the audio data, name and gender of the speaker
¤ and finally some analysis results. All this would happen on
¤ a local computer Win2K/XP. Network access, if needed
¤ at all, would be limited to a few users.
¤
¤ My questions:
¤
¤ 1) Can anyone give some advice as to whether it is reasonable
¤ to store large amounts of binary data in a database, wave files
¤ in my case? Or should I store file paths to external wave files?
¤

Security and portability are typically the reasons for storing the binary data in the database. If
neither is really a requirement then file paths would be much more efficient. Of course you can
still implement NTFS file security as well to limit access to the files.

¤ 2) In case I use an MS Access database: is there a limit on how
¤ many data I can store in it? The number of records wouldn't be
¤ that large but the total amount of data could be well beyond 2 GB.
¤

Access probably isn't a very good solution for this (unless you use file paths). WAV files can be
quite large so given the potential size of the database you will run up again the two gig limitation
rather quickly.

¤ 3) Are there any performance issues in reading/storing large amounts of
¤ binary data from a database compared to file access for external referenced
¤ files? How about MS Access in particular?
¤

Sure. There will definitely be overhead when storing the files in the database. Unless your WAV
files are on average under ten seconds in length (16-bit stereo, 44.1 k) the overhead can be quite
substantial.


Paul
~~~~
Microsoft MVP (Visual Basic)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Load Picture from MS Access to VB6
    ... in code to compact the database via a menu option. ... there is a chance the filename of the photo itself can ... > ¤ Well, I figured it out I think. ... loaded images into the database directly through Access (so that I could ...
    (microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion)
  • Re: Please Help Me in Visual Basic 6.0 SP6
    ... Dim dbPath As String ... Above is my programming where in this programming, ... how can i indicate myself which one i'm gonna insert to the database. ... > ¤ solution where as somebody can help me where to start. ...
    (microsoft.public.vb.database)
  • Re: Any reason why accessing Access should slowdown?
    ... On the MSACCESS / JET OLEDB front, you responded to a query I had about the ... Declared connection to Access database using string based on Jet OLDB ... Set up recordset filter in response to earlier input / selection ... ¤ I am writing a VB6 App using an Access database backend ...
    (microsoft.public.vb.database)
  • Re: Copy database schema from Access to SQL Server
    ... It can import a JET database in a single stroke. ... Hitchhiker's Guide to Visual Studio and SQL Server ... ¤ projects to SQL Server, ... schema and then use DDL code to create the corresponding objects in SQL Server. ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.framework.adonet)
  • Re: Dynamic MDB creation for specific formats 2000-2007
    ... If the specific format could be created from the outset - ... the resulting database - if they were - wouldn't care about any of this. ... ¤ If the database is being created on one system which by default creates ... It doesn't matter when accessing the database through Jet ADO or DAO. ...
    (microsoft.public.vb.database.ado)