Hey,

I was just wondering if it was possible for Houdini to listen to the audio feed
from the sound card of the computer (from youtube/ spotify whatever…), driving animation without Frame dependence but audio only???
Has anybody already tried/experimented with that? Is that even possible?

Thanks a lot

In a chop network use a file node to import audio.

In your Motion FX view you will see your audio and do what you want with it in the chop network to extract and drive geometry or sync your geometry to the audio.

I understand that, but the thing I'm looking for is to feed a live audio source, like an instrument plugged into a soundcard.

It seems to be possible, but I don't know how it's done: https://vimeo.com/338218936 [vimeo.com]
Alternatively you could try touchdesigner which shares some Houdini type operators and terminology, I've never used it myself but it's been on list of things to learn for ages.
https://derivative.ca/feature/application-building [derivative.ca]

I understand that, but the thing I'm looking for is to feed a live audio source, like an instrument plugged into a soundcard.

Have you tried the chop audio in node?

https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/nodes/chop/audioin.html [www.sidefx.com]

Edit:

Looking at the video clip you provided it's not clear by what he is saying if it is what he says it is, or at least implied.

You definitely can't get a live render as you play.

But maybe you might be able to get ‘live’ visuals from the viewport.

I'm thinking the visuals would have to be simple like his ‘brushstrokes’ otherwise depending on your system,

there will be issues with cook times that would create delays to apparent synchronization.

But if your ambitious about the visuals being something more elaborate perhaps something along the line of using Houdini with Unity:

Create your visual assets in Houdini and run your instrument through a midi controller interface( if that's possible ) so you get live visual feedback of a wider range of objects/effects(through Unity).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnRGIyuLC6A [www.youtube.com]