[gst-devel] empty buffers & GST_BUFFER_FLAG_GAP

[Stefan Kost]

hi,

imagine a source that from time to time produces empty buffers (silence
or bank images). If the pipeline has many elements next, it would be
cool to optimize the obsolete data procession in this case.

Examples for such sources are sound-generator (simsyn in gst-buzztard)
and also a source in voip applications that uses noise-gating (to save
bandwith).

What I like to do is having a GstBufferFlag that signals that this
buffer contains blank data. Subsequent elements can use that to spare
processing.

Is that what GST_BUFFER_FLAG_GAP is for? If not, may I also add
GST_BUFFER_FLAG_BLANK. As part of the proposal I would update GstVolume,
GstLevel, GstAdder and GstAudioconvert to make use of that.

What do you think about it?

Stefan