file:///usr/local/lib/pd//doc/1.manual/x3.htm#s4

Command line arguments

Pd may be run as a "command line" program from your "terminal emulator," "shell," or "MSDOS prompt." In Windows, if Pd is started using a "shortcut" it is also run from a command line which you can edit using the ``properties" dialog for the shortcut. In any operating system, Pd can be called from a script (called a batch file on Windows or a shell script on OSX or unix). The command line is just a line of text, which should be of the form:

    pd [options] [patches to open]


although you may have to specify a path (such as "~/pd/bin/pd" or "C:\program files\pd\bin\pd") so your command interpreter can find Pd. Possible options include:

audio configuration flags:
-r <n>           -- specify sample rate
-audioindev ...  -- sound in device list; e.g., "2,1" for second and first
-audiooutdev ... -- sound out device list, same as above 
-audiodev ...    -- specify both -audioindev and -audiooutdev together
-inchannels ...  -- number of audio in channels (by device, like "2" or "16,8")
-outchannels ... -- number of audio out channels (by device)
-channels ...    -- specify both input and output channels
-audiobuf <n>    -- specify size of audio I/O buffer in msec
-blocksize <n>   -- specify audio I/O block size in sample frames
-sleepgrain <n>  -- specify number of milliseconds to sleep when idle
-nodac           -- suppress audio output
-noadc           -- suppress audio input
-noaudio         -- suppress audio input and output (-nosound is synonym) 
-listdev         -- list audio and MIDI devices

(linux specific audio:)
-frags <n>       -- specify number of audio fragments (defeats audiobuf)
-fragsize <n>    -- specify log of fragment size ('blocksize' is better...)
-oss            -- use ALSA audio drivers
-alsa           -- use ALSA audio drivers
-pa             -- use portaudio (experimental version 19)
-alsadev <n>     ----- obsolete: use -audiodev
-32bit             ---- (probably obsolete) -- use 32 bit OSS extension

(Windows specific audio:)
-mmio           -- use MMIO drivers and API
-asio           -- use ASIO drivers and API

MIDI configuration flags:
-midiindev ...   -- midi in device list; e.g., "1,3" for first and third
-midioutdev ...  -- midi out device list, same format
-mididev ...     -- specify -midioutdev and -midiindev together
-nomidiin        -- suppress MIDI input
-nomidiout       -- suppress MIDI output
-nomidi          -- suppress MIDI input and output

general flags:
-path <path>     -- add to file search path
-nostdpath       -- don't search standard ("extra") directory
-stdpath         -- search standard directory (true by default)
-helppath <path> -- add to help search path
-open <file>     -- open file(s) on startup
-lib <file>      -- load object library(s)
-font <n>        -- specify default font size in points
-verbose         -- extra printout on startup and when searching for files
-version         -- don't run Pd; just print out which version it is
-d <n>           -- specify debug level
-noloadbang      -- suppress all loadbangs
-stderr          -- send printout to standard error instead of GUI
-nogui           -- suppress starting the GUI
-guiport <n>     -- connect to pre-existing GUI over port 'n'
-guicmd "cmd..." -- substitute another GUI program (e.g., rsh)
-send "msg..."   -- send a message at startup (after patches are loaded)
-rt or -realtime -- use real-time priority (needs root privilege)
-nrt             -- don't use real-time priority


Here are some details on some of the audio, MIDI, and scheduler options (but see also the next section on file management.) 
