The linux DAW thread

[StudioDave]

The neatest thing [about amSynth] is the "random" function. Just hit ctrl+r and you get a random set of parameters. Sometimes it's just noise, but sometimes you get something that ends up being a really neat sound... I don't know of any other synths that have that function, but it's really useful and inspiring, imo.

Patch randomization was once a feature of almost every hardware synth editor during the glory days of MIDI.

I've found a neat way to randomize patches for Hexter: Run Voyetra's Sideman D/TX and route its output to the sysex input of Hexter, it works perfectly. The Sideman editors all included patch randomizers.

Lobby all synth developers to add randomization capability.

Best,

dp

[briandc]

The neatest thing [about amSynth] is the "random" function. Just hit ctrl+r and you get a random set of parameters. Sometimes it's just noise, but sometimes you get something that ends up being a really neat sound... I don't know of any other synths that have that function, but it's really useful and inspiring, imo.

Patch randomization was once a feature of almost every hardware synth editor during the glory days of MIDI.

I've found a neat way to randomize patches for Hexter: Run Voyetra's Sideman D/TX and route its output to the sysex input of Hexter, it works perfectly. The Sideman editors all included patch randomizers.

Lobby all synth developers to add randomization capability.

Best,

dp

Thanks dp. I read your article about Sideman too. Very interesting. I wonder if it's in the Ubuntu Studio repos...?

Randomization is a neat feature. Kind of like playing the lottery I guess. But certainly some interesting stuff comes about that way. In fact, it would be neat to have a softsynth that has a bunch of waveforms, and a randomization capapbility for just the parameters that you want to randomize. Even Hydrogen would benefit from something like that, where patterns could be made at random.

Let the computer do all the work, and the user chooses which to keep and which to throw away!


brian

[glokraw]

Metallurgy fx app from Ugo, has a randomizer for each major function,
and each function can be turned off, so you can focus on perfecting
one at a time.

Many of the HG Fortune synths also have various randomizers,
called 'lazy buttons' (Alphatron Pro is now free, works great
in wine setups) http://www.hgf-synthesizer.com/

Oatmeal synth, from Fuzzpilz,
may produce the highest percentage of keepers,
and a basis from which to proceed.

ZebraCM, has a script (on the U-he website) you load it as a preset,
where it produces a new sound, based on a percentage
that you put in the script, useful to narrow the variance.
(I use 3 re-named scripts, so that one always
appears in the preset list, without needless scrolling, by adding
aa, zz, and mm to the script title.) I'll make sure to update
my WattOS to find all your new sounds.
Cheers

[briandc]

Metallurgy fx app from Ugo, has a randomizer for each major function,
and each function can be turned off, so you can focus on perfecting
one at a time.

Many of the HG Fortune synths also have various randomizers,
called 'lazy buttons' (Alphatron Pro is now free, works great
in wine setups) http://www.hgf-synthesizer.com/

Oatmeal synth, from Fuzzpilz,
may produce the highest percentage of keepers,
and a basis from which to proceed.

ZebraCM, has a script (on the U-he website) you load it as a preset,
where it produces a new sound, based on a percentage
that you put in the script, useful to narrow the variance.
(I use 3 re-named scripts, so that one always
appears in the preset list, without needless scrolling, by adding
aa, zz, and mm to the script title.) I'll make sure to update
my WattOS to find all your new sounds.
Cheers

Hi glokraw,
now that you mentioned it, I do remember the lazy buttons on a few synths. iirc, the HG synths are mostly soundscape synths, which I'm not so interested in at the moment. But randomizing can be a lot of fun. It'd be neat to see some linux-based synths adding that feature. Even Hydrogen could benefit from it, imo.

BTW, is there a place where people share their Hydrogen patterns? On my Motif I have a host of pre-made patterns for various genres, and I'd like to find or make a library of patterns I can just plop into Hydrogen..


brian

[StudioDave]

... it would be neat to have a softsynth that has a bunch of waveforms, and a randomization capability for just the parameters that you want to randomize. Even Hydrogen would benefit from something like that, where patterns could be made at random.

Constrained randomization is possible with Sideman D/TX too. Btw, you won't find it in any repo, it's a commercial product from Voyetra, it dates from the late 1980s. I run it under DOSemu, works like a champ. You can create dozens of sounds with controlled random selection, build a library of greater or lesser variations on the same sound. Lots of fun.

Random pattern fill was another common feature in MIDI software from Ye Olden Tymes. Cool Shoes's Drummer had a nice randomizing function, very fruitful. If you get seriously interested, check out the variety of MIDI apps on Tim's Atari MIDI World. They all run under STEEM, Hatari, and other Atari emulators.

http://tamw.atari-users.net/timidi.htm

Many hardware synth editors there, almost all have patch randomization.

Patch randomizers are what I call "musical" features, along with pattern transformers (invert, retrograde, merge, split, compand, etc). Linux MIDI devs would be wise to add such features as a matter of course to their sequencers. I have little hope though, I've been lobbying for such features for about a decade now.

Best,

dp

[camsr]

Hi guys. I wanna try again to set up a linux DAW, without the usage of WINE, all Linux x64. Is there any consensus on the best interface for this? Which interface does the best in Linux?

[briandc]

Hi guys. I wanna try again to set up a linux DAW, without the usage of WINE, all Linux x64. Is there any consensus on the best interface for this? Which interface does the best in Linux?

I don't remember offhand about x64, since I don't use one. But check here:
http://www.distrowatch.com to browse available distros. BodhiLinux is very nice. It's simple, and let's you build up things the way you want, very very lightweight. There's even stuff for ARM and raspberry pi! (Stuff that's over my head, but I think it might be an interesting venue into the future.)

I would think that Ubuntu Studio is another good way to start. If you install it, KXStudio can be added on top and give you lots of extra features.

Let me know if I can assist further.
brian

[briandc]

... it would be neat to have a softsynth that has a bunch of waveforms, and a randomization capability for just the parameters that you want to randomize. Even Hydrogen would benefit from something like that, where patterns could be made at random.

Constrained randomization is possible with Sideman D/TX too. Btw, you won't find it in any repo, it's a commercial product from Voyetra, it dates from the late 1980s. I run it under DOSemu, works like a champ. You can create dozens of sounds with controlled random selection, build a library of greater or lesser variations on the same sound. Lots of fun.

Random pattern fill was another common feature in MIDI software from Ye Olden Tymes. Cool Shoes's Drummer had a nice randomizing function, very fruitful. If you get seriously interested, check out the variety of MIDI apps on Tim's Atari MIDI World. They all run under STEEM, Hatari, and other Atari emulators.

http://tamw.atari-users.net/timidi.htm

Many hardware synth editors there, almost all have patch randomization.

Patch randomizers are what I call "musical" features, along with pattern transformers (invert, retrograde, merge, split, compand, etc). Linux MIDI devs would be wise to add such features as a matter of course to their sequencers. I have little hope though, I've been lobbying for such features for about a decade now.

Best,

dp

Sometimes writing developers directly gets good results. Several synth developers have responded to my emails, and some interesting upgrades have already some about.
If the developers are serious about their apps, they'll listen to serious feedback and consider making improvements.


brian

[glokraw]

Hi guys. I wanna try again to set up a linux DAW, without the usage of WINE, all Linux x64. Is there any consensus on the best interface for this? Which interface does the best in Linux?

If you mean the main GUI for the linux OS, there is no consensus, but I have
for years used E17, since it has deep control options, and light
use of resources. But even KDE, which is oft reviled as a hog, didn't even
make a blip on the cpu radar, as I watched it in htop.

Most will install apps that drag in gnome, kde, python, gtk, qt, and
a host of other tools and libraries. Miraculous that it all works so well!

You could do a test install, with *all* the gui options, and choose
sessions from the login screen, to test the multitudes.
lxde, xfce, windowmaker, the list goes on and on

Using e17 ibar, I can have a transparent tool panel, and use the
'ibar apps' option of the configuration panel, to place the icons
I use frequently, from left, to right. The e17 config panel stacks
the various parts, so drag and resize them, for ease of use.

Bodhi has a 64bit E17 release, based on current ubuntu repos,
you could add the kx repos, or debian unstable sound repo.
I don't use 64bit, so can't comment on audio apps availability.

Check out the gui/themes competition:

http://forums.bodhilinux.com/index.php? ... -the-week/

Cheers

[camsr]

I was actually meaning the audio interface, but now that you mention user interface, I will take the bait. I liked X11 on fedora, it felt very fast, but also lacked features. I figure for a DAW the most important interface is the DAW and plugins themselves. Is there anything like X11 but stepped up?

[camsr]

Hopefully I can make some of my own programs for linux. With Jack there are a lot of possibilities.

[Interferon]

For the audio interface, I have a M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R and it works like a charm.

You can check http://www.alsa-project.org to have a detailed list of the supported soundcards in Linux!

[glokraw]

m-audio pci cards are also quite trouble free. A Native Instruments
usb interface should work, and others from the alsa list. Some firewire
cards are on the list, reported to work well, with a little extra
gleaning of buzzwords, and ffado firewire software.

X11 is a generic term, for the graphics engine in general,
the many gui/desktop software interfaces are separate entities.

nVidia graphics cards have long been the best supported, avoid using
the newest models that may not yet have kernel support.

ati support is vastly improved in recent years, and many users
are very happy with it. Motherboards that have mixed sound and video,
can require some extra futzing, if conflicts occur.

Lots of qjackctl, ardour, hydrogen, rakarrack, and zynaddsubfx youtubes,
will show a fairly current process for launching a linux audio session.
Cheers

synaptic, or your distros software package manager gui, is important
to easily gather and install the audio apps. Fedora has yum and other
package managers, and ccrma audio repository.
Cheers

[glokraw]

Had a nice evening using Guitarix, a fine and nicely improving
linux amp/fx app, with Calf Plugins noisegate, and later,
a few instances of rakarrack.

Guitarix has a nice selection of 18 tube variations (12AX7) etc you
can choose from, and a wide array of amp and fx controls to dial in
a special sound. The fx can be easily added, almost like using a
dual-pane filemanager, so it's easy to build up complex chains,
mono or stereo.

StudioDave and several others have donated presets,
Dave's are quite fine, but some some of the others are far too loud,
so be aware, and perhaps use a Calf limiter if testing this.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/calf/

I used the aj-snapshot command to save the large set of connections,
and named the session rakX, indicating rakarrack and guitariX are involved.
To recall the connections, open the apps you used, adjust the presets
if desired, and run the command, which shows this type of output:


~$ aj-snapshot -r rakX
Connecting port 'system:capture_1' with 'lv2rack:left'
Connecting port 'system:capture_1' with 'rakarrack-01:in_1'
Connecting port 'system:capture_1' with 'gx_head_amp:in_0'
Connecting port 'system:capture_2' with 'lv2rack:right'
Connecting port 'system:capture_2' with 'rakarrack-01:in_2'
Connecting port 'system:capture_2' with 'gx_head_amp:in_0'
Connecting port 'rakarrack:out_1' with 'system:playback_1'
Connecting port 'rakarrack:out_2' with 'system:playback_2'
Connecting port 'lv2rack:0:Calf Gate L' with 'rakarrack:in_1'
Connecting port 'lv2rack:0:Calf Gate R' with 'rakarrack:in_2'
Connecting port 'rakarrack-01:out_1' with 'system:playback_1'
Connecting port 'rakarrack-01:out_1' with 'lv2rack:left'
Connecting port 'rakarrack-01:out_2' with 'system:playback_2'
Connecting port 'rakarrack-01:out_2' with 'lv2rack:right'
Connecting port 'gx_head_fx:out_0' with 'system:playback_1'
Connecting port 'gx_head_fx:out_1' with 'system:playback_2'
aj-snapshot: SUCCESSFUL snapshot restore!

A bit primitive compared to $DAW$ session handling, but saves
time for a struggling guitarist, and is simple to use.

The sounds sent to the apps, varied from a Mustang amps'
clean tones to fully stoked ramble-tambles, with delightful results,
and nice guitarix and rakarrack presets to enjoy.
Cheers

[StudioDave]

Hey glokster, what version of Rakarrack are you using ? Apparently a lot of people are unhappy with the last released version. The last code I compiled worked fine here on my now-defunct x64 box.

Busy here these days testing Csound6 and the latest SuperCollider3. Not much from my own music room, but my students recently performed a 1-hour all-Beatles show. They did fine.

Best,

dp