KVR Audio

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 9:39 pm

pljones wrote:As JACK seems to keep being brought up as a significant benefit of Linux, I have to point out that you can, of course, happily use JACK on Windows or Mac OS, as JACK runs on both. Certainly it's pretty stable on Windows.

Now, why don't more users on Windows use JACK..?

Folks don't like them thar newfangled ways. But you can be sure
this will show up as a googled side effect, and people who are unsatisfied,
or curious, will start tinkering. The windows Harrison Mixbus app should be
reason enough for some to explore.
Cheers

ret · Post by **ret** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:31 am

I've been running linux studio along with my mac and windows systems for few years now and while I've learned a lot of how to get it working it's still a major headache...

To be brutally honest, usually the best way to make music with linux is to use reaper, podium or mulab with wine and forget the native linux software. Unless you are like me and really want to spend ages learning to do things. My own linux system is working rather well but it took forever to learn and get into the state it is now.

While I think Ardour is really nice software I can't help thinking the whole linux audio is too much about "jack way" of doing things. Sure jack can be flexible but most of the times I keep thinking this jack thing is something that keeps people away from linux audio because after mac or windows it certainly feels like a totally unnecessary step and can be really difficult to deal with when doing complex projects.

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:38 am

I have the unfair advantage of being slow and plodding,
so all the fancy automation and session razzle dazzle
is lost on me, and the tedious hand-connected qjackctl
gives me time to contemplate and process what I might do next.

While not money in the bank, a clam at high tide, still knows it.

Try the new Hexter for a couple hours when you get a chance.

pc999 · Post by **pc999** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:31 pm

Just tried Renoise demo on Linux, it works just like windows, although the demos had significant less CPU use (IIRC, up to 20% less on a AMD 48500e) and a faster OS overall (using Ubuntu/Unity).

Just launched it and it is on.

Linux just miss that, more good apps (or at least with a piano roll

)

I also found a much better and more obvious way of of installing desktop environments:

1- Install Linux (in my case Ubuntu Studio)
2- Go to the software center and search for the name of the DE (eg Unity, Gnome, LXCD...) and install.

Easier than anything on Windows.

I have big hopes for Bitwig

.

StudioDave · Post by **StudioDave** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 5:40 pm

Recently I upgraded my Ubuntu 10.04 box to 12.04.1. I also decided to install the KXStudio packages. The upgrade was as simple as clicking a button on the Update Manager and answering a few prompts during the installation. Simple stuff. Then I added the KXStudio repo and packages, according to the instructions on its site. Rebooted into a smooth-running gun, much better performance than I was getting from my personally-customized 10.04 system.

I've run a dozen or so different Linux systems, and I must say that KXStudio has one of the easiest installation/configuration stages I've encountered. Btw, I'm running JACK with super-stable 5.33 ms latency from an M-Audio Delta 66 on a single-core AMD64 3800+ (2.4 GHz).

Some recommended systems:

KXStudio:

http://kxstudio.sourceforge.net/

AVLinux:

http://www.bandshed.net/AVLinux.html

Dream Studio:

http://www.dickmacinnis.com/dreamstudio/

The bolder may wish to try setting up an Arch system, but I would not recommend it to most absolute beginners.

Best,

dp

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:10 pm

StudioDave wrote:Recently I upgraded my Ubuntu 10.04 box to 12.04.1. I also decided to install the KXStudio packages.

Best,

dp

Hi, have you tested the port of TAL Noisemaker from KX?
Having that synth working would be another big plus.
Cheers

Dreamw · Post by **Dreamw** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 2:04 am

I use it for multichannel stuff and specialist software for things like wavefield synthesis. In short linux is a bollox to get anything working - but the sense of achievement when you do is a reward in itself.
If you like spending days trying to find the right dependencies etc instead of pressing "setup" then linux is for you. On the plus side you learn a lot- it gets easier the more you use it and its rock solid. I will always be using windows and macs as well though.
Oh and Jack is f**king genius - its really quite simple - think of it literally as lots of virtual jack leads you can plug in and out of anywhere, between daws, inputs and outputs of different programs etc.

ret · Post by **ret** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:55 am

Maybe I'm just too spoiled by the simplicity of windows and mac but I personally don't see the point of messing with jack settings and routings in 2012... Sure I can work with it as I do use linux audio software nearly daily basis but when compared to mac and windows jack is something that makes everything just a little bit more difficult.

TAL Noisemaker from KX repo works really well. You can also install it manually by downloading it from official distrho website.

acousmod · Post by **acousmod** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 12:10 pm

Dreamw wrote:I use it for multichannel stuff and specialist software for things like wavefield synthesis.

Hi,

Could you tell me what distribution and what software you use ?
I have tried a few years ago to install Wonder, but I didn't succeeded a single time, and it seems that it is no more developped.

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 5:58 am

acousmod wrote:
Dreamw wrote:I use it for multichannel stuff and specialist software for things like wavefield synthesis.
Hi,

Could you tell me what distribution and what software you use ?
I have tried a few years ago to install Wonder, but I didn't succeeded a single time, and it seems that it is no more developped.

I'm not familiar with 'Wonder', but

an old software probably needs an old linux, due to the c libs and tools
being different now. unetbootin will allow you to install an old .iso file easily,
to recreate a new bootable linux media of that era. The next hurdle might be
finding dependency packages of that vintage, to install manually, using rpm -i or dpkg -i
and aquiring the list of failed dependencies, until enough are there for success.

Current tools allowing to boot iso images, may help, if you can get old
magazine cover dvds, and searching ibiblio might turn up archives, or old distros
still available to download. Ubuntu Studio 8.06, Knoppix V3x, and PclinuxOS 2007,
were good luck for me.

It may be possible for a skilled compiler, to sort out the system files changes,
and get a version working in a modern setting.
Cheers

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:34 pm

ret wrote: jack is something that makes everything just a little bit more difficult.

TAL Noisemaker from KX repo works really well. You can also install it manually by downloading it from official distrho website.

I often send the L/R to different fx, and jackd makes this easy.
It might be a clickfest to accomplish that in reaper, but I have no need to try.

I managed to get TAL-Noismaker working, a moral victory,
as well as a sonic win. A versatile sound source, that compliments
other linux instruments very well

falkTX must have put in many hours
porting the TAL collection, while creating/organizing tools along the way.
Cheers

codec_spurt · Post by **codec_spurt** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 10:08 am

glokraw wrote:I'd love to say that you can come over to windows without problem. I would, however, be lying. If there were no problems with windows, there wouldn't be enough
forum traffic here, to generate the needed ad revenue.

But I do agree with some of Reteos sentiment, and you correctly point out
the attitude issues and lack of meaningful support in some linux forums.
But there are good forums, with helpful people too, if you know where to look,
and are not trolling based on previous failures.

glokraw, I don't know if you were referring to me. I am assuming that.

I just had some major problems doing a quite hardcore distro. Bare to the metal stuff. Well, not really, but I am upping my game. I put a post up at a linux forum and got no advice at all. In fact I saw other people that posted questions and giving quite detailed advice. Not trolling or venting frustration at all. The response was one of 'kill yourself, you are an idiot', type. Now this was from a respected member who had over five f****** thousand posts. It was actually quite shocking. The f***** left me alone, which is just as well...

I got some dude in Japan (don't know if he is Japanese - prolly not - his English was just too good - then again - he might be a she

) who not only helped me, but made a 500 line post with exact command line commands. It was extraordinary. But I can't help thinking but there for the grace of god, I would have got that other 5000 post asshole.

So you are right, there is help to be had. I'm glad I do Linux for fun. If I had to take it seriously then the attitude of those in the know would just annoy the **** out of me. Linux is pretty dead in the water as far as the desktop is concerned for the average user. I am with Dedoimedo on this one. Too many developers with big egos.
Not enough of a vision. It's a geek thing I suppose. Too bad I am not a geek.

I have a little coding experience, and am a bit autistic. That might give me an advantage, but, I am totally out of my depth a lot of the time. Fortunately, I get my kicks from swimming in deep waters. But some of these people, they really put my disability into perspective. I mean, they are really quite far along the spectrum if you know what I mean. I would install linux on a dual-boot for someone if they wanted it. I would never recommend that they mess about with it themselves.

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:29 pm

I would say mess around at will, but not on your main system.
Live dvd/cd, unetbootin sticks, external drives = zero need to
nuke a commercial OS, or a working linux, for that matter.

Aquiring and using linux tools/skills tends to breed confidence
and self reliance. Daddy gave some kid a car, another daddy
gave a kid a toolbox full of odd looking metal things. I know
which one I would ask for help.

You hone the edge for success, pressing on despite difficulties,
plowing new ground, separating wheat from chaff, I suspect you
will do well, regardless of what/who falls apart around you.
Cheers

jeffh · Post by **jeffh** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 10:49 pm

ret wrote:Maybe I'm just too spoiled by the simplicity of windows and mac but I personally don't see the point of messing with jack settings and routings in 2012...

I totally agree with this, using QJackCtl to route things around seems really cool on the surface, but I never found the workflow to help my music a single bit, especially considering what a mess session management continues to be...

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:53 am

Sometimes using a multitrack daw for just a few instruments seems like
overkill to me. When trying to develope a unique primary sound, flexible routing
between a pair of stereo exposed instruments, and an fx collection, is wonderful.

In a multitrack daw session, adding and arming new tracks, choosing the instrument,
setting its volume and pan, creating a send/receive for an effect,
really doesn't help my fatigue level or creativity.

Once qjackctl is started, jp1 connections gui needs fewer clicks per session,
handy when you hust can't stop

http://www.linuxdsp.co.uk/download/jack ... index.html

I have atm the Hexter default DX7 patch, L/R routed to delays with different speed and decay, different filters, and a Noisemaker patch, 'We Felt Digital', that is routed to a stereo tremolo, along with the DX7 L/R, very easy to set up,
lots of movement per keypress, and will be fun to add on a couple sounds
and some rythms.

Cheers

Linux...anybody using it?