KVR Audio

ughnonumus · Post by **ughnonumus** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:24 pm

I'm getting ready to put some older hardware (e.g. Athlon 64; some IDE drives, etc...) to use and would like to setup another Linux system. FYI: I was on the SUSE train a long time, ago. However, I cut everything over to Windoze, once I started using Cubase, et al. The last version of SUSE that I used (and have a copy of) is 5.1. However, I notice that there is an 11.1 version for free online downloads/installations. What's the recommendation here? Is this online freebie legit?

Of course, I am very curious to setup a DAW using Linux, as well. However, I'd like to get some of this hardware off the rock pile.

LBN · Post by **LBN** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:47 pm

ughnonumus wrote:The last version of SUSE that I used (and have a copy of) is 5.1. However, I notice that there is an 11.1 version for free online downloads/installations. What's the recommendation here? Is this online freebie legit?

Yes, it's legit and quite slick. Grab the 11.1 download edition and have some fun.

fedexnman · Post by **fedexnman** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:51 pm

google avlinux2 bandshed, its a linux audio n video distro

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:14 pm

ughnonumus wrote:I'm getting ready to put some older hardware (e.g. Athlon 64; some IDE drives, etc...) to use and would like to setup another Linux system. FYI: I was on the SUSE train a long time, ago. However, I cut everything over to Windoze, once I started using Cubase, et al. The last version of SUSE that I used (and have a copy of) is 5.1. However, I notice that there is an 11.1 version for free online downloads/installations. What's the recommendation here? Is this online freebie legit?

Of course, I am very curious to setup a DAW using Linux, as well. However, I'd like to get some of this hardware off the rock pile.

Opensuse is legit, but there is controversy over various distros using KDE v4.xx as
default window manager, as it lacks some useful features found in KDE 3.5 thru 3.10

There are a few dedicated audio distros to choose from to save time/hassle

Studio64 may have the fewest drawbacks, and freshest support, debian based.
Ubuntu Studio, but stick to 8.04, as the newer ones are a trainwreck, but getting fixed
JAD Its based on opensuse 10.2, choice of E17, or KDE at install time, I have one setup.
The main devs, being musicians, are using Macs now, and on leave of absence...
Musix Not sure of its status, but was along the lines of Studio64, worth looking into.

These utilize a realtime kernel setup, but most standard distros, using a kernel audio priority in qjackctl, of 70, seem to do well recording with Reaper, and Cantabile.. Last night, with a stock kernel, I recorded Cantabile 1.2 vst output, (4 RMXL softsynths) routed through the linux Rakarrack multi-fx, together
with the Hydrogen drum machine (which was sent to another instance of Rakarrack) and both Rakarracks were sent to the Audacity Portaudio input (visible in qjackctl once you
hit the record button in Audacity -so press record in Audacity, then press the pause button, then make your final routings in qjackctl, and resume recording.)

Rakarrack is 10 quality fx in one gui, in case you have some catching up to do. Stunning fx for guitar, drums, you name it!

Ardour is progressing nicely, many linux folks will prefer it to Audacity, for high-end recording/mastering, and utilizing qjackctl, as noted above.

Wine, and wineasio are required for using Reaper, Cantabile, and windoze Eneregy XT2,
for hosting your windows plugins, details are in this thread, if you troll back.

Basic multitrack recording works like a charm with Reaper, the latest version, 3.06, is fast and stable, your mileage will depend mainly on your soundcard, and its alsa support
Cheers

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:16 pm

todd sweetland wrote:google avlinux2 bandshed, its a linux audio n video distro

Good news! Will check it out soon!

fedexnman · Post by **fedexnman** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:25 pm

avlinux2 is new and more up to date than 64studio, jad, or ubuntu studio

StudioDave · Post by **StudioDave** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:28 pm

These days I produce and release music and video created on JAD 1.0, 64 Studio 2.1, UbuntuStudio 9.04, and 64 Studio 3.0 beta (based on Ubuntu 8.04). 64 Studio 2.1 is rock-steady, ditto for JAD. My UStudio system is heavily customized for stability, and I agree with glokraw about recent versions of Ubuntu Studio. The rt kernel in that distro has been flaky, though there's a new (?) kernel available that I have not tried. I should also mention that only my 64 Studio 2.1 installation is a 64-bit system, the others are installed as 32-bit systems (for various reasons).

Best regards,

dp

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 4:18 am

todd sweetland wrote:avlinux2 is new and more up to date than 64studio, jad, or ubuntu studio

Went to their website, and then to buy blank DVDs for the .iso

I must say, I was impressed

Hopefully I can get a setup installed in the coming weekend. Thanks for the tip

Throbert · Post by **Throbert** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:25 pm

Hi, I'm researching an alternative for my Windoze OS and I pretty much know that I'll be turning to the Linux world for a solution.

I would like to be able to set up my own host and sell my receptor so I don't have to wait for Muse to figure out they Misplaced their head and find they need a winch and stirrups to get it back.

I know I don't want to go with an Apple set up, not because of the OS. Their web site and stores look like the inside of a hospital or psycho ward. I would like to know how to get OS X on my PC though.

Anyway, while browsing through the Linux sites, reading the forums and what not, I tend to get a little dizzy trying to comprehend all the lines of code and all the this and that I will need to get going. This AVLinux2 seems like a good bet because it looks like it has everything included in the ISO file. I don't see any kind of dedicated support or forum for it though.

I would like to know if my current setup is viable so I am going to dump my specs here and maybe I can get some feedback, please?

ASUS P5Q-E LGA775 ATX
Motherboard, Intel P45 Chipset, Supports Intel Core 2 Extreme CPUs,
Dual DDR2 1200, SATA 3Gb/s RAID, CrossFireX Ready, PCI-E 2.0

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core Processor 2.4GHz, 1066FSB, LGA775, 8MB
ZALMAN CNPS8700 NT Copper Intel/AMD CPU Cooler

CORSAIR DOMINATOR with DHX Technology TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF 4GB PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066) DDR2 Memory

ATI All-In-Wonder 9600 XT AGP 8X 128MB DDR
Video Card w/TV-Out & Video-In
Zalman ZM-17Cu Silent Video Card Copper Heatsink

Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB Serial ATA 10,000RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JD 250GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer
2) Smart Drive 2002 Copper Cool, Quiet Hard Drive Enclosures

Pioneer DVR 212BK DVD Burner

I have a MOTU midi timepiece AV and a 2408mk3 also and see there is are drivers for them at the ALSA site. Well only for the timepiece. Who knows that could all be BS.

So if anyone knows the proverbial, "All you got a do is," could you please let me know
Thanks thRobert

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:47 am

Hi, All the main distros have live-media versions, change your bios to boot the CD/DvD/usb-stick before the hard-disk, insert media, and reboot into testville.

Your windows hard disks will have desktop icons like hda1, or sda1. Ususally just
double click those for a filemanager to open, then browse to some audio files, and give a listen, using apps like amarok, kscd, kaffeine, xmms, totem, and mplayer, which will be in the main menus, open one, use its file browser to reach the folders with mp3s etc

The main system menu icons are usually in the left-most corner of a taskbar, some taskbars are on top, some on the bottom, some draggable. The main menu is sometimes configured to pop up with the right mouse-button click

You must have 'the hardware' to use linux easily, if your nice setup has some issues after a run-through with 4 or 5 live versions, get a dedicated old P4 @ 3 ghz, an old
m-audio 24/96, and an nvidia 7xxx or newer graphics card, and there ye be!
Try these audio/video focused linux versions:

Ubuntu Studio 8.04 (not the newer Ubuntu versions!)
JAD
Studio64
Musix
avlinux2

Cheers

Throbert · Post by **Throbert** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:45 pm

I was looking through ALSA for a sound card to use and notice alot of out of produstion cards. there realy isn't any quality card drivers available aside from RME and no ASE card drivers aside from Lynx. I do have a Lynx ASE16e card but from what info I can make out it's conditioal and/or has provblems.
I'm using that card on my audio rig if I was to set up A linux rig it would be mostly for midi and plgin instruments using wine. to bad there is no Motu 2048 mk3 driver. I have a 424 siting around that I'm not using.

glokraw · Post by **glokraw** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:54 am

Throbert wrote:I was looking through ALSA for a sound card to use and notice alot of out of produstion cards. there realy isn't any quality card drivers available aside from RME and no ASE card drivers aside from Lynx. I do have a Lynx ASE16e card but from what info I can make out it's conditioal and/or has provblems.
I'm using that card on my audio rig if I was to set up A linux rig it would be mostly for midi and plgin instruments using wine. to bad there is no Motu 2048 mk3 driver. I have a 424 siting around that I'm not using.

Time to snatch up the bargains! Work is underway on E-mu cards, and even
X-fi, which when liberated from Creative Labs code, could be a very nice basic
audio i/o to use alongside a an E-mu 2x2 midi device

ughnonumus · Post by **ughnonumus** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:59 am

LBN wrote:
ughnonumus wrote:The last version of SUSE that I used (and have a copy of) is 5.1. However, I notice that there is an 11.1 version for free online downloads/installations. What's the recommendation here? Is this online freebie legit?
Yes, it's legit and quite slick. Grab the 11.1 download edition and have some fun.

Cool.

Thanks, for that.

Throbert · Post by **Throbert** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:58 pm

glokraw wrote:
Throbert wrote:I was looking through ALSA for a sound card to use and notice alot of out of produstion cards. there realy isn't any quality card drivers available aside from RME and no ASE card drivers aside from Lynx. I do have a Lynx ASE16e card but from what info I can make out it's conditioal and/or has provblems.
I'm using that card on my audio rig if I was to set up A linux rig it would be mostly for midi and plgin instruments using wine. to bad there is no Motu 2048 mk3 driver. I have a 424 siting around that I'm not using.
Time to snatch up the bargains! Work is underway on E-mu cards, and even
X-fi, which when liberated from Creative Labs code, could be a very nice basic
audio i/o to use alongside a an E-mu 2x2 midi device

I have a Midi Timepeace AV and Alsa has a driver for it but don't know what the details mean

I did hit and miss with the vendor list and found that Audio Science and Digigram have what I'm looking for in sound cards, but they're expensive.

SE_Newbie · Post by **SE_Newbie** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:41 pm

james0tucson wrote:
lilith2k3 wrote:
SE_Newbie wrote: IMHO its slower and more bloated than even Windoze.
Tell me one reason, why an ubuntu system should be slower than e.g. SUSE?
If you compare fair, it is not.
"IMHO" should have tipped you off -- he thinks speed comparisons between operating systems is somehow a subjective matter of opinion. It is not.
[/b]

Ok, bad choice of acronyms... I should have said "From what I've experienced" and I was using older hardware to boot. I thought at first that it was just the KDE that slowed it down but then I tried the XFCE version Xubuntu and it was just as slow. I boot up a Dyne:Bolic or Puppy and its just way faster. Now I don't know how fast Ubuntu will run in a full-on hard disc installation but I have tried live cd's that were much faster and decided to go with them instead. And yes, I did get better performance out of Windows XP than with Ubuntu. I guess, basically what I am saying is that if you plan on putting some old hardware to use with linux, Ubuntu studio, JAD, or ArtistX are not the ones you should be going with. Try, instead, a more slimmed down distro such as Dyne:Bolic or Puppy which can run on such older hardware.

As for KDE, I have never really gotten great performance even on newer hardware, which makes me wonder why it would be used so extensively in media production distros. Since audio and video manipulation are such memory intensive tasks, I'd say it makes more sense to use a desktop environment that's not so heavy such as XFCE or IceWM. And yes, this is my opinion, as it would be truly arrogant of me to expect anyone to assume that every word I post is an absolute fact.

The linux DAW thread