Linux...anybody using it?

[arkmabat]

Hello, everyone

I make music in Ubuntu Linux, running REAPER under WINE, and using various free and commercial plug-ins.

Cheers,
Paul

That's... inspiring. Is your WINE pulling from original Windows files or just the default open-source Windows files?

[plusch]

@StudioDave: Thanks, and feel free to borrow parts of those tracks. I'd be interested to hear what you do with them.

@arkmabat: It's all default open-source except for gdiplus, which I set to native Windows a long time ago. It's possible that today's WINE version of gdiplus would work just as well. I'll have to try that sometime.

[ret]

The problem with Linux is that I always try it on old, junky computers... so I see it as old and junky... I always loose the startbar or the volume mixer gets stuck and immovable...

Try AV Linux. Works even on my ancient travelmate 4100 series laptop.

[jeffh]

As was requested in a PM, here's a quick update on the progress on PyDAWv3:

1. Improved piano roll
2. Overdub recording mode for MIDI
3. Parameters are now automated by control name, and MIDI CCs can be assigned to parameters at any time without restarting
4. New effects (in Way-V, Euphoria and Modulex):
Formant Filter
Stereo Chorus
granular-glitch-thingie
5. Way-V:
3rd oscillator
FM synthesis
6. Big automation overhaul (simplified and more robust)
7. Minor improvements to audio editing
8. Items and regions can now be renamed
9. Nice little rings drawn around the knobs to show their position
10. Can be installed in parallel to PyDAWv2
11. Probably more stuff I've forgotten about

Way-V is a real beast of a synth now, the FM synthesis really opens up some new sonic possibilities, everything from soft DX7-style string-plucky sounds to tough distorted Skrillex FM sounds...

I'm going to add a few more effects and plugin features, then some serious audio-sequencing-love, and finally some hardcore bug-hunting before I release... I intend to have it out in perhaps 1 month from now, maybe 2 months at most...

PLEASE NOTE: You're welcome to compile the new version from source for evaluation/testing purposes, but please don't rely on it for any serious work, backwards-incompatible changes to the project file format are still forthcoming...

[codec_spurt]

The problem with Linux is that I always try it on old, junky computers... so I see it as old and junky... I always loose the startbar or the volume mixer gets stuck and immovable...

You can do that, and it's good for that. But man, try it on a new computer and watch it fly high through the sky. And use something like Debian that takes even less resources, obviously not with a KDE desktop if you want maximum effect.

Linux devs aren't total masochists (just a bit), they like to develop on newer computers, if for no reason other than it takes ages to compile code on aging cpus. So I would say most of the best of the Linux experience is to be had on at least an average or moderately powerful 'puter. Of course it will work well on older systems, but there is no reason not to use the best you can lay your hands on.

It will greatly enhance the experience and make you realise what a piece of junk Microsoft Windows 7 is in the bloatware department. Of course we need it because 99 percent of our music software will run on nothing else. Don't make it lean and mean like Linux though.

(Though even Linux is trying its best with some distros to compete in the bloatware dept. as well these days.)



cheers.

[glokraw]

As was requested in a PM, here's a quick update on the progress on PyDAWv3:

4. New effects (in Way-V, Euphoria and Modulex):
Formant Filter
Stereo Chorus
granular-glitch-thingie
5. Way-V:
3rd oscillator
FM synthesis

Way-V is a real beast of a synth now, the FM synthesis really opens up some new sonic possibilities, everything from soft DX7-style string-plucky sounds to tough distorted Skrillex FM sounds...

Great choice of improvements!

[jeffh]

Great choice of improvements!

Thanks buddy... I've also added a ring modulator as an effect since yesterday, and some small but meaningful improvements to Euphoria... I should also have a few more new effects before I wrap up the plugin improvements...

But I think Way-V will be the real star of the PyDAWv3 after a day of playing with it... FM and the extra effects have made it incredibly versatile in generating both pretty and ugly sounds alike, and the preset bank I'm working on reflects that... and of course Way-V actually has a sane and usable UI unlike Zyn/Yoshimi the previous "flagship" Linux synthesizer(s)...

I can't wait for the linuxmusicians.com folks to beg me to port it to LV2 like they did with my Euphoria sampler so that I can say:


No.

[arkmabat]

The problem with Linux is that I always try it on old, junky computers... so I see it as old and junky... I always loose the startbar or the volume mixer gets stuck and immovable...

Try AV Linux. Works even on my ancient travelmate 4100 series laptop.

I just picked up a laptop (2 gigs ram / pentium 3) for ten bucks today. I see it as a sign that I need to give linux another chance. In terms of vsti/plugin hosting, is Lmms, Ardour or Reaper the most stable or recommended? Ardour seems to have come a long way since '09. Time stretching, port of TAL Noisemaker, SampLv1 and DrMr drums.

[pc999]

Anyone can help me try the Glitch 2 demo on renoise, I dont seem to be able to edit the VST paths on Renoise, or see any default VST folder (besides inside the LMMS one).

Thanks in advance!

[glokraw]

I just picked up a laptop (2 gigs ram / pentium 3) for ten bucks today. I see it as a sign that I need to give linux another chance. In terms of vsti/plugin hosting, is Lmms, Ardour or Reaper the most stable or recommended? Ardour seems to have come a long way since '09. Time stretching, port of TAL Noisemaker, SampLv1 and DrMr drums.

Reaper is by far the best vst option. Make sure your winecfg panel
has alsa chosen, instead of jack. Your Reaper session is an 'instrument'
as far as linux is concerned, and can route to or with other linux apps.

On the pIII, you'll be able to run several Synth1 instances in Reaper,
and add some linux Hexter DX7 instances (wide variety of DX7sysex files to import!)
and a Hydrogen drumkit. If there is more cpu, add a rakarrack fx,
or Calf plugin(s) as desired.

Route the final the output to jack-capture or timemachine for recording.
A lightweight distro like Studio1337 that can run in RAM will enhance the success.
$10? Nice find! You might find a p4 laptop that needs that kind of ram,
if your luck holds out.

[codec_spurt]

Having lots of fun with the new LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition).

Actually installed this to my HD. Worked perfectly till I installed the CCC (AMD Catalyst) drivers. Brought my whole system down. 24 hours of work down the pan and had to be repeated to get me back to where I was.

Of course I didn't have it backed up. Do you? I bet you don't. Not Linux anyway. I love questioning so called experts in the Linux field about their backup strategies and what programs they use to 'clone' and 'image' their systems.

The one program I have found to be implacable when it comes to Linux imaging is Redo -
http://redobackup.org/

And it is great, except for when you want to restore to a specific partition. It can only restore to the first boot sector of the chosen drive, which as we all know, windoze likes to hog. So if like me you have a third or fourth partition with a linux distro on, you can't use it to restore, though you can back up.

This leaves us with Clonezilla which scares the crap out of me. And so it should you too, unless you are a command line god. And another program I found on the Linux Mint forum that sometimes works and sometimes erases your hard drive.

You can't use Acronis True Image, apart from the fact that they buggered the program after version 8. It doesn't do Linux. It pretends to which is the worst part about it, but when push comes to shove, you are over the edge.

It's a no mans land. There is only really Clonezilla. I'm going to learn how to use it and face my fears once and for all. I have everything backed up and I can afford a few failures here or there.

I just spent two whole days on restoring my LMDE install, remember? It only took me a few hours to set up. But that is what they say about this Debian edition. It is easier than Debian to set up, but harder to maintain. Though there are some experts that know what they are doing and they use it as a template and then assimilate like the borg all the way back/down to pure Debian.

It is a rolling distro which means that you don't have to reinstall like other versions of mint. It's a bit behind the times, but it is based on Debian testing and releases are shunted out every few months in packages after being double tested. It seemed like a good horse to back at the time. I'll keep riding it a bit further and won't whip it too hard.

Here is a good summary, if you care:
http://www.zdnet.com/a-look-at-linux-mi ... 000013027/

Personally, I think the Mint developers have done an amazing job. To think they organize and maintain and develop all this shit.

There's a new rollout on the Wheezy testing front. Should be fun...

To be honest, I don't know wtf I bother. I have a Debian Expert Install on a virtual machine that is surprisingly fast. It just flies.

I really need to evaluate why and what for I am using Linux. It's been fun. But if it is just going to constantly be an academic exercise, I think I might move on.


Audio doesn't work and there aren't even any decent Image Viewers for it. It is one holy clusterf**k. Best thing about it is running WinXp on new hardware in a VM. Man, if you thought WinXp was fast before... I know it is supposed to be slower because of the extra layer, but on my setup, it is just blazing. The fastest, most compatible OS known to man. And it took VirtualBox running in Linux to realise this...




cheers.

[glokraw]

Of course I didn't have it backed up. Do you? I bet you don't. Not Linux anyway. I love questioning so called experts in the Linux field about their backup strategies and what programs they use to 'clone' and 'image' their systems.

1. always have a /home partition, that you don't format during a new/re-install.
2. musicians, copy your .wine folder, and /usr/share, to a backup drives,
so your vsts never need reinsallation, just drag/drop the .wine folder
3. Don't broadcast your failed efforts, and then blame the developers.
It tends to point to the most serious cluster in your system.
4. Ask, or learn, before you destroy what you don't understand.

Linux distributions update/develope/emerge so fast, that copying valued
data/work to multiple locations/media suffices. It only takes 10 minutes to
do a new install, if you have re-usable settings in /home/you
Cheers

[glokraw]

I really need to evaluate why and what for I am using Linux. It's been fun. But if it is just going to constantly be an academic exercise, I think I might move on.
cheers.

Exactly. You could have recorded a jaunty tune, instead of destroying your system,
and then wailing a lengthy lament. The tortoise makes the tunes,
the hare sings the blues

Have you downloaded and sorted the DX7 sysex treasure for Hexter?
Do you have all the Yoshimi/zynaddsubfx soundbanks?
How about all the hydrogen drum kits?
Have you delved into the Rakarrack multi-fx help file?
Built a rack of Calf Plugins?
Set up a live performance chain in Guitarix2?
Gathered ladspa fx into dedicated jack-racks?
Set up pro quality soundfonts in Fluidsynth?

These are just surface scratchers, deep though the results can be.
If XP flies in your virtual box setup, why would you want to settle
for slower and more complicated alternatives?

[codec_spurt]

Of course I didn't have it backed up. Do you? I bet you don't. Not Linux anyway. I love questioning so called experts in the Linux field about their backup strategies and what programs they use to 'clone' and 'image' their systems.

1. always have a /home partition, that you don't format during a new/re-install.
2. musicians, copy your .wine folder, and /usr/share, to a backup drives,
so your vsts never need reinsallation, just drag/drop the .wine folder
3. Don't broadcast your failed efforts, and then blame the developers.
It tends to point to the most serious cluster in your system.
4. Ask, or learn, before you destroy what you don't understand.

Linux distributions update/develope/emerge so fast, that copying valued
data/work to multiple locations/media suffices. It only takes 10 minutes to
do a new install, if you have re-usable settings in /home/you
Cheers

1/
Yes, I saw that when I reinstalled LMDE it kept the home partition intact. Nice.
Do you know how much research I had to do to find out that I needed to create/format a home partition? And do you know that there is absolutely no info out there that I found that told me that this would be the case?

2/
I don't use wine and never will.

3/
I wasn't broadcasting my failed efforts. It wasn't a fail. It was a learning experience. I was broadcasting that. For those that care. I most certainly was NOT blaming the developers. In fact, if you look again at my post I gave them explicit praise. The mint developers have nothing but my utmost respect. Ditto the Debian devs. And unlike the Kubuntu devs, they don't have my home address.

4/
I do ask and I do learn. I just spent 2 hours writing an essay for a noob at the Linux mint forum and he f**ked me off because he wasn't happy with the reality of things. Destroying what I don't understand? You sound like the worst of the arrogant pricks I have to deal with at the Linux forums. I have respect from the elders because I help total noobs that WANT to learn about Linux. The elders don't have the energy left for that, but if someone insults me, they will step in.


Anyway, no hard feelings. I just assume that you are more autistic than I am. It happens sometimes. I post more here than at the linux forums because I feel that my efforts are more valued. When I feel that they are not valued, I will just stop.


glokraw, I don't know if you realise it, but I put up an informative post about some negative experiences I have had, whilst still being overwhelmingly positive. And you cut me down as if I was some kind of whiny bitch like I have to deal with on the Linux forums I go to. This is why I don't help people, and this is why people don't help me. If my post gave nothing to your life, move on, don't tar me with the bitch brush please.

Maybe someone learned something from it. I'm not bitter. I love Linux. I have half a dozen working installs of it on sd card/usb stick/hd.

[codec_spurt]

I really need to evaluate why and what for I am using Linux. It's been fun. But if it is just going to constantly be an academic exercise, I think I might move on.
cheers.

Exactly. You could have recorded a jaunty tune, instead of destroying your system,
and then wailing a lengthy lament. The tortoise makes the tunes,
the hare sings the blues

Have you downloaded and sorted the DX7 sysex treasure for Hexter?
Do you have all the Yoshimi/zynaddsubfx soundbanks?
How about all the hydrogen drum kits?
Have you delved into the Rakarrack multi-fx help file?
Built a rack of Calf Plugins?
Set up a live performance chain in Guitarix2?
Gathered ladspa fx into dedicated jack-racks?
Set up pro quality soundfonts in Fluidsynth?

These are just surface scratchers, deep though the results can be.
If XP flies in your virtual box setup, why would you want to settle
for slower and more complicated alternatives?

I really am going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume that you are indeed more autistic than I am, and therefore much more insensitive. Either that or you really are an arrogant prick. And I know that you aren't.

You have no idea of my usage and wants from Linux. You have no idea the depths I go to, just to be f**ked off by people that could help me, but just take the time to say - hey you are barking up the wrong tree, but I won't take the time to tell you where the right tree is.

what did your post add?

Mmm?

Did you tell me your partioning strategy for Linux? Do you have one? How do you backup your linux installs on the separate partitions of your hd? Do you even have different installs on separate partitions of your hd?

Mmm?

I'm a fellow Linux user. I'm trying to spread the word. I give my good and my bad experiences.

You get back what you give in my experience. I don't have bad feelings towards you glokraw, but I don't take any shit either.


This was a thread about Linux and a very vague one at that about if people were using it. In the tone of the thread I posted my experiences. You pounced. This is not the f**king Debian forums my friend, and even if it was I get treated better there than here.


I never once denigrated any one, or insulted them, or even implied that. I only ever praised. I spend far too much time on this for little reward, and your attitude makes me feel as if I am doing the right thing to just give this little game up.


cheers.