Linux-really-tricky?

April 9, 2008 2:46 PM

What's the deal with linux-rt? I know that it's Linux with realtime extensions, and that it's recommended for low-latency audio editing. I'm planning on doing some recording for a while (hopefully with something better than my built-in mic) and I'm wondering if apt-get install linux-rt will be more trouble than it's worth.

And fyi: Using a Thinkpad T42 w/ Ubuntu 7.10

posted by tmcw to computers & internet (7 comments total)

What audio software will you be using? Do you have a specific need for low-latency audio editing?
posted by dosterm at 3:22 PM on April 9, 2008

I'd like to know too. I ran into troubles with the rt kernel conflicting with the Nvidia driver but I read somewhere (can't find it now of course) that this has been resolved.

Check out Jokosher if you are just fooling around. It works ok without needing to install a rt kernel or JACK, kind of a GarageBand lite.
posted by quarterframer at 3:57 PM on April 9, 2008

@dosterm: Ardour, and SooperLooper. I'd assume that the second, at least, could benefit from low-latency.
posted by tmcw at 6:24 PM on April 9, 2008

(thanks for the Jokosher link - totally didn't know about that, and it looks great. Ardour, so far, has that Blenderesque 'made-for-ardour-experts' look to it that turns me off a bit.
posted by tmcw at 6:25 PM on April 9, 2008

My understanding is that that package is more for things like pacemakers and engine controllers. Editing audio isn't a real time thing, anyway. I wouldn't bother with it.
posted by gjc at 7:23 PM on April 9, 2008

Have you tried out Ubuntu Studio edition? I think this includes the low-latency stuff. (OK, checked now, it does). I never really noticed, but I certainly found it a great deal less of a pain in the arse than 'desktop' ubuntu for a machine with an odd soundcard config (I have one machine where Ubuntu would prefer to use the onboard POS sound than the PCI 24/96 card, for whaterever reason. Ubuntu Studio just sets up both cards and goes about its business).

You can just grab an ISO and install from that and the linux-rt stuff is all included.

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posted by pompomtom at 11:31 PM on April 9, 2008

@pompomtom: I've seen it, and it kind of inspired the interest, but the machine I'm on has a fairly tricky configuration (locally serving a few websites, developing software), which I don't want to lose by jumping to a slightly different distro...
posted by tmcw at 7:40 AM on April 10, 2008