composer - performer - technologist

Linux Programs
dstromberg@dirkstromberg.com


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  • Linux 2.6.18 Kernel

This is the first kernel that is set up with full realtime capabilities programmed into its heart. This is the last step to Linux becoming a perfect platform for musicians. It is great improvement for musicians and has made Linux competitive in the music market.


  • Jack - Audio Server
Linux audio programs generally work with an audio server called jack. Although not required by all programs, it can be a very helpful tool. Jack works like a patch bay. This means you can patch one program into another program. So one can patch a synthesis program into a plugin eq and then through a meterbridge and the to the audio output. This can be extremely useful. This allows you to use the best program for each situation. I tend to find programing reverbs and EQ's annoying in PD and SuperCollider, hence I can just use a nice plugin and be done with it.

The two pieces of software that I particularly use to enhance my work are Jamin and Jack rack (I love the caps stereo reverb). Jamin is a jack based mastering tool. I love its multiband compressor and limiter. Really usefull to give your liver performance that studio touch.
  • Software for all occasions
There is a software built for most of what you want to do and it is all free. Here is a list of a few. Click on links to get more info on each (some internal some external).
  • OpenOffice.org (your MS Word Suite equivelent)
  • Kompozer (Dreamweaver or MS Frontpage). This is a pretty nice software. Not as fancy as Dreamweaver but I certainly like it more than Frontpage.
  • LADSPA (VST plugins (usable through jack on any program and native on many 0 check out jack-rack, which is a plugin utility)
  • PureDate (jmax and Max/MSP only with all the kinks worked out - also available on FreeBSD, OSX and Windows)
  • SuperCollider (a very good but slightly under-documented programming environment available for OSX and for a little more of a challenge Linux)
  • XMMS (audio player in the winamp category. For something a little more advnced check out Audascious.
  • Rosegarden24 (Cubase) I haven't used this, but a lot of people swear by it. I find it a little difficult, although it does have a reasonably good engraver, but its midi control seems limited to me - or at least I can't figure out how to get what I need out of it.
  • Muse (Cubase) I have used this more than Rosegarden24, it seems easier to use for me at least.
  • Ardour and Audacity (audio editors and recorders like Pro-Tools and Logic). I use Ardour for most of my work and it really is a fine little program, especially since version 2.0 (no midi support so I usually sink Seq24 with it by using Ardour as the time clock for it).
  • Baudline (a very nice realtime spectrum analysis tool) It is very easy to use and very light weight.
  • Sonic-Visualizer is another very nice spectral analyzer. It seems to be much slower but more versatile than Baudline.
  • Seq24 this is a very nice, light weight sequencer great for realtime performance. I have to say, I really like this.
  • There are tons of other useful software and I will get to them later. But this will get done later.