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====== Introduction ======
Welcome to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbie|newbie]] page of the LinuxMusicians [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki|wiki]]. This part of the wiki is meant to help you make a successfull start with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux|Linux]] as your audio workstation and musician's tool. We will use some external links for further information. On the right site of this page you see a table of contents so you can go to the chapters which you're interested in and skip those which are less interesting for you. There's also a search function above it. If this page does not provide all the answers to your questions, you can always ask a specific question on our [[http://linuxmusicians.com/index.php|forum]]. For more support options (e.g. IRC and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mailinglist|mailinglists]]) check [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=resources_and_support|this]] page. Don't hesitate to ask!
===== Why Linux for music composition and digital recording? =====
- Linux is safe, stable, easy to work with and free! There's a great deal of high quality software you may be familiar with, like [[http://www.openoffice.org/|OpenOffice.Org]] and [[http://www.mozilla.org/|Firefox]].
- Great professional grade, free audio software for recording, editing, midi, sampling, drumming and much more!
- Great support by the Linux community and [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=resources_and_support|other audio/music focused Linux groups]], in many different languages!
Quick examples of some great pieces of free audio software on Linux:
* [[http://ardour.org/|Ardour]] Digital Audio Workstation.
* [[http://lmms.sourceforge.net/screenshots.php|LMMS]] 'FruityLoops/FL Studio' for Linux.
* [[http://audacity.sourceforge.net/|Audacity]] sound editor
* [[http://www.hydrogen-music.org/|Hydrogen]] drummachine
* [[http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/|Rosegarden]] audio and MIDI sequencer and score editor
* [[http://www.lilypond.org/|Lilypond]] music engraving software
* [[http://jamin.sourceforge.net/en/about.html|Jamin]] professional audio mastering.
* [[http://www.linuxsampler.org/screenshots.html|LinuxSampler]] sampling with *.gig files.
* [[http://www.mixxx.org/|Mixxx]] Professional DJ tool.
* [[http://musescore.org|MuseScore]] Music notation and composition software comparable to Sibelius or Finale.
* [[http://www.tuxguitar.com.ar/|Tuxguitar]] 'Guitar Pro' for Linux.
* [[http://qtractor.sourceforge.net/|Qtractor]] Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer.
* [[http://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.net/|Zynaddsubfx]] Great synth
* [[http://www.solfege.org/|GNU Solfege]] Free ear-training software
Screenshots of some audio applications running on Linux: [[http://jacklab.net/jacklaborg/english/?JAD_1.0_Screenshots|here]] and [[http://64studio.com/screenshots|here]].
===== What (audio) hardware is supported by Linux? =====
Many people wonder if their (audio) hardware is supported by Linux. The quick answer is that there's a good chance that it does. When you start working with Linux it's always good to do a little Googling (or Scroogling), and that'll likely tell you if it is supported. Most hardware is actually supported by Linux, because of lots of work from the Linux community. In addition, more and more companies are making hardware [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Device_driver|drivers]] for Linux and selling computers with Linux as the default operating system (e.g.[[http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/alliances/en/linux?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz]|Dell]], [[http://www.linux-laptop.net/asus.html|Asus]], [[http://h71028.www7.hp.com/enterprise/cache/309906-0-0-0-121.html|HP]], [[http://www-03.ibm.com/linux/|IBM]], [[http://www.novell.com/linux/|Novell]], [[http://www.sun.com/software/linux/|Sun]] and interesting for a audio pc [[http://eracks.com/products/Quiet Systems/config?sku=STUDIO|eracks/STUDIO]] and more.)
[[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=hardware|Here]] You can see which soundcard, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewire|firewire]] device or other audio hardware is supported by Linux. Your hardware not on the list? Then you can ask at our [[http://linuxmusicians.com/index.php|forum]] or post a message on the [[http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-user|LAU mailinglist]].
===== Commercial Audio Software =====
Next to the many free open source audio software on Linux, there is also commercial audio software available for Linux. Some examples are: [[http://www.renoise.com/|Renoise]], [[http://www.energy-xt.com/|EnergyXT]]. Others like [[http://www.cockos.com/reaper/|Reaper]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finale_(software)|Finale]] can run with help of WINEHQ software. More information about commercial audio software on Linux you can find [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=vst_support_and_commercial_apps|here]].
===== VST-plugins =====
Are VST-plugins fully supported by Linux? No, because of some licence issues and cross-platform problems.
Is it possible to get VST-plugins working on Linux? Yes, there is a [[http://ladspavst.linuxaudio.org/|list]] of VST-plugins which can work with the use of a emulator. Also applications like Ardour, Qtractor and LMMS provide solutions to run Windows VST plugins. Check [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=vst_support_and_commercial_apps|this]] page of this wiki for more information about VST-support.
====== Using Linux as a Audio Workstation ======
===== Linux Installation =====
Before installing Linux, there are a lot of possibilities to try it first. There are [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_live_cd| Live cd's]] (for example: [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD|Ubuntu live cd]]) available, which makes it possible to boot Linux without installing it on a hard disk drive. Another option is to use [[http://wubi-installer.org/|Wubi]], which makes it possible to install Linux ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu|Ubuntu]]) as a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows|Windows]] application (be aware of the fact that a live-cd and a Wubi installation is only good for a 'preview' of Linux. If you really want to test it, consider to make a dualboot!)
==== Windows/ Mac | Linux dualboot ====
Another option, and this is recommend for newbies who have used Windows or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh|Mac]] for many years, is to make a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dualboot|dualboot]]. Then you've time to get used to the Linux way of working, cause it's normal that you have to acclimate to another operating system. [[http://apcmag.com/the_definitive_dualbooting_guide_linux_vista_and_xp_stepbystep.htm|Here]] you can find tutorials to install a dualboot. It's also possible to install only Linux on your hard drive of course ...
===== Which Linux Distribution for ProAudio? =====
There are [[http://distrowatch.com/|a lot of Linux distro's]]. Which one is the best? Hard to say, for every individual there is a best distro... When you start with Linux the best thing you could do is to choose a distro with a large community (for support). [[http://www.ubuntu.com/|UbuntuStudio]] is popular these days and has a large community, but other good options are for example: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opensuse|openSUSE]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian|Debian]] or [[http://fedoraproject.org/|Fedora]] and a lot more!
==== Linux Audio Distributions ====
If you just want to record little pieces of music and want a few options to edit it, you can just install a Linux distro and use for example [[http://audacity.sourceforge.net/|Audacity]] sound editor, for the little job. But when you want to use Linux as a audio workstation, and want to be able to use applications like [[http://ardour.org/|Ardour DAW]] and [[http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/|Rosegarden]], it's recommend (for newbies at least) to install a distro which is special made for audio or multimedia usage. These distro's have the most important linux audio applications installed by default and you doesn't have to do a lot work by yourself to the get a well configured system. Although the audio/ multimedia distro'a are special made for digital recording and composition, they contain all the 'normal' software for personal computer use like an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openoffice|office suit]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox|webbrowser]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin_(software)|instant messaging]] etc. too. A list of the available Linux multimedia distro's you can find at [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=linux_multimedia_distro_s|this]] page of this wiki.
Which one is best? Again, it depends... If you are already used to an specific Linux distro, try to find an multimedia distro based on that. If you're totally new I think [[http://64studio.com/|64studio 3.0 or higher]] (Ubuntu LTS specifically made for multimedia usage) is a good choice to start with. Ubuntu is easy to configure and has a great community for support. There is also [[http://ubuntustudio.org/|Ubuntu Studio]], which delivers a recent version of Ubuntu optimized for multimedia production. Another good option is [[http://apps.linuxaudio.org/apps/all/planet_ccrma_at_home|Planet CCRMA]] which offers multimedia packages for Fedora. But so many people so many opinions, so the best way to find out is to test it yourself! Other good options you can find [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=linux_multimedia_distro_s|here]]! Check [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=resources_and_support|this]] page for support for installing Linux.
Screenshots: [[http://ubuntustudio.org/screenshots|Ubuntu Studio]], [[http://64studio.com/screenshots|64Studio]].
Reviews: [[http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/16287|Ubuntu Studio]], [[http://www.linuxforums.org/multimedia/linux_in_the_recording_studio_with_studio_64.html|64Studio]].
\\
(*note: most reviews are talking about older versions, so things are even better now...)
{{:64studio-logo3.png|}} {{:ubuntustudio2.png|}}
=== From Ubuntu to Ubuntu Studio ===
If you're already working on Ubuntu it's easy to install the ubuntu studio packages, more info [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuStudioPreparation|here]].
====== Working with Linux Audio Software ======
As mentioned before, you can start using Linux audio software like [[http://audacity.sourceforge.net/|Audacity]], [[http://www.tuxguitar.com.ar/|Tuxguitar]], [[http://lmms.sourceforge.net/screenshots.php|LMMS]], [[http://www.mixxx.org/|Mixxx]] and [[http://mscore.sourceforge.net/en/screenshots.php|MuseScore]], right after you have installed Linux and the necessary software. But, for some applications like [[http://ardour.org/|Ardour]] or [[http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/|Rosegarden]], you need to use JACK. So if you want to use ALL the great audio applications on Linux and want to be able to connect and synchronize the different applications with eachother and want to have the lowest [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-latency|latency]] as possible, you need to meet JACK.
===== JACK =====
{{:jack_logo4.png|}}
From: http://jackaudio.org/
[[http://jackaudio.org/|JACK]] is a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_latency|low-latency]] audio server, written for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnu/linux|GNU/Linux]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X|Apple's OS X]]. It can connect a number of different applications to an audio device, as well as allowing them to share audio between themselves. Its clients (a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_player_(application_software)|Media Player]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Workstation|DAW]] and/or a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_(software)|drummachine]] for example) can run in their own processes (ie. as normal applications), or they can run within the JACK server (ie. as a "plugin").
JACK was designed from the ground up for professional audio work, and its design focuses on two key areas:
- low latency operation, and
- synchronous execution of all clients.
===== GUI for JACK - QjackCtl - Jack audio connection kit =====
For now it's enough to know what JACK does (see paragraph above). It's more important for now to learn to work with [[http://qjackctl.sourceforge.net/|QjackCtl]] - a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interface|gui]] for JACK (works also on OS X and Windows). When you use a [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=linux_multimedia_distro_s|Linux audio distro]], QjackCtl is installed by default. If you you don't have such a distro, make sure your system is [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=system_configuration|configured correctly]] and that you have installed QjackCtl.
{{:qjackctl.png|}}
Figure 1: QjackCtl
==== QjackCtl setup ====
When you've installed QjackCtl, it's important to get the settings right. More information about the QjackCtl settings you can find here:
* [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToJACKConfiguration|QjackCtl settings 1]] (Ubuntu)
* [[http://www.ubustu.com/globe/2007/05/29/how-to-configure-jack-in-ubuntu-studio/|QjackCtl settings 2]] (Ubuntu)
* [[http://en.opensuse.org/JackLab/JACK_first_steps|QjackCtl - first steps]] (Jacklab)
* [[http://64studio.com/quickstart_jack|QjackCtl Quickstart Guide]] (64studio)
* [[http://www.64studio.com/manual/audio/jack|QjackCtl settings]] (64studio)
When QjackCtl is set up properly and running (which makes it able to work with a low latency), you can use QjackCtl for it's second important function: connecting and synchronizing JACK clients.
==== JACK connections ====
From www.64studio.com
All internal Audio and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midi|MIDI]] connections and routing are controlled by QjackCtl. These are flexible connections that can be made between all Audio/MIDI software programs, which are known as JACK clients.
The connections can be viewed by pressing the **Connect** button.
All being well you'll see the word Started come up in the window with 0 (0) below it (see figure 1). The Connections panel should show alsa_pcm in both the input and output windows. If so, you're ready to make some music. This panel shows all Audio or MIDI signal sources in the left pane (**Readable Clients / Output Ports**) and all possible Audio or MIDI signal destinations in the right pane (**Writable Clients / Input Ports**).
{{:connect1.png|}}
Figure 2: QjackCtl - connect
Actual connections are established between **source** (Output Ports) and **destination** (Input Ports) by selecting one item in either side and pressing the Connect button at the bottom-left of the Connections window (see figure 2).
It is also possible to establish a connection by dragging an item and dropping it on to the other side (Note: it doesn't matter which side you start dragging from).
If it hass not all gone so smoothly, click on **Messages** (see figure 1), if you see anything much more complicated than:
* 20:19:41.579 Client activated.
* 20:19:41.583 Audio connection change.
* 20:19:41.617 Audio connection graph change.
then you're going to need to do some work to get the best out of this. If you only want to use one application at a time, you may not need to worry about JACK too much right now. However, if you want the full power of a Linux Audio system then it's worth taking the time to figure this out. The **Status** button (see figure 1) also provides some slightly less verbose information.
To **disconnect** a currently established connection you proceed in similar manner: select each item on either side and press the Disconnect button. Actual and established connections are shown as coloured lines in between the two panes of the Connections window. Each color indicates a single and distinct source module (client) that is currently connected. It is possible to route all Audio and MIDI signals wherever you want this way.
* More information about QjackCtl Connections you can find in this [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToQjackCtlConnections|Howto QjackCtl Connections]] (Ubuntu) and at the [[http://64studio.com/quickstart_jack|QjackCtl Quickstart Guide]].
----
=== Patchbay ===
The **patchbay** (see figure 1) of QjackCtl works almost the same as the QjackCtl connect. The patchbay makes it possible to safe a specific set of connections between jack clients. This makes it easy to restart a particular session.
----
==== JACK Synchronization ====
In the sound and music software world, **synchronization** typically refers to the precise timing of audio events with video, MIDI, and other event streams (Philips, 2007). You can use JACK/QjackCtl for synchronize a song in your [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_sequencer|midi sequencer]] with a drum pattern in your [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_(software)|drummachine]] for example.
* More information and explanation of this great feature of Jack/QjackCtl you can find in [[http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1004080|this article]] by Dave Philips for Linuxjournal.
* [[http://www.ubustu.com/globe/2007/09/19/how-to-sync-hydrogen-with-ardour/|Here]] you can find an example of HowTo Sync [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_(software)|Hydrogen]] with [[http://ardour.org/|Ardour]].
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=== The Jealousy of JACK ===
When you use QjackCtl, make sure you start QjackCtl before you start JACK clients like Ardour or Rosegarden.
\\
Another important thing is that when you have QjackCtl running, you can, in general, only use audio application which have JACK support (which can work as a JACK client). So you won't get sound out of the flash player in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youtube|YouTube]] when QjackCtl is running, because it lacks JACK support, but you can run JACK clients like Ardour and [[http://www.videolan.org/vlc/|VLC mediaplayer]] for example. Many Linux audio applications (like [[http://audacity.sourceforge.net/|Audacity]]) work with the different sound systems on Linux (like JACK and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Linux_Sound_Architecture|Alsa]]), there are applications which only work with JACK (like Ardour) and there are apps which don't work with JACK, but only with other sound systems. In general it is better to close not needed processes on your system as much as possible for the best JACK performance.
\\
* (At [[http://apps.linuxaudio.org/|this]] page you can check if an audio application has JACK support {{:jack.png|}})
* (It's possible to [[http://64studio.com/howto_youtube|download the YouTube video]] and play it with JACK)
====== Let's create music freely! ======
==== Software tutorials and support ====
If QjackCtl is running fine, we can start making music! 8-)
As mentioned before, there is many great professional grade, free audio software available on Linux for recording, editing, midi, mixing, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LADSPA|filters and effects]], sampling, drums, [[http://apps.linuxaudio.org/apps/categories/software_sound_synthesis_and_music_composition_packages|synths and audio programming software]], [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=linux_audio_applications|notation editors]] and more!
* See for a **list** and descriptions **of the available audio software** [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=linux_audio_applications|this page]] of our Wiki.
* Check [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=manuals_tutorials_and_howto_s|this page]] for Linux audio software **tutorials**.
* Still have some questions? Don't hesitate to ask it on our [[http://linuxmusicians.com/index.php|forum]]
* Check [[http://wiki.linuxmusicians.com/doku.php?id=resources_and_support|this]] page for more **support**.
* http://lievenmoors.github.com
==== Further readings ====
* [[http://www.prorec.com/articles/tabid/109/entryid/270/default.aspx|Article]] Audio Production Tools for Linux (Nice article for newbies!)
* [[http://lievenmoors.github.com/|Website for Linux audio]]
* [[http://news.softpedia.com/news/Top-10-Linux-Distributions-for-Audio-Production-64552.shtml|Top 10 Linux Distributions]] for Audio Production in the eyes of softpedia.org.
* An introduction [[http://w3.linux-magazine.com/issue/67/JACK_Audio_Server.pdf| article]] by Dave Philips about JACK.
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== References ==
- [[http://www.linuxaudio.org/|Linuxaudio.org]]
- [[http://www.64studio.com/|64studio.com]]
- [[http://jackaudio.org|jackaudio.org]]
- [[http://www.linuxjournal.com/user/800764/track|Dave Philips writing for Linuxjournal.com]]