Linux For Music

[Dynobot]

Linux has come a LOOOOONG way since those days, I too tried it way back then but got too frustrated and gave up.  Then again about 5 years ago I started using it with Fedora, but within the past few years Linux Mint off the back of Ubuntu started putting out distros that rival any Mac or Windows software.  Now Ubuntu as well as Linux Mint and a few others offer excellent completely functional distros of Linux.
 
Really now-a-days there is no need to buy Microsoft or even Apple OS for that matter.  Linux has become a complete replacement for both.
 
If you need any help just let me know....
 

 

[donunus]

Thanks Dynobot! I just downloaded the standard cd iso of mint to be put in a flash drive to try if it supports all my hardware and burned a dvd of the kde mint install. I will start testing them out tomorrow

 

[donunus]

Have you compared the sound quality of audacious and deadbeef? I'm currently deciding between the 2 for my kde installation to be done tommorrow

 

[Dynobot]

Quote:

Have you compared the sound quality of audacious and deadbeef? I'm currently deciding between the 2 for my kde installation to be done tommorrow

I have used [purposely] every music player available for every operating system, Windows-Mac-Linux.
 
The best [to me] is AlsaPlayer only because and only IF you take advantage of all the features it has to exploit the ALSA sound driver.  The AlsaPlayer was made by ALSA for the specific purpose to take full advantage of its own sound driver ALSA.  The only thing is, its extremely outdated and not as user friendly as others.
 
Next to that would be XMMS-Audacious [forks of each other, same player different name], and DeadBeef, and Music Player Daemon in a dead heat.  Sound wise all will offer just a slight difference, much less than some of the other players like Rhythmbox, Amarok, etc.  I use Music Player Daemon because it allows me to use a headless computer for audio.  If I were running a machine with a monitor I would choose DeadBeef only because of the GUI and ease of use, sound wise the differences are too small to really matter.  If you end up using Audacious make sure you go in and turn off Replaygain etc.

 

[donunus]

ok i'll get deadbeef and audacious and compare for myself. By the way, do any of these players support vst plugins? like the headfit crossfeed that I use with foobar and george yohngs vst wrapper?

 

[Dynobot]

Quote:

ok i'll get deadbeef and audacious and compare for myself. By the way, do any of these players support vst plugins? like the headfit crossfeed that I use with foobar and george yohngs vst wrapper?

There are plenty of vst plugins available for Linux, I think the best way to use them with any player would be to implement Jack and pipe it through the plugin and out to ALSA.  I have yet to see a player with built in vst plugin capabilities, there could be but since I don't use vst plugins I really don't pay attention to that aspect.
 
Will you be installing the Real-time Kernel as well???

 

[donunus]

hehehe I really have no idea what that means yet LOL. How do I do that?

 

[JennaFF]

Quote:

I am going to install mandriva. What programs for linux do you use for listeing to music? Ripping?

I can always rip on windwos and transfer to linux. But for play back is there any program as good as foobar 2k or do I just install winex and do that? Or would that distort the quality?

I recommend ubuntu, it is very easy to use
 

 

[Dynobot]

Quote:

hehehe I really have no idea what that means yet LOL. How do I do that?

The Real-Time Kernel allows your system to process in real-time which is the highest priority.  This means very low latency and better sound, more spaciousness and realism, greater impact and less harshness.
 
Doing so make your computer boot into the Real-Time Kernel which is the base of the OS.  It only involves 3 files and about 2 minutes to do...but if you are not comfortable with it I suggest skipping it because it might involve a little more work updating your boot grub...ie boot list.  Don't know how much you want to get into code stuff.
 
Be sure to keep us updated on your progress.
 
BTW I have detailed steps for installing Music Player Daemon and the Real-Time Kernel at my site under Linux Audio
https://sites.google.com/site/computeraudioorg/linux-for-audio/installing-the-real-time-kernel

 

[donunus]

thanks for that. i'll bookmark that page

 

[donunus]

Oh no, I just found out that my uDac doesn't work with Linux. Now I'm having second thoughts whether I should install it or not. What would be the point of all my search for the clearest sounding audio player when all i'll be able to use is onboard sound. hmmm

 

[rawrster]

Who said it didn't work? I was using it with linux for many months before I sold it off and got something new.
 
I use mpd as well and gmpc as my gui for linux and it works quite well.

 

[donunus]

ah. Thanks. Ive just read some impressions here saying it didn't detect with linux. Do you have to do some manual tweaking for it to work?

 

[Dynobot]

Quote:

ah. Thanks. Ive just read some impressions here saying it didn't detect with linux. Do you have to do some manual tweaking for it to work?

The only USB drivers that do not work with Linux that I know of are drivers that are unique to a product like the M2Tech or other Asynch USB products.  Even those like the E-MU 0404 can be revised to work with Linux.  Currently M2Tech is writing a new driver for the Highface too for example.
 
Like I said you can always go to PenDriveLinux and download a distro to a USB stick and try it out before you load it to a hard drive.
 

 

[donunus]

I installed linux with mint using the standard gnome. My first impressions against windows was that I find it very simple to use. I can imagine if only I never used windows before that this might actually be simpler to use especially with all the basics for reading and using most filetypes already pre-installed. Cons are the fonts in the browsers are not as clear and good looking as windows and installing files that are not already found in its software selection is hard to do. How do you install software? No install executable that can just be double clicked???