Grooveshark client

The Desktop Client can be downloaded here. It isn't as updated as the web version of Grooveshark yet, but we're working on it. To get the application going:

1. Download the latest version of Adobe AIR.

2. Download the desktop client by clicking on the link above.

3. Profit.

Some Joy with JACK

One of the mysteries of Ubuntu is why there is no underlying audio production infrastructure. Linux users have long suffered because of the disregard for music production. Most Linux music production apps rely on JACK to port sound. If you want to use JACK, you'll have to install the ubuntustudio-audio package. Doing this any other way will lead to partially configured packages. Still it is not the easiest of solutions, and hopefully some day the entire Ubuntu sound infrastructure will receive a more user-friendly overhaul.,

In order to get the most out of JACK, you will want the lowest possible latency. It can be a daunting task at first, because there are a lot of settings and if you change them a certain way, you can cause the server to not start up properly.

Firstly, you will want Real-Time capabilities; either install the ubuntustudio-audio package, or read through theUbuntuStudioPreparation page for help on getting your studio set up properly.

Now, open up QjackCtl, and change the settings in here. Generally, to get the lowest latency, you're mostly concerned with the Frames/Period, Sample Rate, and Periods/Buffer settings.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToJACKConfiguration

Amsterdam Music Composer

Amuc is a Linux application for composing and playing music. The current version is 1.7 (june 2009).

It works like this:

Tune fragments are entered graphically. These are combined into a complete tune by means of a script file.

Five-bar staff or piano roll display.

5 different built-in instruments, 6 mono synthesizers, synthesized drums, sampled instruments.

For the composer there is help available with scales and chords.

Tunes can be exported as WAVE or MIDI files, or as human-readable scores in postscript format.

MIDI files can be imported.

WAVE files can be read and transformed to notes.

Support for USB keyboard.

Interface with Jack (the Jack Audio Connection Kit).

Amuc is written in C++. It is a lightweight application, not needing a GUI toolkit or an unusual library (required: X11, alsa, xft, cairo). Speedy operation: maybe this is the fastest tool to explore musical ideas and to create a complete piece of music.

Also a binary Debian package is available.

Downloads:

Source code: amuc-1.7.tar.gz
Debian package: amuc_1.7-1_i386.deb
Manual (also included with the source code)

Some tunes created with this application:

Shanty (arrangement: van Bergeijk) [ogg]
Angry [ogg]

Mixxx: DJ mixing software for Ubuntu

Mixxx is an open source mixing package for Linux. It handles the basic functions for all aspiring DJs: buttons mixing, scratch, loop, EQ, crossfader ... Mixxx is also capable of recognizing some external mixing devices, as shown in this video.

Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid) and 10.10 (Maverick):
Open a terminal, and enter:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mixxxdevelopers/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mixxx libportaudio2

This will install the latest version of Mixxx from the Mixxx Developers PPA on Launchpad.

Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick):
Our older Mixxx 1.8.0 release can be installed directly from the Ubuntu Software Centre.

Getting WXcam working with Lucid

I have a friend who just wants his webcam on his Samsung NP-R522 to work. Needless to say, it's been a bit of a battle because no sooner is one webcam application working, then he upgrades and ends up without a working webcam.

After searching high and low for a solution to the /dev/dsp not found error in WXcam, I figured out a solution.

1.install oss-compat

apt-get install oss-compat

2. load these modules

modprobe snd-pcm-oss

modprobe snd-mixer-oss

This should create /dev/dsp for you. If not, then try this:  mknod /dev/dsp c 14 3 && chmod 777 /dev/dsp

3. make sure the modules load at boot-time

gedit /etc/modules

add the following:

snd-pcm-oss

snd-mixer-oss

4.  Now here is the trick

run this in a terminal:

aoss wxcam

The programme should load with a sound interface.

5. Change your menu properties to make it permanent

aoss wxcam

UBUNTU Community LADSPA plugins need your help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAmFOvXYrEQ&feature=player_embedded

.Been hunting around for LADSPA plugins for Jokosher, and I'm afraid there don't appear to be many in an easily accessible state. In fact the overall impression I get from searching for audio editing and mixing tools in Ubuntu is that a lot of work needs to be done to take Linux sound development to the next level. It is sad to see so much promise but also so little delivery from the community. I guess, just because an audio project is out there  (Jokosher apparently has LADSPA support) doesn't mean that the developers are obliged to create plugins for UBUNTU.

Think about this as a broader project than the simple nuts and bolts supplied with each edition of Ubuntu. FOSS projects like Audacity and Jokosher need help and cooperation from the community  if  we are to have anywhere close to the kind of power as proprietary operating systems such as Windows and OSX.

Audacity IMHO suffers from a geeky and difficult interface, today I booted it up, only to find the sound was staggering, stuttering and spluttering because of the ALSA vs Pulseaudio vs Gstreamer fiasco which continues to prevail in Ubuntu.

Times like this I wish there was just one architect in Linux, because competing architectures are really hurting. For example, one setup works for the browser and some basic sound applications such as Rhytmbox, but the same setup doesn't work for other tools. Divergent development paths are creating a form of schizophrenia in Ubuntu. Hopefully Maverick and Narwhal will resolve the audio dilemma many users face.

How then can we promote community involvement? Instead of promoting desktop eyecandy we should be promoting better skins, plugins and interfaces for the applications we most love and need.

Again drag 'n drop interfaces that allow seamless dragging of files between applications is taken for granted in other operating systems. Why can't we do this in Ubuntu? Perhaps if all the code below a certain level was coloured RED and other code BLUE we could overcome the tendency to get lost in the void which is Linux development? Jokosher however, has a great drag 'n drop interface -- you can drop files you want to load nto the programme instead of using the file menu.

Just my piece for Saturday August 21, 2010

Upgrade Alsa

If you have sound issues then upgrading Alsa could be the solution.

Here is a great script for doing this

Follow the instructions

Short Alsa-Upgrade script install instructions:

1. download the script and save it somewhere
2. cd <your-download-dir>
3. tar xvf AlsaUpgrade-1.0.23-2.tar
4. sudo ./AlsaUpgrade-1.0.23-2.sh -d
5. sudo ./AlsaUpgrade-1.0.23-2.sh -c
6. sudo ./AlsaUpgrade-1.0.23-2.sh -i
7. sudo shutdown -r 0

Check the original posting on Ubuntuforums for more information and support.

If you like to do things the long way round, then check Stéphane Gaudreault's blog, which appears to be exclusively focused on Alsa upgrades.

His latest post is upgrade-alsa-1-0-23-on-ubuntu-lucid-lynx-10-04

NOTE: After the upgrade and in order to get ALSA working properly I had to open a terminal and type alsamixer. The only levels showing were volume and input. Something was also wrong with the sound which was jerky. Pressing  F6 allowed me to select my sound card which wasn't selected!!!  After selecting the card,  ALSA is better than it was before.  Hope this helps.