Any musicians using Linux?

[minthaka]

This is my second heartache:
How to get x< 5 ms latency with JACK server for Ardour for a PC like mine is:
- Intel Celeron-D 2.66 GHz 64-bit,
- 1.5 GB DDRAM
- Audigy 2 soundcard
It hurts to say that with such a stallion I can't manage to record a stereo track and listen to 5 other stereo tracks simultaneously. I've tried the desktop and rt kernels for Mandriva 2008 Spring, but can't go without cracks.
I've tried different kinds of OS studios, but the result was almost the same.
What's wrong with the Linux? Why on earth it cannot record as the stupid Windows can?
How to compile a good realtime kernel?
How to grant real time priority for the audio programs?

[techieMoe]

I think you're just using the wrong distribution. There is at least one distribution I can think of that's specifically designed for audiophiles: 64Studio, formerly known as Agnula/DeMudi.

[genesus]

Also, d y n e : b o l i c -- a free multimedia studio in a GNU/Linux live CD is quite good for media in general and is focused on the media activist

[minthaka]

Well, I like Mandriva, and also like the all in one philosophy. There's a kernel version for Mandriva 2007 which was good, and I could even use it with Mandriva 2008 Spring Beta1, but now, I can install it on the final version, yet I can't manage to boot it up. I've copied all the parameters of the rt-kernel, but at booting time it says there's no modules.dep files. I don't understand the basic differences between the Linux and Windows audio approach, but the latter one works much more better.

[Manchunian]

If you want to keep Mandriva, it might be possible if you compile your own kernel to have low latency. The bog standard kernel is set at 250hz (I believe), but you can set it to 1000hz, which may sort out your problem. I have to say though, much as I love Linux and hate Windows, I do agree with you that sound is not as easy in Linux as it could be. I have tried both Agnula/DeMudi and dyne : bolic myself, and they do come with a lot of good applications.

[genesus]

...much as I love Linux and hate Windows, I do agree with you that sound is not as easy in Linux as it could be...

Oh, how true; however, there is still a marked improvement over just a few years ago, with all the downloading and modprobing and re-compiling alsa just hear a damn mp3

[Manchunian]

Yes, as far as playback is concerned, progress is notable; but music production is still problematic in Linux. I have the feeling that ALSA hasn't helped in this regard.

[minthaka]

I'll try to recompile the kernel. I saw instruction how to save the new kernel as an RPM, so if I succeeded I'll make it available for others.
I'm looking for the kernel parameters, that would impact latency, and I'll try to cook something.

[Manchunian]

The way to do it is to specify low latency support and set the timer frequency to 1000hz. That's it! Hope it works for you.

[minthaka]

Well, I've started the compilation, copied the config file for rt-kernel from /boot and when I started make menuconfig with that .config file, what a surprise, I found that the frequency is set to 250Hz!
I don't now what's up, but it seems to me that the so called realtime-kernel is not rt at all.
What does the ticklessness mean for a kernel?