2004.07_Linux Audio Developers' Conference Report.pdf

COMMUNITY

Linux Audio Conference

A Big Noise

of recording using Ecasound. This is

about more than just saving computing

resources, since Julien is blind and uses

a screen reader – this hasn’t stopped him

from recording and producing music.

Steve Harris showed off the Jamin

mastering tool, designed to prepare

audio projects for public distribution.

Linux users now have a tool which can

produce compressed, equalized and lim-

ited audio comparable to that produced

on proprietary mastering systems.

The Center for Art and Media Technology in Karlsruhe, Germany, held a Linux

audio event. The Linux Audio Conference has grown from a small meeting

aimed purely at developers to a tightly-packed four day event featuring ses-

sions for users, demonstrations and musical concerts. BY DANIEL JAMES

Linux instruments

The ALSA Modular Synthesizer was

explained by Matthias Nagorni; this vir-

tual instrument can emulate the sounds

of the original Moog synthesizers, and

supports LADSPA plugins with MIDI

input and output. The emulation extends

far enough that connections between

synthesizer modules are made by draw-

ing patch cables in the application.

Another instrument presented at the

conference was the Aeolus church organ

simulator, using additive synthesis to

create a realistic pipe organ sound on

modest PC hardware. Also demonstrated

was LinuxSampler, an application

designed to enable the playback of very

large sample sets running into GBytes.

The event featured two demonstra-

tions of hardware musical instruments

that are actually embedded Linux sys-

tems. The Hartmann Neuron bears the

closest physical resemblance to a tradi-

tional synthesizer, but is, in fact, a

re-synthesizing keyboard employing

neural network technology. By contrast,

the Lionstracs Mediastation can have an

external monitor fitted which allows the

musician to use a standard Linux desk-

top environment, as well as the built-in

display panel on the keyboard itself.

The conference closed with a panel

debate. The issue of software patents

was raised, as was audio hardware ven-

dor support and application maturity.

Participants generally agreed that the

conference had been an inspiring event,

and the hosts have already offered to

hold a third event in 2005.

related the challenges of supporting

the wide variety of sound cards in

use with Linux.

Kysela’s presentation was followed by

that of fellow ALSA team member,

Ta k ashi Iwai. He covered the common

problems that users face when installing

and configuring the ALSA drivers.

restored. LASH offers a solution for this

problem, but it will require the inclusion

of support for the tool in Linux audio

applications if it is to become effective.

Frank Barknecht explained his ideas

for ‘rapid reusable audio development’

using the application Pure Data. This

represents sound generating objects in a

window, with signals routed between

them represented by drawn lines, and

the interface can get complicated with

complex musical projects. His ‘RRADi-

cal’ solution offers building blocks for

complete musical systems, featuring pre-

built GUI instruments.

Han-Wen Nienhuys demonstrated the

LilyPond musical notation software

which attempts to re-create the quality of

hand engraved scores, while providing

MIDI and PDF output capability. Users

claim better printed notation that propri-

etary alternatives, while the developers

are continuously refining its capabilities.

Julien Patrick Claassen gave a presen-

tation on Linux console based audio

applications, including a demonstration

Audio applications

Ardour project leader Paul Davis talked

about approaches to providing Linux sup-

port for VST plugins, a de facto standard

for effects on the Windows and Mac plat-

forms. At least two free software

solutions now exist which can be demon-

strated running Windows binary VST

plugins, but there remains a gray area

with the licensing of VST header files.

Bob Ham described his work on the

LASH session management tool, previ-

ously known as LADACCA. Linux audio

applications tend to be highly modular,

which can cause problems when com-

plex settings have to be saved and

■

INFO

Figure 1: Linux Audio Conference speakers from the final day.

[1]Linux Audio Conference site:

http://www.linuxdj.com/audio/lad/

eventszkm2004.php3

July 2004

www.linux-magazine.com

The Second International Linux Audio Conference

J aroslav Kysela from the ALSA project

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