My new linux daw is ready !

[kara]

Spend the whole weekend at installing it, upgrading to the last available version and transferring my data to it, ouf....

Here are the specs of the machine, it's not a top of the bill configuration because it is build from a lot of parts that I allready had or got for free....

- ASUS motherboard with AMD SEMPRON 2800+ processor.
- Standard small case but with a silent power supply 500 W. The case has 2 supplementary small ventilators, who normally turn on 12V, but which I modified so they turn on 5V (less noise and still a good flow in the case)
- 500 gig harddisk, partionned following the tutorial of folderoll 
- 2 GIG memory DDR3200
- M-audio firewire audio interface which runs great with jack&freebob (5.28 msec's latency)
- And finally 21'' TFT flatscreen

First test I did, was with Renoise, my favourite tracker, the biggest test demo song plays with a CPU load of 32%, which is about half of my old windows daw !
So very good result 

And I can finally go back to making music...
and continu my AlsaModular synth tutorial of course 

k

[rharv]

Nice job.  Glad to hear the Sempron 2800 is handling things well.  I have a Sempron 3000 for the internet that will eventually become the second music machine here.

 The 32% CPU doesn't tell much without knowing ...how many tracks? How many FX running a once?

[kara]

...
 The 32% CPU doesn't tell much without knowing ...how many tracks? How many FX running a once?

The testsong has 22 tracks with at least 2fx on all tracks, 6 on some of them and a couple of fx on the master tracks. Quit a few are automated trough an LFO running in sync with the track.
Granted no LADSPA used, only internal renoise fx.

k

[Oren]

Kara,

 Congratulations! I'm very impressed how quickly and effectively you've managed to make the transition from Microsoft to Linux.

Currently, I still have to resort to Windows for some of my audio tasks, but it's only a matter of time (and effort ) until all my computers will run on Linux exclusively.  For me, it's been very much like preparing to learn to play water polo...then realizing that first I need to learn how to swim  Yeah, it's that fundamental. All those automatic habits we learn in the Microsoft zone no longer apply. Even the smallest tasks need to be re-thought.

I notice quite a few experienced computer users have already worked with Linux/Unix at some level, and can apply this familiarity when setting up a Linux O/S. Lucky them! The rest of us just have to bite the bullet and do it from the ground up. It is, however (as far as I can tell at this point), well worth the effort

[Moon]

Looks like good results with a very modest CPU !

But guys, I have a serious question: when will I see the KM-Linux distro that I can use to install myself ? 

Moon

[kara]

@Moon
I know you, if you realy wanted a KM linux distro, I'm sure you would allready be busy building it 

@Oren
It's true that I made the switch relativly fast but I have a couple of excuses 
It didn't go that fast, i started about a year agoo by buying a book on Linux and reading it. Not about the upper gui but about the system itself and how it works; the kernel, services, demons, architecture and stuff like that.
After that I played a lot with a mini distro that works on top of windows, command line only but great to learn all the commands.
After that it was just a matter of finding a good distro to install 

k

[folderol]

Ah Haa! 

I thought you were picking it all up remarkably fast 

Good for you anyway

[rharv]

That's a good amount of tracks/FX for only a 32% CPU load.

I get more convinced every time I read in here..
I hate to give up my current DAW though. 

[Oren]

When I think of PowerTracks Pro Audio, I think Bob Harvey.

 PTPA is a very capable recording/mixing/mastering tool (in spite of it's reliance on MS Windows ), and Bob is perhaps the most resourceful user of (and contributor to) the program. PG Music is very fortunate to have him associated with their software.

If and when he makes the switch to a Linux DAW, he'll be leaving a big part of himself back there at PG Music....potentially a traumatic move.
On the positive side, if Bob ever makes Linux his O/S, whichever audio programs he chooses to use to "make his sound his own" will undergo some remarkable improvements, just as PowerTracks Pro Audio has.

[Moon]

@Moon
I know you, if you realy wanted a KM linux distro, I'm sure you would allready be busy building it 

Well... looks I'm no longer the Linux specialist here, so I thought to leave the honours to you guys ! 

Moon