Posts by xenogon@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #AOmtdyzXPJN5Thmyyu by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T09:18:32Z
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@jk to generalise dreadfully linux software seems like it was written by people who know a lot about computers, but not always a lot about the task that the software is actually trying to do. In their spare time. With no incentive to finish it.Because they know a lot about computers they are undismayed when it breaks because they'd actually rather spend time fixing the computer than doing the thing the software is supposed to do, because they are computer people first and foremost.
(DIR) Post #AOmte0Ulofws8rPRIm by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T09:21:04Z
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@jk I think the solution has to involve separating the idea of libre and the idea of free of cost. We need paid-for libre software. I'd gladly pay for such software if it worked to the same standard as the mac software I use.
(DIR) Post #AOmuR4Y9Ww9ouGO5uS by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T09:26:49Z
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@xerz @jk can you give an example of such software? I can think of some candidates, but they are not applications I know well and I don't want to prompt.The situation with music production seems especially bad, because of hardware support being so difficult.
(DIR) Post #AOnJCz8BNWbItrcTke by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:04:03Z
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@xerz @jk yes bitwig and reaper both work fine on linux. Reaper is my preference, but Bitwig is obv good for more electronic styles of music. Getting plugin devs to support linux is an issue, sure. I'm plugin format agnostic. My U-he linux vsts work fine.
(DIR) Post #AOnJCzZTk2R2GWOHIW by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:07:08Z
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@xerz @jk but the insurmountable problems for me were:1. fragility of the audio stack. I had to launch several apps in the right order manually. Hope it works. Then if I have to change sample rate starte over. Whereas on mac i just open the DAW and go.2. Hardware drivers and repeatable latency. Each time I restarted jack the latency was different. I will elaborate.
(DIR) Post #AOnKs3xsPYmFicwzTs by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:12:38Z
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@xerz @jk test: Do a loopback roundtrip latency test in your DAW with latency compensation turned off. Count the actual latency in samples. Note the difference between that and the latency reported to the DAW and the latency implied by the buffer size.Then restart jack and do it again. Different result yes?Note that the latency reported to the DAW is usually less than real world latency (true even on mac).So set the recording offset manually. But you can't because different each time.
(DIR) Post #AOnKs4NkrLTf0t3eoi by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:16:37Z
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@xerz @jk think baout what this means for your overdubs alignment with existing tracks.To be fair only some hardware gets this right even on mac. But a RME Fireface over firewire with RME drivers has sample accurate repeatable latency every time. This should be basic standard for all audio.Not sure it is even possible over USB on any platform - though my MOTU M4 on mac with Motu drivers is very very close. On linux is hundreds of samples out.
(DIR) Post #AOnKs4mZN5KKFqfTUm by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:18:32Z
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@xerz @jk BTW I'm doing such tests in reaper which allows recording latency compensation to be set either with driver reported latency, manually, or a combination. Not sure about other DAWs
(DIR) Post #AOnKs5BjrVSZVuRZj6 by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:22:09Z
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@xerz @jk To prempt any possible confusion - I'm talking about recording latency compensation here, which is unrelated to plugin delay compensation. There should be no plugins for this test.
(DIR) Post #AOnKs5d2E1IIsZDNGy by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:24:26Z
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@xerz @jk another premptive caution - not addressing absolute latency here either - the issue is repeatable latency so the recording offset can be set correctly. Proprietary drivers on good audio hardware usually achieve lower absolute latency as well, but that's another issue.
(DIR) Post #AOnLkn8UgKKbS70sb2 by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:32:50Z
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@xerz @jk which upstream?I think it is ultimately a device driver issue, and theres AFAICT no audio interfaces with manufacturer drivers for linux.I have never had a successful test for repeatable latency on linux, and I've tried alsa and ffado, usb and firewire and severl diff interfaces.but it is theoretically possible that there is an interface that works correctly. maybe? unless the problem is baked into jack or alsa.
(DIR) Post #AOnO3uH8YsQV0OIZRw by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-21T14:53:10Z
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@xerz @jk I'd love to hear more info on your setup and experience with linux audio. If you have something that works or nearly works with pipewire I'd be tempted to have another go. Have you done loopback tests? I think for some musicians who don't do overdubs or use external processing or do re-amping or anything else like that it may not actually be an issue.also - MIDI is another can of worms again. results probably different.
(DIR) Post #AOxVM81FYLVXksNiF6 by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-10-26T10:39:18Z
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@jk you should see the amount of stuff hanging off my mac mini in an attempt to make it function like a real computer.hate apple's hardware with a passion, but their OS works for music so...The apple silicon chips work pretty well, just wish they'd put them in a proper box with slots and ports.
(DIR) Post #APVUd3iQhKchGaA2Pw by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-11-11T21:40:37Z
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it's very confusing and therefore annoying when people say #app when they mean #platform. I don't care how you access the platform, I don't see that bit.
(DIR) Post #APWgkxL1gbpUPahqMK by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-11-12T09:57:19Z
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@xerz I don't really follow.Specifically, if I'm logged into mastodon using the web interface on a desktop, and I'm talking to someone logged in to mastodon using an app on a phone, how does that affect me?I mean i think it affects me indirectly because statistically people using phones seem to be less likely to write thoughtful text, or see details in pics or whatever, but in terms of explicit features I only see it affects them but not me.
(DIR) Post #APXEXBIIOlUQ5C23gu by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-11-12T17:51:38Z
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@xerz Sorry still not following. I was objecting to the category error of equating the local client with the wider entity on the net. People saying that sort of give the impression that they think we all just exist on their phone. It's a bit like me calling the window the "air cupboard", which I sometimes do as a joke at my own expense indicating (feigned) unawareness of the world out there.
(DIR) Post #APciDcV3VUiL5FOACW by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-11-15T07:57:56Z
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@atomicpoet FOSS and adjacent cultures often have a weird blind spot where they are unable to distinguish between people making a modest living and rapacious corporations.The fediverse needs to allow and encourage individuals and small businesses to discuss and promote, and sell their activities therein.The alternative is the all too common model of well paid people doing evil all day in a day job and building something lovely at night for free. Which results in a net win for evil.
(DIR) Post #APckaYQ52jjkzv7pEO by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-11-15T09:46:13Z
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@bortzmeyer @atomicpoet The issue with free software is how do the devs stay alive? If they have to work a day job as well then my point stands. If they rely on donations from people who have to have evil day jobs then my point stands. No-one is free until everyone is free. We need to pay financially for our freedom, and we need to do it without being enslaved by rentier capitalists, or relying on money from those who are, except transitionallly.
(DIR) Post #APcldeJDheN05OxKsK by xenogon@mastodon.social
2022-11-15T09:58:02Z
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@bortzmeyer @atomicpoet Well yes, though I would also advocate cultural change such that free software is regarded as free as in freedom, not free of cost, and most users pay on a pay what you can basis.Ultimately though the model has to extend to the necessities of life, not just software - otherwise it will always be drained indirectly by rentier capitalism.