On Energy XT for Linux
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:41 am
KDE Mint 17.3 "Rosa" LTS, 32-bit, on Lenovo G585 laptop;
KDE Mint 17.0 "Qiana" LTS, 32-bit, on Thinkcentre M-Series desktop.
Hello all,
A drastic overhaul of my audio home studio has been long overdue: the current set-up a mess. However, since I'm still not sure what to replace it with, I'm now researching my options.
One core hardware unit died on me, several months ago, and needs replacement. And there's a possibility, too, that some new software not within the Linux firmament may have to be purchased. For this, a small budget has been set aside, but it'll only cover the expenses aforementioned. Once it has been spent, there'll be no money left for anything else. So for all other needs that may arise from my research, I'll have to do with what's readily available.
Firstly, whatever is coming next, as to home recording facilities, I want to keep it compact and simple. Secondly, I'd also like to see external wiring limited to the barest minimum achievable, ideally. And thirdly: one of the things I have never been able to realise, in Linux, is turning electric string instruments (i.e. not necessarily guitars and basses alone) into MIDI controller mode.
It's the latter in particular I want to focus on, for now.
Normally, instruments for which I have no formal training (winds and reeds, for example) can be emulated – surprisingly realistically, after some practice – with a piano-style MIDI controller. But what I have been wishing, too, for many years, is to be able to play jazz guitar sample, from one of my orchestral libraries, with time-honoured, established guitar (or guitar-like) techniques. On a guitar (or on a guitar-like instrument) doubling as MIDI controller, in other words.
My hopes went up when, only the other day, I accidentally came across a cross-platform DAW that might be well-placed in my follow-up home studio plan. But it looked curiously familiar, too, somehow.
It's called Energy XT: originally for Windows & Mac only, when I got it, as Windows installation disc extra, with a guitar audio interface bought several years ago. So I'm pleased that Energy XT has moved on to cross-platform capability since. And it looks rather exciting for a different reason, too, since this might, potentially, open some avenues hitherto closed to me.
That guitar audio interface aforementioned is a Behringer Guitar Link CGU102, in fact (see picture below):
It's also still in my possession, incidentally: a peripheral designed for full compatibility with Energy XT. For Windows and Mac OS users, inevitably, once again. But since Energy XT has now Linux representation, too, it may reasonably be expected, I think, that Guitar Link CGU102 can successfully be mounted in that version as well. And yes: both my laptop and my desktop do indeed recognise it, once connected. That seems, to me at least, a somewhat promising beginning. And I also see that it's jack control running the Guitar Link .
I found a Energy XT tutorial (blog) as well, online, in PDF. This, however, has not been upgraded since 2011, I notice. Assuming, though, that the DAW itself is still in development, I also take it that some improvements must have been implemented, over the intervening years. Therefore, I'm inclined to give Energy XT another stab in Linux. Together with my Behringer CGU102, of course. Hence, a couple of questions to ask.
I'd like to direct these at readers with, ideally, some previous experience of Energy XT in Linux. I'm also hoping for some response of those familiar with activating Guitar Link CGU102 in KDE Mint 17.3 “Rosa/17.0 “Qiana”. One more remark, though, as to the latter: I have not decided yet on where Energy XT will ultimately be going. That totally depends on how feasible running Energy XT, in conjunction with Guitar Link, in Linux, will prove to be.
My queries:
1) Can anyone confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the Linux version of Energy TX does indeed support set-up and activation of Behringer Guitar Link UCG102?
2) Furthermore, that pre-2011 Energy XT manual of before states that downloaded .wav, .mp3 and .aif sample can be used:
http://energyxt.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/ ... p3-in.html
However, those jazz guitar samples I desire to play are mostly in .sfz format. Can anybody please tell me as to whether Energy XT has added .sfz support since 2011?
3) If not, might there be any way of adapting .sfz sample format, as presently existing, to .wav or .aif (I'd rather avoid .mp3), in case these are still the sole formats supported? This is important, since your answer may make the difference between exploring Energy XT further and going for that proprietary alternative, alluded to in my introduction, that I also have my eyes on.
Thank you very much in advance for any help given.
Veerstryngh Thynner
KDE Mint 17.0 "Qiana" LTS, 32-bit, on Thinkcentre M-Series desktop.
Hello all,
A drastic overhaul of my audio home studio has been long overdue: the current set-up a mess. However, since I'm still not sure what to replace it with, I'm now researching my options.
One core hardware unit died on me, several months ago, and needs replacement. And there's a possibility, too, that some new software not within the Linux firmament may have to be purchased. For this, a small budget has been set aside, but it'll only cover the expenses aforementioned. Once it has been spent, there'll be no money left for anything else. So for all other needs that may arise from my research, I'll have to do with what's readily available.
Firstly, whatever is coming next, as to home recording facilities, I want to keep it compact and simple. Secondly, I'd also like to see external wiring limited to the barest minimum achievable, ideally. And thirdly: one of the things I have never been able to realise, in Linux, is turning electric string instruments (i.e. not necessarily guitars and basses alone) into MIDI controller mode.
It's the latter in particular I want to focus on, for now.
Normally, instruments for which I have no formal training (winds and reeds, for example) can be emulated – surprisingly realistically, after some practice – with a piano-style MIDI controller. But what I have been wishing, too, for many years, is to be able to play jazz guitar sample, from one of my orchestral libraries, with time-honoured, established guitar (or guitar-like) techniques. On a guitar (or on a guitar-like instrument) doubling as MIDI controller, in other words.
My hopes went up when, only the other day, I accidentally came across a cross-platform DAW that might be well-placed in my follow-up home studio plan. But it looked curiously familiar, too, somehow.
It's called Energy XT: originally for Windows & Mac only, when I got it, as Windows installation disc extra, with a guitar audio interface bought several years ago. So I'm pleased that Energy XT has moved on to cross-platform capability since. And it looks rather exciting for a different reason, too, since this might, potentially, open some avenues hitherto closed to me.
That guitar audio interface aforementioned is a Behringer Guitar Link CGU102, in fact (see picture below):
It's also still in my possession, incidentally: a peripheral designed for full compatibility with Energy XT. For Windows and Mac OS users, inevitably, once again. But since Energy XT has now Linux representation, too, it may reasonably be expected, I think, that Guitar Link CGU102 can successfully be mounted in that version as well. And yes: both my laptop and my desktop do indeed recognise it, once connected. That seems, to me at least, a somewhat promising beginning. And I also see that it's jack control running the Guitar Link .
I found a Energy XT tutorial (blog) as well, online, in PDF. This, however, has not been upgraded since 2011, I notice. Assuming, though, that the DAW itself is still in development, I also take it that some improvements must have been implemented, over the intervening years. Therefore, I'm inclined to give Energy XT another stab in Linux. Together with my Behringer CGU102, of course. Hence, a couple of questions to ask.
I'd like to direct these at readers with, ideally, some previous experience of Energy XT in Linux. I'm also hoping for some response of those familiar with activating Guitar Link CGU102 in KDE Mint 17.3 “Rosa/17.0 “Qiana”. One more remark, though, as to the latter: I have not decided yet on where Energy XT will ultimately be going. That totally depends on how feasible running Energy XT, in conjunction with Guitar Link, in Linux, will prove to be.
My queries:
1) Can anyone confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the Linux version of Energy TX does indeed support set-up and activation of Behringer Guitar Link UCG102?
2) Furthermore, that pre-2011 Energy XT manual of before states that downloaded .wav, .mp3 and .aif sample can be used:
http://energyxt.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/ ... p3-in.html
However, those jazz guitar samples I desire to play are mostly in .sfz format. Can anybody please tell me as to whether Energy XT has added .sfz support since 2011?
3) If not, might there be any way of adapting .sfz sample format, as presently existing, to .wav or .aif (I'd rather avoid .mp3), in case these are still the sole formats supported? This is important, since your answer may make the difference between exploring Energy XT further and going for that proprietary alternative, alluded to in my introduction, that I also have my eyes on.
Thank you very much in advance for any help given.
Veerstryngh Thynner