amSynth website coming along fine..

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Retro Banana
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by Retro Banana »

We have a new member in our family, a Moog-style modular synth! http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=10665
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by briandc »

Retro Banana wrote:We have a new member in our family, a Moog-style modular synth! http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=10665
Yep. I'd love to add it.. I just want to wait until Jack support and (more importantly) patches can be saved. Same with Triceratops. --After all, part of the fun is saving your work and sharing patches! :)
Let's hope these changes come soon..

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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by briandc »

Hi everyone,
I've added a page to my website that gives a general set-up guide for newbies, since people in Windows may not know how to get started:

http://amsynth.com/linuxtips.html

See anything I should add or change? (For example: is Synaptic used only in Debian-based distros? I couldn't remember, it's been months since I tried a non-debian distro.)

I'm open to suggestions!

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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by tatch »

briandc wrote: is Synaptic used only in Debian-based distros? I couldn't remember, it's been months since I tried a non-debian distro.)
Yes, Synaptic is only for debian-based distros and it's not even preinstalled in vanilla ubuntu anymore. I'm not familiar with graphical frontends for yum/pacman either. It might be easier just to give them something to copy and paste into a terminal (and of course explain that the shell is not scary) or something.

That's a lot of text for a newbie, it'd be a good idea to condense all that. Some suggestions:

-You mention that there are many different linux distros available but you don't suggest any noob-friendly ones. I'd put kxstudio/av-linux/dreamstudio up there since they're specifically audio production distros.
-You also have a good amount of text on how you're supposed to make an installation disc, which I think is unnecessary. There are a number of sources that already explain how to do that, you can just link those.
-simplify the language explaining JACK and how to use it.
-i think hardware compatibility is one of the most important points and should be emphasized instead of briefly mentioned.

basically,

things noobs interested in audio should know about linux (these might even be two separate pages):

1) core linux audio concepts:
a. explain JACK and session management (e.g. how you need to run jack for other apps to work, how you should use cadence instead of qjackctl... why don't you even mention the cadence tools?)
b. describe how different apps fit into JACK, e.g. route a synth into Rakarrack and then into Ardour
c. explain alternatives like QTractor that use plugins instead of complex routing

2) installing linux with audio
a. find out if your hardware is compatible, or if you're planning on getting/making a new box make sure you get compatible hardware. otherwise problems and you will hate linux
b. choose an audio production distribution like kx/av/dream unless you really enjoy getting your hands filthy dirty
c. install and update linux(provide links to installation processes, if you really can't find any simple straightforwards ones (though you should be able to) you can quickly enumerate the process yourself)

maybe a third page showing an example setup.
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by briandc »

tatch wrote:
briandc wrote: is Synaptic used only in Debian-based distros? I couldn't remember, it's been months since I tried a non-debian distro.)
Yes, Synaptic is only for debian-based distros and it's not even preinstalled in vanilla ubuntu anymore. I'm not familiar with graphical frontends for yum/pacman either. It might be easier just to give them something to copy and paste into a terminal (and of course explain that the shell is not scary) or something.

That's a lot of text for a newbie, it'd be a good idea to condense all that. Some suggestions:

-You mention that there are many different linux distros available but you don't suggest any noob-friendly ones. I'd put kxstudio/av-linux/dreamstudio up there since they're specifically audio production distros.
-You also have a good amount of text on how you're supposed to make an installation disc, which I think is unnecessary. There are a number of sources that already explain how to do that, you can just link those.
-simplify the language explaining JACK and how to use it.
-i think hardware compatibility is one of the most important points and should be emphasized instead of briefly mentioned.

basically,

things noobs interested in audio should know about linux (these might even be two separate pages):

1) core linux audio concepts:
a. explain JACK and session management (e.g. how you need to run jack for other apps to work, how you should use cadence instead of qjackctl... why don't you even mention the cadence tools?)
b. describe how different apps fit into JACK, e.g. route a synth into Rakarrack and then into Ardour
c. explain alternatives like QTractor that use plugins instead of complex routing

2) installing linux with audio
a. find out if your hardware is compatible, or if you're planning on getting/making a new box make sure you get compatible hardware. otherwise problems and you will hate linux
b. choose an audio production distribution like kx/av/dream unless you really enjoy getting your hands filthy dirty
c. install and update linux(provide links to installation processes, if you really can't find any simple straightforwards ones (though you should be able to) you can quickly enumerate the process yourself)

maybe a third page showing an example setup.
Hi tatch,
thank you for taking time to respond.
Let me share why I did the page the way I did. I might be wrong in my reasoning, so let me know...

As most people are probably coming to linux from Windows, the thought of the command line is probably scary, and maybe even considered (wrongly, of course) to be "primitive" or "behind the times." So I think it's best to provide an approach that has as much GUI as possible, at least for starters. Giving a list of line commands would be very simple indeed. But the mentality of a Windows user is all about GUI, unfortunately.

If Synaptic is only for debian, and if there isn't a GUI for the other systems, it would probably be best to just recommend debian and leave it at that. If they want to "get their hands dirty," they can do it on their own. I used Mageia a year or so ago, but Debian based stuff is all I use now, so that's probably why. Kind of a "less energy" approach.

If you think about it, even the concept of "repositories" is foreign to a Windows user. So sometimes you need to go slow, and hold peoples' hands until they learn to walk.

I agree about promoting KXStudio/AVlinux, etc. Partly because KXStudio/Ubuntu Studio is familiar to me, so that's easier to explain. You mentioned Cadence. Actually, I didn't mention it simply because I haven't been using it myself. I'm kind of simplistic, using standalone synths whenever possible, and recording in Audacity rather than your average DAW. (I know, call me "old fashioned." :) )

My thinking is that people from other OSs probably have a good idea of how to set up their instruments. So I don't think Jack should be hard to understand, nor should it be "foreign" in concept. But of course, a few screenshots wouldn't hurt, or maybe a screencast or two.. But in general, my impression is that the biggest hurdle to getting started is not the audio apps themselves, but just installing a distro and getting oriented to packages, repositories, passwords, root vs. user, that kind of thing.
It's true that I could just put a link here or there. But I think people want someone to hold their hand. Otherwise they wouldn't need a guide page at all.

The issue of hardware (and proprietary software) compatability is a big one. More than I can handle, actually. It might be "luck," but my PC works so smoothly with the hardware I have, it's amazing people even think twice about using linux. And, there's so much hardware out there, it'd be impossible to handle. Probably better to direct them to a forum like this one, where you have many great users who can give very specific information and share experience that I don't have.

I guess it's a question of "how much info to give." There's the basics, and there's the details for audio production. Maybe at least divided into 2 pages?

Thoughts?
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by zth »

Not a comment on the actual content, but I just want to say I think it's great that you're doing what you're doing - especially the sound banks. If you haven't already, maybe you could talk to for example FalkTX and get them integrated in KXStudio repos, unless they already are? I find lack of presets being the single biggest issue with synths on Linux. Most people that are interested in using synths don't know/aren't interested in sound design, and learning to synthesize your own sounds that sound even remotely OK is no childs play. Just my 2 cents.

Like I said, well done!
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by briandc »

zth wrote:Not a comment on the actual content, but I just want to say I think it's great that you're doing what you're doing - especially the sound banks. If you haven't already, maybe you could talk to for example FalkTX and get them integrated in KXStudio repos, unless they already are? I find lack of presets being the single biggest issue with synths on Linux. Most people that are interested in using synths don't know/aren't interested in sound design, and learning to synthesize your own sounds that sound even remotely OK is no childs play. Just my 2 cents.

Like I said, well done!
Thank you zth! :)

I guess it's kind of mixing my enjoyment of linux and synths and my fun of tweaking knobs and sliders. I don't know if any of the sounds are useful, but I'm happy if someone somewhere can use them.
I hope to add more sounds to the other synths listed, too. And more screencasts. It'll just take a bit of time. And I see FalkTX has added some of the patches to amSynth in the Carla host. But when the final version is out, hopefully in the next weeks, I think Nick will be including them all. (It'd be good to weed out the repeats, as many sounds are very similar.)

So I agree with you, there hasn't been much available in terms of demos and patches for linux synths, just to "whet people's appetites," so hopefully the site will do what it is meant to. The visitors are increasing, and I'm trying to spread the word. We'll see! :)

Thanks again.

brian
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by ssj71 »

briandc:

I just got a link to a project with lots of AMS patches! You should put a link to it on the site:
https://github.com/kenrestivo/Linux-synth-patches
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by ssj71 »

Also more here:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4343030/attes_ams_patches.tgz
and here:
http://lapoc.de/patches/alsa-modular/
these coming from the linux audio user mailing list (you maybe a subscriber already IDK).
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by briandc »

ssj71 wrote:Also more here:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4343030/attes_ams_patches.tgz
and here:
http://lapoc.de/patches/alsa-modular/
these coming from the linux audio user mailing list (you maybe a subscriber already IDK).
Thanks ssj71! The one by Ken Restivo is already linked in the AMS page (I think..). But these two here are new. I guess the dropbox one should be put somewhere local since people are always changing their dropbox data, eh?


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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by autostatic »

Hats off for all the work you put into this briandc! Looks great and the site contains very valuable information and resources. Thanks!
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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by briandc »

AutoStatic wrote:Hats off for all the work you put into this briandc! Looks great and the site contains very valuable information and resources. Thanks!
Thanks AutoStatic. As you know, there's lots that should be added. Little by little I guess, and it might become useful to someone! :D

I'd appreciate your thoughts on improving things.. if you want..

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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by briandc »

Yes, Ingen is one of the next ones, along with Sineshaper.

Is minicomputer in the KXStudio repos? I don't remember seeing it....


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Re: amSynth website coming along fine..

Post by autostatic »

miniComputer should be in the default Ubuntu repos as it hasn't seen an update in like 3 or 4 years.
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