Parabola GNU/Linux-libre as proaudio system!

[thetotalchaos]

Parabola GNU/Linux-libre is one of the few 100% free and open source software operating system approved by FSF. It is based on the popular Arch Linux, which means that its a rolling distro targeting the power users. But Parabola also contains extra audio packages, that are not available in the official Arch repositories, like Linux-libre-RT, extra LV2 plugins: drumgizmo, helm, lv2-ir, minaton-lv2, newtonator, triceratops-lv2 , Extra synths like bristol, pybristol (Python Gui for bristol), Yoshimi, Minicomputer, etc, etc. Recently i made 2 packages that properly set Parabola to be transformed into powerful audio operating system out-of-the-box. The first one is called parabola-proaudio-settings that installs the needed base for audio workstation (Desktop independent) particularly all Alsa packages, Jack, Qjackctl etc... Also it loads all recommended settings and tweaks that differs one properly tuned professional audio workstation from a generic vanilla OS.

The other package is called parabola-proaudio, and its a meta-package that contains the proaudio-settings plus some of the most popular and established free and open source audio programs including ardour, qtractor, qsynth, soundfont-fluid, hydrogen, calf, lmms, zynaddsubfx, etc...

This is my most serious contribution to the Linux Audio community, and hopefully not the last one. And i choose Parabola because its closer to my ideal for operating system as possible.

Parabola as a ProAudio OS is for those artists that value the free and open source software, and wants to have maximum control on their computers using the cutting edge software available at any time. I recommend it for those artists that does not look at GNU/Linux just as a compromise for Apple and Windows and realise the power and uniqueness of the open source software, and for those that appreciate their artistic and personal Freedom, especially in post Edward Snowden world, that we are living now.

All you need to do is:

1. enable [pcr] and [kernels] in /etc/pacman.conf

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[pcr]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

[kernels]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist


2. add your user to audio group

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gpasswd --add your-user-name audio

3. Install parabola-proaudio-settings (Desktop independent) https://www.parabola.nu/packages/pcr/any/parabola-proaudio-settings/

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pacman -S parabola-proaudio-settings

4. make the settings started at boot

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systemctl enable parabola-proaudio-settings.service

5. (optional) install the following meta-packages: parabola-proaudio (Desktop independent) https://www.parabola.nu/packages/pcr/any/parabola-proaudio/ + dssi-plugins, ladspa-plugins, lv2-plugins

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pacman -S parabola-proaudio patchage dssi-plugins ladspa-plugins lv2-plugins

6. (optional) If you have a firewire soundcard its recommended to install rtirq

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pacman -S rtirq

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systemctl enable rtirq

7. Install the notorious realtime kernel (available in the [kernels] repository)

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pacman -S linux-libre-rt

8. (optional) If you choose to build your system to use Pulseaudio, you can find further instructions here:
https://www.linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=15228

You can download the latest Parabola iso from here: https://wiki.parabola.nu/Get_Parabola The website requires CaCert to be loaded properly


PS: This instructions are now available in video format here
https://youtu.be/202S4eeF8ik

Happy Hacking,
Totalchaos

[lazyklimm]

Nice try

[funkmuscle]

dude, I'm trying the mirrors on Arch and they cannot be found..

[thetotalchaos]

dude, I'm trying the mirrors on Arch and they cannot be found..

Obviously.
But you can try this: https://wiki.parabola.nu/Migration
For the page to display correctly, you should have CaCert installed in your browser

[funkmuscle]

dude, I'm trying the mirrors on Arch and they cannot be found..

Obviously.
But you can try this: https://wiki.parabola.nu/Migration
For the page to display correctly, you should have CaCert installed in your browser

thetotalchaos thanx.. I don't want the full migration.. just needed some packages because lately, audio apps been the last thing to get updated on Arch, shiv who's been doing that is quite busy.. I had to go to chakraos to get the latest Ardour for Arch..

I just go directly to the repos and download the needs apps.

[CrocoDuck]

This is very interesting indeed. Never heard of Parabola. I will look into sooner or later.

[calimerox]

Hi ,

same here as funkmuscle, I d like to keep manjaro cause it works pretty well configured like i have it, but would love just to try/use the parabola packages.. is there a way to do that? thx

[thetotalchaos]

I d like to keep manjaro cause it works pretty well configured like i have it, but would love just to try/use the parabola packages.. is there a way to do that? thx

Plus side : Parabola, Arch and Manjaro are using the same package manager (pacman) and the same packaging protocol (package-name.pkg.tar.xz) so the packages are compatible with all OS from the Arch family. Just download the wanted package and install it with

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pacman -U package-name.pkg.tar.xz

Minus side : Those packages are built and tested, having Parabola in mind, so there is a possibility of unmet dependencies, aka. Parabola specific packages.

[glowrak guy]

'Minus side' packaging issues happen in all distros, and will always be normal events for linux musicians
due to using fairly new and untested software. The worst result is sometimes an hour or two
is spent learning new things, when you'd rather plunck the keys and pluck the strings. But knowledge gained
is always priced better than realized at the point of purchase

I've only used 'Arch Pup', but that was great fun 'til the dev moved on.
If you ever get the urge, there was great potential left on that table.
Look forward to trying Parabola.
Cheers

[mauriciocamara]

Almost six years ago, when I decided to make my first incursions into linux, I soon realized that - as a very-stricted-time musician - I would end up looking for audio production.

Ubuntu Studio, AVLinux, KXStudio, Tango Studio, Dyne:Bolic, 64Studio, DreamStudio... I've tested several things several times.

Although AVLinux has provided me very useful results on my hardware, the real surprise was when I tried Arch (beginning with Antergos, but later going effectively to Arch).

Under the direct supervision of TheTotalChaos - the one which introduced Parabola to me - I *must* share to you that - at least in my hardware - Parabola Pro-Audio is a no-brainer. I've got CPU performance that I *never* got before. I should not use hyperlatives, but jack performance - as well as ardour and other audio apps - are giving me results that honestly I did not think Linux was able to provide. Until now.

Of course, I still have some things to learn. But I can say that Parabola Pro Audio is very, very effective. It is properly installed on all my notebooks. And if some of you are willing to try it, I really expect that it provides you the same jaw-dropping experience as it has been to me. Truly.

My best regards
@TheTotalChaos... I owe you a *big* one.

[thetotalchaos]

...@TheTotalChaos... I owe you a *big* one.

Huge thanks for your kind words, Mauricio.

Recently another two awesome applications were included in the regular repositories of Parabola GNU/Linux-libre

Giada (A looper, drum machine, sequencer, live sampler and plugin host)
https://www.parabola.nu/packages/pcr/x86_64/giada/

Swami (A collection of free software for editing, managing and playing musical instruments for MIDI music composition)
https://www.parabola.nu/packages/pcr/i686/swami/

Happy Hacking,
Totalchaos

[thetotalchaos]

Hello community,

Will you appreciate if i prepare a guide/wiki with instructions for a complete, ready to use system?
I have a ruff documentation for a complete and ready to use installation, based on Fluxbox window manager, with Jack1 and Alsa as sound servers. Actually its the one that Mauricio Camara is using in the past 3-4 months.
The documentation contains the steps, proceeding after the base installation. Instructions for the base installation can be found in the Parabola webpage, in the wiki section.

Note: The photo is around an year ago, back there i still was using Archlinux, but the approach is basically the same....

[laohuli]

Yes I would and your work is already appreciated! Thank you!
Greetings laohuli

[glowrak guy]

That would be great. (If you can video the process for a later youtube
or mp4 download, all the better. Doesn't have to be HD to helpful...)
There's too much 'super-user-required' gandapropa surrounding Arch, as a distro.
When such a how-to hits the search engines, it will be a good thing.

[thetotalchaos]

Thank you for your kind words

Here is the promised wiki. I made it on .txt file so it can be accessed even by the basic text editor when needed. (You need to be registered to have access to the file)

parabola-proaudio-installation.txt

The guide follows after the base system installation is completed https://wiki.parabola.nu/Beginners'_guide

Here is what the result should look like:


PS: I am thinking about a video wiki as well....


Happy hacking,
Totalchaos