Go Lenny?

[spm_gl]

I'm gettting rather frustrated with all the ubuntu-based media distros. Either the rt-kernel doesn't work (ubuntustudio 9.04) or I can't install nvidia drivers (64studio) or the nvidia drivers simply don't work (ubuntustudio 8.04)
So I' actually contemplating a debian lenny system. Looks like I'll have a lot of compiling to do, though.
Any thoughts?

[studio32]

I'm gettting rather frustrated with all the ubuntu-based media distros. Either the rt-kernel doesn't work (ubuntustudio 9.04) or I can't install nvidia drivers (64studio) or the nvidia drivers simply don't work (ubuntustudio 8.04)
So I' actually contemplating a debian lenny system. Looks like I'll have a lot of compiling to do, though.
Any thoughts?

Don't know if Debian more suitable for thinks like nvidia, most of the time Ubuntu is further with such things.

I use a Debian testing /sid (for audio sometimes) mixed system. search this forum for more info

[spm_gl]

My reasoning is, debian is still the most stable distribution. And I don't mind setting it up from scratch. I can handle a compiler if I need to. Not sure if I'll be compiling my own kernel again, although it is fun.

[Yeri]

Hi,

I use a customized debian lenny for audio, and it works fine.
I got a lot of useful information on how to do that at the system configuration section from the LM wiki.
Basically what is explained at the wiki is the following:
(1) install an rt-kernel http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=17035
(2) filesystems stuff (basically mount 'tmpfs' at /tmp)
(3) setting the user limits with regards to memory allocation and rt-priorities at limits.conf
(4) setting the rt-priorities of the irq's properly. I use an init script from 64studio named 'rtirq.sh'. Find also useful information on the priorities policy at http://tapas.affenbande.org/wordpress/?page_id=40.

There is also an useful perl script (also available at the wiki) that checks almost everything what I've said.

Hope it helps you.. good luck!

Gerard.

[mauser]

Hi!

You could use the stable 64studio (based on debian) with the additional debian repositories and compile newer versions of applications manually. That would give you a solid ground (kernel, drivers) and you don't have to compile everything by hand ( what would be the case if you use pure debian ). I have a 64Studio Box here in our rehearsal room and it was a lot of easier ( = in less time) to setup as the previous custom debian.
I'm just running ardour, jammin and hydrogen here which i'm getting from svn, so i'm not really concerned by outdated packages.
- Sebastian

[spm_gl]

Thanks for the info. I'm currently compiling a 2.6.29.6-rt kernel from source. Fun.
64studio 2.1 doesn't install on my system, due to sata and ethernet issues.
The worst part is currently getting the latest nvidia driver to compile. I know, for an audio system it's better to use the nv-driver, but I need 3D and video out.
I'll be installing jack2 from svn, I'll probably need to compile alsa too, we'll see. I hope I can get ardour pre-built.

[SR]

Thanks for the info. I'm currently compiling a 2.6.29.6-rt kernel from source

FYI, the rt23 patch is flaky. Personally, I'd recommend rt22 with 2.6.29.5, but you might have better luck than me.

[studio32]

I can't install nvidia drivers (64studio) or the nvidia drivers simply don't work (ubuntustudio 8.04)

Why not buy another video card, which is better supported?

[spm_gl]

Actually, the GeForce 9800 I have is pretty well supported, but only if I install the driver myself. Which I did very successfully today. We want to mix game audio on the system too, on windows, so we sometimes need a decent 3D card.
Currently, I'm fighting the touchscreen, although it actually works very well. But I can't find a decent virtual keyboard, and florence doesn't want to work yet.

[spm_gl]

FYI, the rt23 patch is flaky. Personally, I'd recommend rt22 with 2.6.29.5, but you might have better luck than me.

Thanks for the Info. Currently my 2.6.29.6-rt23 works well, but I haven't actually used it much. By the time I get ready for production, there'll probably be a working rt24. Do you have any references to rt23 being flaky, so I know what to look out for?

[SR]

The main problems I noticed were spontaneous xruns when nothing was going on (eg, opening the file dialog from hydrogen would cause 6 or 7 xruns). I posted to the PlanetCCRMA mailing list when I first noticed it and Fernando's response is here:

http://ccrma-mail.stanford.edu/pipermai ... 15880.html

[raboof]

I'm gettting rather frustrated with all the ubuntu-based media distros. Either the rt-kernel doesn't work (ubuntustudio 9.04) or I can't install nvidia drivers (64studio) or the nvidia drivers simply don't work (ubuntustudio 8.04)
So I' actually contemplating a debian lenny system. Looks like I'll have a lot of compiling to do, though.

I'm actually considering looking into debian, too, but the 'testing' distribution ('squeeze'): if I'd contribute to Ubuntu, basically no-one sees those changes for up to 6 months until the next release is rolled out (unless they do extra work). Contributing to a 'rolling' distribution like Debian Testing seems more rewarding.

[spm_gl]

Thanks. Looks like a serious problem. I haven't had time to install jack yet, so it's no wonder I haven't noticed.

[Yeri]

I'll probably need to compile alsa too

for me, the apt installed dev packages of alsa are enough to compile jack and other apps

[spm_gl]

A quick update: I've just discovered the 64studio lenny-backports, which allowed me to install jack 1.9 and ardour 2.8 on a debian lenny stable system, without having to download 20 or so unstable packages. Nice.