Filed under: Sound Recording | Tags: linux recording, Ardour, lmms, jamin, JACK, wired, hydrogen, audio, home studio
I have decided, as a musician recording at home, to use ubuntu along with other free packages for my computer based recording. Although it is a free platform, the packages on offer are useful, well thought out and reaching a professional quality as things progress.
My key packages so far have been:
- JACK (jack audio connection kit) control – the best secret weapon linux based recording has to offer. Use it to connect various software packages and computers together.
- ARDOUR – the best free DAW on offer
- LMMS – Linux multimedia studio – similar to FL Studio or Fruityloops
- WIRED – A sequencer/sampler/DAW. Still not fully functional on ubuntu, but it’s going to be awsome when it is!
- Hydrogen – a simple, yet powerful drum machine. Comes with pretty good default drum kits.
- JAMin – a mastering kit. Route Ardour through to it or just play your mixdown into it. Comes with multiband EQ and compressor.
If you really want to gear your computer for multimedia, download ubuntu studio (ubuntustudio.org) or, if you have ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) go to this link (click here) and run the commands in terminal. Ubuntu studio comes with a cool desktop theme.
Your standard ubuntu is packaged with a regular version of Totem Movie player – a really handy movie player. However, it is not packaged with DVD playback for licensing reasons.
In order to get DVD playback go to your terminal (APPLICATIONS >ACCESSORIES >TERMINAL) and type in this command (you’ll need to be connected to the internet):
sudo apt-get install libdvdread3 libxine1-ffmpeg totem-xine build-essential debhelper fakeroot
And press enter. Then type in this command:
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh
And press enter. This should set your computer to play DVD’s. Enjoy!
Filed under: Using Cellphone as modem | Tags: cellphone, easy access, internet, wvdial
I realised that there is a small error on the tutorial by the blog I made a link to.
Where it says “sudo gedit etc/wvdial.conf” you need to put a “/” in front of “etc” so that it looks like this: “sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf” – otherwise you end up creating a file which is useless to you.
Okay, now instead of leaving Terminal open with your “sudo wvdial” command running. Make a link to the wvdial file itself.
Do this:
- Right click on your “Application Menu”
- Select “edit Menus”
- Then click on the “Internet” section under Applications
- On the right hand side you’ll see “+ New Item”, click on it
- Next to name write whatever you want to call it, I wrote “Connect to Internet”
- Click on the browse button next to “Command”
- Go to “File System”, “usr”, “bin” and type “wvdial” to find the file
- Select the “wvdial” file and click on “Open”
- Then, if you like, you can add a comment, I left it blank
- Now click on the picture of the spring-board at the top left of the window to select the icon you want to use
- And then click “Okay”
- Select “Close” and your link to wvdial should be in your “Applications” menu under “Internet”
- Now you don’t need to leave the terminal open when you’re using the internet!
