I use the KXStudio distribution based on the latest Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Long Term Support). Two installation methods are proposed with a live-dvd (easiest) or a small netboot iso (prefered). It's also possible to use the kxstudio packages with a normal Ubuntu (my method). http://kxstudio.sourceforge.net/
In any case, I much prefer the classic XFCE desktop to the weird Unity/Gnome3 desktops. There's the KDE4 desktop, but it's also bloated with useless eye candies and package dependencies. XFCE is simple, stable and friendly. I disable all desktop (2D and/or 3D) effects for a more responsive system. KKstudio can be installed with a realtime kernel version 3.2; I don't use it yet because the (evil proprietary) NVidia drivers are incompatible, so I might use the GPL "nouveau" driver to avoid this problem. But audio works well enough with the low latency kernel. I use Jackd2 instead of Jackd1, and I use the new Pulse Audio 2.0. To use PA 2.0 with Jackd2, install Pulse 2.0 from this PPA: https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-audio-dev/+archive/ppa then follow these instructions: http://trac.jackaudio.org/wiki/WalkThrough/User/PulseOnJack This perl script helps *a lot* to configure realtime audio on Linux: http://code.google.com/p/realtimeconfigquickscan/ For basic sound troubleshooting on Ubuntu, here's a good resource: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshootingProcedure For extra multimedia goodies (especially for proprietary codecs), I complement my system with the Medibuntu packages: http://medibuntu.org/ The Planet CCRMA distribution is also ideal for sound, and it's very well maintained. But I much prefer Debian based distributions (like Ubuntu) for their APT packaging system (instead of RPM on Fedora based distributions). -- Marc Fons Adriaensen <f...@linuxaudio.org> a écrit : > On Wed, Jul 04, 2012 at 11:41:53AM +0100, Dave Malham wrote: > > > I'm looking for recommendations on a preferred (small) Linux > > distro for surround work. To start with, I'd like to run on a Asus > > 35 M1-M Pro motherboard as I have one handy. Unfortunately, my > > current Ubuntu distro seems to have difficulties picking up its > > built-in 8 channel audio but my relatively poor knowledge/experience > > of Linux means I can't be sure if I'm doing something wrong (most > > probable scenario) or if it's a distro or hardware limitation. As I > > only went for Ubuntu because I had some experience with it already, > > I thought it would make sense, before going further, to seek advice > > about optimum-for-audio distros and concentrate on one of those and > > preferably one without much bloat. > > Ubuntu comes with the Gnome desktop which uses PulseAudio as its > 'audio server'. PA has many qualities for the typical desktop user > but is completely unsuitable for any serious audio work, for one it > doesn't handle real multichannel interfaces (because the underlying > ALSA layer doesn't provide any info that would enable PA to find out > 'standard' channel mappings). For anything serious you need to run > Jack as the sound server. It's not possible to 'uninstall' PA on > a system with Gnome (it's a hard dependency) but you can tell PA > to get out of the way when Jack needs access to the sound card, and > you can even configure PA to become a Jack client so your 'desktop > sounds' continue to work. I can't provide any reliable help on how > exactly to do this (since none of my systems have PA installed), but > you could ask on the Linux Audio Users or Developers mailing lists, > see > > http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user/ > http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-dev/ > > for how to subscribe etc. > > If you want a 'lean and mean' and generally unbloated linux distro > I could recommend ArchLinux (used on >10 systems here). Compared to > e.g. Ubuntu it has a rather steep learning curve, you will need to > learn a lot about system administration (the docs on the Arch Wiki > are quite good), but you'll be rewarded with actually knowing how > your system works and remaining in control of it. But I admit it > can be a bit hard the first time. > > Ciao, > _______________________________________________ Sursound mailing list Sursound@music.vt.edu https://mail.music.vt.edu/mailman/listinfo/sursound
