HOLY CRAP LINUX IS WEIRD AH HELP!
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Posted on Mar 01, 2013 02:29 am
quickxkid
Member Since: Jan 30, 2011
Dude, so I have this laptop that I wanna use just for tracking drums (which are at my parents house) but it doesnt have windows on it. I had the BRILLIANT idea to just install linux! Cuz linux is free right?
Yeah.
But I didn't know jack about linux. The install was easy. It looked nice, I was all oooh-aaaah new os! Until it came time to search for a daw. There's a free one called Ardour. It's cool. But it won't recognize my line 6 ux2. Turns out you can't get drivers for the ux2 on linux. GAH. There are some really techy work arounds I found on google but I've been trying my hand at them for hours and I have nothing to show for it. I just want windows back :(
Any suggestions? Anyone use linux for music production? Anyone know how to get a copy of windows that'll get this linux crap outta here?
Frustrating.
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J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
Mar 01, 2013 07:22 am Oof, that may or may not turn into a bit of a task. Which flavor of linux are you going with? That will help me when I get around to digging for info. I'll hazard an assumption that you're using a debian based distribution as opposed to rpm based.
I'm a bit rusty with my linux-talk, and I haven't fired it up on my laptop in awhile. I have it dual-booting with a music-oriented version of ubuntu and win7 on the other partition....same hard drive though. I may scrap it, and go with something else in the future though. I'm not fond of pulse audio, and would much prefer just using JACK as I did in the past. But that's neither here nor there.
Apparently newer versions of Ubuntu have the driver available, and it's just a matter of installing it. Mint is a stripped down more efficient, less bloated version of Ubuntu, but I don't know if it has the drivers available or if it uses the same repositories as Ubuntu. I think it should though.
Looking at the ALSA compatibility list, Line 6 is one of the few brands not supported under the ALSA drivers. >_< That basically means that it's going to be a little bit of a task to get it working nicely.
Basically, it won't work out of the box. But, newer distros should have the third-party Line 6 driver in one of the repositories, and it should just be a matter of finding it, and installing the driver. If you're lucky, you might not even have to use the command line interface (terminal) If you're not lucky, then, well, you might just have to get familiar with the terminal commands, how to move files around, how to use apt-get, etc.
I'll try to help out a little on digging up info though.
HippieRockstar Vatican AssassinMember
Since: Mar 20, 2009
Mar 01, 2013 02:04 pm LINUX RULES!!!
Here's my advice... download/install Mepis 11 (Best distro out there IMO). Update the repo list according to their wiki and add the debian mulimedia repos.
www.mepis.org/
www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php?title=Sources.list_MEPIS_11
Then, you'll need to install Ardour, Jack, and qtjack using Synapitc package manager. Also, all the recommended plugins (steve harris, invada, caps, cmt).
Their support forum is second to none. They reply instantly and will package anything that doesn't work so that it does.
forum.mepiscommunity.org/
I do all my mixing mastering using Ardour & Jamin... for the record. Very familiar with the software if you choose to go that route.
Mar 01, 2013 02:32 pm Awesome! Glad to hear you guys know a thing or two. I know nothing :(
I am using ubuntu, just cuz it was the only distro I had heard of.
I'll try using mepis, but do you think I could get my line 6 ux2 driver working on it? Maybe I'll ask the support dudes. Thanks again guys!
Mar 01, 2013 02:36 pm I was Xubuntu myself, same thing as Ubuntu, just a lighter weight video/display subsystem...but then, I use it for development/programming work, never use it for audio...
Mar 01, 2013 03:58 pm Man, I tried what this guy did and for the first time I didnt get a bunch of errors. I copied all those foreign language commands into the terminal and then fired up audacity. I can select the ux2 as the input and output but no sound gets recorded! And I cant even find a way to change it in Ardour. I take for granted how easy it is when things are compatible out of box. Much respect for guys who can get this stuff going!
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Apr 08, 2013 10:56 am I havn't been frequenting HRC for a while so I missed this... but I have been using linux for production for a few years now.
For Ubuntu it should be in the repository as line6usb
I'm currently using Arch and have thus forgotten how to do things easially. :)
Bsically, Linux audio works completly different from windows. The core application that everything is built around is called JACK. My understanding is that the line6usb / line6linux project creates an ALSA compatable driver. So open alsamixer in the command line or maybe from the desktop applet and make sure channels are turned up and unmuted (and that the correct sound card is selected). They are muted and turned down by default!
JACK is a sound server and the windows equivelent would be something like Rewire. It is basically a digital patchbay with a 'route from anywhere to anywhere' philosophy.
Apr 10, 2013 07:41 pm Cool, I was hoping zek would stop in, this thread screamed for his input. Thanks, zek.
