[00:06] <jbrantly_> anyone know if its plausible to use ubuntu studio in a live sound environment (for instance, to serve as an EQ between an analog mixer and the amps)?
[00:09] <persia> jbrantly_, It is plausible, but be aware that you'll be restricted on how much mixing you can do based on the processing capacity of the hardware.
[00:09] <persia> I don't think anyone has good metrics for that, and a lot of it has to do with the quality of the drivers for your audio interface (and making sure your interface can handle your mixing needs)
[00:10] <jbrantly_> not really interested in mixing. Looking at it more for signal processing (like an EQ)
[00:11] <jbrantly_> but yea, I would be concerned about the A/D conversion and latency
[00:14] <persia> For recent hardware, with a good interface, latency can be fairly low (<10ms).
[00:14] <persia> But for that kind of use, you *really* want to make sure of the AD/DA quality, and overspec your hardware by a bit, just in case.
[00:15] <jbrantly_> right. So top-notch A/D interface, but it sounds like it is possible. Cool.
[00:15] <persia> I suspect that you'd end up with similar costs to new dedicated solutions, or maybe even +5-10%, although you get to use the computer for other things when you aren't using it as an EQ :)
[00:16] <jbrantly_> yea, I was just thinking it might be kind of versatile. For instance, buying an interface might be cheaper than buying a graphic EQ and a parametric EQ and provide more options
[00:17] <persia> Might be cheaper than both, and also can act as an effects box.
[00:18] <jbrantly_> any thoughts on good AD/DA interfaces? I havent looked in years
[00:18] <persia> Just be aware that you're going to be fairly limited on how many things you can do simultaneously without pushing your latency.  Some of the dedicated hardware has stuff like 8-way DSP engines.
[00:19] <persia> I'd recommend asking on #opensourcemusicians : there's just more folk there.  I've been very happy with a focusrite saffire, but the "best" is really about what you do, and not about any specific device.
[00:20] <persia> Try to find some other folk who do work live: they can probably tell you which ones are *fastest*, which is what you need, even if that means some loss of quality (although you shouldn't accept too much quality loss, etc.)
[00:20] <jbrantly_> right. Thanks a ton for your help :)
[00:20] <persia> No problem.  If it works for you, please tell everyone :)
[09:08] <loxs> is ubuntustudio suitable for deploying as a home multimedia center (as opposed to multimedia production, as ubuntustudio markets itself)
[09:08] <loxs> I am aiming at high quality sound
[09:08] <loxs> and want to do it with the least effort
[09:10] <persia> I generally recommend Mythbuntu for that sort of application, although there were discussions at this last UDS about making some additional media center flavours.
[09:11] <loxs> UDS?
[09:12] <persia> Ubuntu Developer Summit: the event that (kinda) plans each release.  Happened last week in Orlando.
[09:12] <loxs> what about things like dyne:bolyc and geexbox?
[09:13] <persia> I suspect those are as good as the folk who make them can make them.  I tend to be biased towards Ubuntu, but haven't spent any time at all making comparisons, so can't really say which is preferred.
[09:14] <loxs> I am too biased towards using a big established distro for this stuff
[09:14] <loxs> but I like the idea of running it off a usb stick
[09:14] <persia> You can do that with Ubuntu.
[09:15] <loxs> isnt mythbuntu aiming at TV?
[09:16] <persia> There's a tool called usb-creator that specifically creates a USB disk to either use as a bootable running environment or to install something.  I don't know of anyone specifically using it for a media center, but I don't imagine significant issues as long as you have enough storage.
[09:17] <persia> You'll likely get a more detailed description of the mythbuntu target from #ubuntu-mythtv, but I believe so.  I think it also does audio playback though.
[09:17] <loxs> thanks, I'll go check that channel too
[09:18] <loxs> I will probably use something like pulseaudio to stream sound from my other machines via wireless. I have no idea (yet) if this will bring havoc to the audio quality
[09:18] <loxs> so in fact I need something small to boot off the usb stick and just sit there and play sounds
[20:29] <rvchila> good evening!
[20:55] <grumbl69> hello
[20:56] <grumbl69> got a question about ffado
[21:01] <grumbl69> still nothing ?
[21:05] <persia> Folk should just ask questions and wait a bit :(