I Need Some Music Production Software

[sartajc]

I decided to make my next album entirely on linux, if possible. No live instruments, all software (I've already done live).

I already know about Audacity, but I was wondering what other software is available.

Personally, I HAVE to have a drum machine and/or software instruments. Basically, if I can do most of the things Garageband can do, I'm good to go.

I need this because I am making a rap album. I want to do it on Linux because I want to show people that it is possible to make an entire album with free software and all that people would need to buy is a mic.

[Fingers & Thumbs]

Good on you, I definitely support your efforts.

You should try ubuntustudio, it comes prepacked with much of what you will need, and much more in the repositories. Of course all of these packages can be added to a standard ubuntu desktop, but to take full advantage and have it runnng without latency issues, you will be needing ubuntustudios real-time kernal.

Just about everything you need to know to get started is here (http://lau.linuxaudio.org/)


Good luck with your project

[snowpine]

I decided to make my next album entirely on linux, if possible. No live instruments, all software (I've already done live).

I already know about Audacity, but I was wondering what other software is available.

Personally, I HAVE to have a drum machine and/or software instruments. Basically, if I can do most of the things Garageband can do, I'm good to go.

I need this because I am making a rap album. I want to do it on Linux because I want to show people that it is possible to make an entire album with free software and all that people would need to buy is a mic.

I agree with the previous poster, Ubuntu Studio has more than enough software to get you started. The drum machine, Hydrogen, is really powerful and fun. Good luck!

[secondstage]

If you want a synth/organ sound, you can do Zynaddsubfx, which will take the input from your (computer) keyboard, and it can the input from a MIDI keyboard, if you have one. Also Ardour is very good, some people say they prefer Ardour over Pro Tools.

--secondstage

[Bucky Ball]

Ubuntu Studio is definitely what you are after, and a truckload of soundfonts. Open source of these is not so plentiful. Check Rosegarden for recording but as mentioned, UStudio will keep you busy for sometime - there is heaps there!

Have fun.

(ps: Studio only comes in the alternate install cd version, text based, so don't do what I did when I first installed it ... forgot to install a desktop!!! lol.)

[sartajc]

Thanks for your help bro!

I have one more question. I have used Jam Packs for Mac for quite a while, and I have this particular sound instrument that has a Sitar and Tabla (international instruments from India). Is there any way I can get these sounds on Ubuntu Studio? If not its not that bad because I can still record that one instrument in GarageBand and transfer to Ubuntu Studio.

[Bungo Pony]

Hydrogen is a fantastic drum machine for Linux. I have used it, and it blows away ALL of the free ones that I've tried in Windows.

However, for multitracking, I don't use Linux software. I use a piece of Windows software in WINE called "Multitrack Studio". The free demo version is enough to get things accomplished, but the software is so good that I'm thinking about purchasing it. Since it works well under Wine and is extremely user friendly, I have no problem paying for it.

Also, just a word of warning... Audacity and Ubuntu are not on completely 'friendly terms' at this time since Ubuntu decided to adopt Pulse Audio, and Audacity currently doesn't support it. However, you can get around it if you fire up Jack Audio Control before using Audacity. Or you could do what I do and use Windows wave editing software under Wine.

[Bucky Ball]

This might be of some help;

http://www.lesbell.com.au/Home.nsf/0/c4b39482154feb03ca256f8100150ad9?OpenDocument

... and for some ideas on soundfonts;

http://soundfonts.homemusician.net/

http://www.hammersound.net/

The Hammersound site is popular. There is another great soundfont package but I can't remember the name so can't find that one! If anyone has any ideas, kick in.

I don't know what you're into but I compose and need Sibelius type software for that and uni. I have been exploring MuseScore a bit and looks like it may be able to fill the gap in Linux (no more Vista!). I am about to start getting serious about loading some sounds and working out how to make some noise with that. It comes as part of Ubuntu Studio 8.04 nowadays (MuseScore that is, along with Rosegarden). Good luck with it all.

[OutOfReach]

I use Hydrogen, and LMMS (http://lmms.sourceforge.net) which I think are both very good tools.

[sartajc]

I wanted to try out Ubuntu Studio in VMWare before installing it for real, but it keeps starting in command line mode. Why is that? How do i get the GUI running?


I have a Macbook with Mac OS X and Ubuntu Normal partition installed, but don't want to erase my Ubuntu Normal till I try out Studio since it's hard to install Ubuntu on Macbooks and because I don't have access to a DVD RW right now.

Is this a problem with my Mac or VMWare

If VMWare is the problem, is there a way to install something on a separate partition without having to burn the ISO onto a DVD?

[Bucky Ball]

I mentioned the alternate install CD was the only flavour it comes in. Text based. You need to select to install a desktop (the Ubuntu Studio desktop) during install with Gutsy at least (not sure about Hardy Studio). The way you're doing it, maybe that is causing a glitch, because some audio/visual bods probably don't want to waste resources on desktops when they have the know how to run from command line so not automatic option. Again, this may be different in Hardy.

Also as I mentioned, I screwed it up and missed the desktop selection option the first time I did full install from the CD and wound up in the same spot you sound like you are in now.

You can probably apt-get install the desktop if you can get online, then your away perhaps? All an adventure! I'll have a look around and see what I can dig up.

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-ubuntu-studio-8.04

That link might give you some tips and/or leads.

[sartajc]

oh.....oops. thanks man. sorry for not paying attention to you're post earlier. you're advice fixed the problem :guitar:

[Bucky Ball]

Cool. I have attached a screenshot of the bit where I screwed up. You must have 'Ubuntu Studio Desktop' checked, as it is in the shot. Glad to hear things are progressing ...

http://linux-sound.org/

Have fun ...

[Capoeira]

if you already run Ubuntu you don't need to install Ubuntu-studio, just install the realtime Kernel (linux-rt) and all the software u need from the repositries.

I have this particular sound instrument that has a Sitar and Tabla (international instruments from India). Is there any way I can get these sounds on Ubuntu Studio?

are these VSTi-instruments? u can use most of the VST/VSTi plugins in Linux using dssi-vst: http://dssi.sourceforge.net/download.html
u can search for VST-instruments in google too.

[snowpine]

Ubuntu Studio is great and I recommend it. You don't need to install it separately; you can add the real time kernel and the audio applications using apt-get.

If you're looking for a quick taste of linux music production, without changing or installing anything on your computer, check out dyne:bolic. It is a music/video production distro that runs from a live cd and has a distinct "underground" aesthetic. It has many of the same apps as Ubuntu Studio (including the Hydrogen drum machine). Might be perfect for your rap album.

[Capoeira]

all you need to know for installing Ubuntu-studio above your already installed Ubuntu you can find here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuStudioPreparation

the advantage is that you can decide during boot if you want to use the RT-Kernel or the "normal" Kernel - having like this 2 distros in one

EDIT: i also recomend not using a drum machine but audio-loops, sounds much more natural. with a beatslicer (look my thread i have just created) you can create any kind of beat u want to. this page helped me a lot: http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000304 part 2: http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000315
EDIT1b: try out Recycle-Demo for Windows with Wine to explor what fatastic things you can do with a beatslicer (not only with beats): http://www.propellerheads.se/download/index.cfm?fuseaction=get_article&article=recycle

EDIT2: if you want to make some real funky sound you might want to use a analog-modelling-synthesizer like "amSynth" (you can create fat basses with this) or/and some modulations of some vintage synths like Minimoog or ARP2600 with "Bristol". those two can be found in the repositries too. (bristol homepage: http://bristol.sourceforge.net/emulations.html)
there is a superb emulation in VSTi-standart for Minimoog too (better than the one in Bristol) - but this is not free
if you like, there is a superb VSTi-emulation of a clavinet (this is free) http://bigtick.pastnotecut.org/index.php?action=PROD&pcode=120

EDIT3: instruments for linux use the DSSI-architecture but most instruments u will only find in VSTi-standart but like i mentioned above u can use them with DSSI-VST even included in many programs like Rosegarden or Ardour or as standalone conected via Jack-server

EDIT4: sumary of all you need:
a) a midi-controler or virtual Keybord (vkeybd)
b) perhaps a midi-sequencer like Rosegarden
c) multi-track-recorder like Rosegarden, Ardour or even Audacity
d) a audio-editor like Audacity
e) a drum-machine like hydrogen or a beatslicer like Freecycle and audioloops(sampels)
f) virtual instruments: DSSI-instruments, virtual syths, VSTi-instruments with DSSI-VST and Wine
g) audio effects with LADSPA-plugins or VST-plugins with DSSI-VST and Wine
h) perhaps a mastering-software like JamIn
i) Jackd (Jack-server) to conect all these