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The Linux-Based Recording Studio

Issue 121

From Issue #121
May 2004

May 01, 2004  By Aaron Trumm
 in
With a Linux-based hard disk recorder, you can create your own project studio on a budget. Now the only thing between you and that great album you want to make is practice, man, practice.
Practice

Good studio practice is more than a computer and its fancy open-source applications. For example, don't forget to take tracks outside of the computer's domain. You may want to use a tube preamp, a classic reverb or an outboard compressor. Experiment, don't be afraid to fuse the old with the new and admit when your software isn't giving you what you really want. A drum machine never can replace a drummer.

You also want to be wise about your cabling and general studio maintenance. Keep audio cables away from AC cables, cross them only at right angles when absolutely necessary and keep your connections clean. See the Resources page on the Web for some general recording information that should be helpful.

There you have it, the fusion of computer geek and recording nerd. You're now a few steps closer to your Linux-based studio. When you need help, check out the Mailing Lists on the Resources page. Good luck, and raise your glass to some ingenious open-source records appearing in stores everywhere.

Resources for this article: /article/7457.

Aaron Trumm started recording pause loop tape hip-hop at 14. He has since released seven albums and countless side projects. He created and still owns NQuit Records, and he formed the Techno/Classical/Poetry Project Third Option, which includes his classical piano improvisation and poems, as well as poetry from Tamara Nicholl, who was the first ever female Albuquerque City Poetry Slam Champion. Aaron was also the tenth-ranked slam poet in the US in 2002 and has competed at the National Poetry Slam four times.

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penguin

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 21:23.

Thats the funniest looking penguin I've ever seen

Ubuntustudio

Jack's picture
Submitted by Jack (not verified) on Fri, 01/16/2009 - 05:27.

I have just installed ubuntu studio on computer i built for the purpose for under $700.
I use it for recording for radio. It installed quickly, easily and flawlessly works...
Ubuntu studio has kept me awake for two days now...
I love it!
Community radio stations everywhere need to use it!
;-)
Jack

McCaw. Get a life.

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 06:30.

McCaw. Get a life.

ubuntustudio

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 10/31/2008 - 00:27.

Well just a little addition to this, for those who don't know yet:

These days there is Ubuntustudio, which is a complete audio/video studio operating system, comes preinstalled with jack, ardour and more...

Installer is more simple then installing windows :)

We need an update to this article

SuperPenguin's picture
Submitted by SuperPenguin (not verified) on Fri, 10/24/2008 - 17:39.

With all the advances we've seen with low latency kernels, as well as extended support to cards like the m-audio family, I would like to motion for a follow up on this article with current software packages and systems. Nevertheless though, this article has truly helped me achieve a great sounding soundbooth in my place and some clean results. For the record I use Hydrogen for drums, Audacity for recording and mastering, m-audio 2496 audiophile and 64studio for the distro.

Thank You for writting this article

Joe Galvan's picture
Submitted by Joe Galvan (not verified) on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 12:20.

I found this article to be very helpful. I am not a professional musician, but I dabble in beat production and MC'ing. In my regular life I am a Systems Engineer/Developer who focuses on Open Source. I really like having an alternative to Pro Tools!

Thanks,

Joe Galvan

Re: The Linux-Based Recording Studio

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 04/22/2004 - 02:00.

(notice the article date .. the date)

Re: The Linux-Based Recording Studio

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 04/22/2004 - 02:00.

great article, but isn't it weird it's fallen into a timewarp and is
presently available before it was authored?

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