VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

marcos59 · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:08 am Post subject: Linux

Hey all,
I've been having problems with Windows 7 lately and would be keen to switch to Linux Mint or Ubuntu in the near future. I know there are Linux programs available (Wine) that can run Windows programs such as Audition 3.0 so that's that sorted. Does anyone run such a a system and have there been any problems?

cyclometh · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 11:41 am Post subject:

Unless you really know Linux extremely well and are willing to deal with the overhead of managing both Linux and Windows (WINE is really an emulator - technically, a compatibility shim), I'd avoid using Linux as a platform. And I'm a (former) pro- I even built my own firewalls with custom kernels on BSD for a while and wouldn't use a *nix box for recording- the support just isn't there.

While you might be able to run Audition on WINE, you would very likely run into issues with your recording interface and lots of little weirdness that would make it very hard to be consistent.

Is it guaranteed to not work? No, you might be able to make it work but in the end, you're just adding one more layer of complexity to the mix that won't make your system more stable.

A better idea might be to determine what's been causing your problems with Windows 7 or switch to the other major platform that many VOs and professionals in studios use- Apple.

Anecdotally, I've been using Windows 7 and 8 since 2010 and have had no problems with stability (knocks wood).

What kind of problems have you been having with Windows 7? Maybe it's something that can be more easily addressed than a switch to Linux.
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Ed Fisher · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 12:56 pm Post subject:

As I've posted before.

I'm a windows guy. But that also means, I've had to become a computer repairman and software technician just to keep it running.

My solution has evolved into the following:

To keep windows happy for critical work.

1. If I get a computer with one hard drive I partition that drive to have 2 hard drives.

2. I make sure that all of my DATA is ONLY on the SECOND harddrive (or partition) This is critical, since you can then keep your Operating System and your Data SEPARATE.

3. I regularly backup the "IMAGE" of both the C and D drive to an external Drive. (In my case I use Acronis)

4. Then when the inevitable happens. Windows starts acting strange. or gets slow. OR...I install a new program and suddenly everything goes to Hell...I don't panic.

5. I simply use the latest C Drive image (or earlier- since Acronis will backup in "increments" which are basically "steps on a ladder") and RETURN my C drive back to the way it was WHEN THE SKY WAS BLUE AND BIRDS WERE SINGING. (listen...I can hear them now)

The key to this is whatever is on C drive when things have turned to CRAP will be completely destroyed and be replaced with a WORKING HEALTHY image in its place. THAT'S why it's important that your DATA be living elsewhere. Because, when you boot up...everything is working great and your Data and information are unchanged.

(note: an IMAGE is vastly different from a simple backup.)

I also have Acronis set up to backup automatically EVER SINGLE DAY. (call me paranoid)

I know this sounds like a commercial. But, this program (and before that "Ghost") has literally SAVED MY LIFE on more than one occasion. ( not saying that their are not other imaging programs out there. this just happens to be mine)

If your livelihood DEPENDS on your Windows Computer working and your DATA is Critical. It's the only way to FLY.

(Your mileage may vary)

vkuehn · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 2:00 pm Post subject:

As Windows versions go, WIN 7 seems to be a "good one". Vista got bad reviews from people I trust so I skipped it.

Windows XP spoiled us. Reasonable lalcking in temperamental spells, a solid workhorse.

If you don't have "teckie patience" to tame Windows 7 into good behavior, my guess is that the learning curve to tame Linux FOR AUDIO would not be a pleasant memory when the day is done.

heyguido · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 2:10 pm Post subject:

What Corey said. +100.
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marcos59 · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 3:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice guys. The issue at the moment seems to be a problem with Microsoft support. Updates are being downloaded but not installed, and trying to troubleshoot just returns error messages. Also there were some rogue programs that were difficult to remove, e.g. usb-audio's asio driver (which messed up the connections to the preamp when trying to use it with Audition 3) and still not sure if they're completely gone. Gave up on the real-time monitoring as a result, though don't know if it's all that necessary anyway.

I guess I just got it into my head that Linux might be simpler but that's obviously not the case. Probably best if I backup all data (and in future more regularly), and reinstall the OS. Plus I'm doing a lot of web development now with Dreamweaver so don't need that going wrong too. Thanks again for all your help.

Bob Stevens · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:28 pm Post subject:

Listen to Corey.... he is on the mark.

Years ago I tried playing with Linux and audio and emulation. Yuck. There are enough audio driver problems with Windows as is. Throw Linux in the mix and it is fubar.
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cyclometh · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:49 pm Post subject:

If you've got updates not being installed, that sounds like a configuration issue with Windows Update or possibly some kind of malware that's causing your system to not be updated. Have you had any issues with malware on your system?

A complete reinstall is certainly an option, the one I call "nuke the site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure". If you do a reinstall, I suggest backing up everything and making sure you actually format the drives on the system when you do so.
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Corey "Vox Man" Snow
http://voxman.net

marcos59 · Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 6:01 am Post subject:

Corey, thanks a million for your help. Got it sorted eventually last night. Now to figure out Audition 3!

Ed Fisher · Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:27 am Post subject:

heyguido · Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:36 am Post subject:

It seems to be a pattern with Microsoft. Every other release is a punt.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Monk · Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:13 pm Post subject:

yep, I use all three systems. My Mac is my primary work machine, solid, dependable and works when I need it. I have a PC for random stuff like flight simulators and cheap software. Then I have an Ubuntu machine, it's a laptop for email and web surfing. An older machine that was too slow for Win7 and it's bloat. Getting a few more years out of it by using Ubuntu.

I wouldn't trust my business to Ubuntu though. We are actually getting away from RedHat and things on the server as well. Their tech support is terrible.
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jsgilbert · Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:27 am Post subject:

I've found that periodically wiping the drive clean, reformatting and re-installing windows OS fresh helps immensely in getting rid of all the crud, crap, hanger onner DLL's, useless programs, etc.

Yes, there are a number of a Hobo Tounge

s that will do an admirable job of cleaning things out, but I still find this works best. You will no doubt have a bit of work ahead of you re-installing programs and updating them and you'll need to be pretty organized regarding passwords, backing up, etc.

Also, with regards to storage, given the relatively low cost of hard drives, I don't think there's ever any reason to not have two separate physical hard drives. This helps considerably with performance. C: drive for programs, D: drive for data. (check the settings under your recording software for scratch tracks and/ or temporary files.)

You might even want to take this opportunity to upgrade your hard drive to a faster or larger storage device, perhaps getting an SSD drive as your c: drive.
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jerrysvoice · Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 2:49 pm Post subject: Linux

I'm late to the conversation. I am running Ubuntu Studio 13.04 version of Linux and Audacity as my editor. I love it but there are some issues that you would have to deal with that are particular to our industry.
Soundstreak and Source Connect to date do not support Linux and probably never will. I think it's a DRM issue, to be honest. Connection Open does work, but so far very few people have embraced it. It's based on Java and Java a Hobo Tounge

s can run in Linux. My system dual boots to Windows7 and I can run the other a Hobo Tounge

s in Windows 7.
Ubuntu Studio does have a program similar to Pro-Tools called Ardour that runs in a Linux server setup called Jack. There's a pretty long learning curve as you would expect with something as robust as Pro-Tools.
I'm a computer geek that doesn't mind the tech stuff. Linux runs pretty smoothly once it is set up. But, you have to watch out for updates since it is open source, things can break and sometime it takes the community a while to fix them. Hope this info helps.
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