If you haven’t tried linux, you really are missing something. In the 10 years that I have tried and retried linux, it has changed immensely. I can remember not being able to load the desktop on my first go around because I had slightly non-mainstream video card. And I’m not talking too far out of the mainstream. Since then, I have grown in my linux acumen. And it seems that linux has completely out-paced my own knowledge growth. Linux now sports just about any software need you may have, and some. Let’s look at 2 particular software projects that caught my eye recently. But believe me when I say this, there are literally thousands and thousands more that you can delve into. Seriously, you should give linux a try!
I have been watching for the release of UbuntuStudio for a while now. I was pleased to see on my latest check that it is ready for release. UbuntuStudio is a completely free audio, video, and graphics Ubuntu version. Here is a list of the apps you can expect to find in this lovely distro:
Audio
- aconnectgui – graphical ALSA sequencer connection manager
- alsa-tools
- alsa-tools-gui
- audacity – Swiss army audio editor
- ardour – Digital audio workstation (graphical gtk interface)
- beast – music synthesis and composition framework
- bitscope – diagnosis tool for JACK audio software
- creox – real-time guitar effects
- denemo – A gtk+ frontend to GNU Lilypond
- timemachine – JACK audio recorder for spontaneous and conservatory use
- gtick – Metronome application
- hydrogen – Simple drum machine/step sequencer
- jackbeat – audio sequencer
- jackd – JACK Audio Connection Kit (server and example clients)
- jackeq – routes and manipulates audio from/to multiple sources
- jack-rack – LADSPA effects “rack” for JACK
- jack-tools – various JACK tools: plumbing, play, udp, ctl, scope, clock
- jamin – Audio mastering from a mixed down multitrack source with JACK
- jdelay – A small command line JACK app you can use to measure the latency of your sound card.
- lilypond-data – LilyPond music typesetter (data files)
- lilypond – A program for typesetting sheet music
- meterbridge – A collection of Audio meters for the JACK audio server
- muse – Qt-based midi/audio sequencer
- patchage – modular patch bay for Jack audio and Alsa Midi
- qamix – Configurable mixer for ALSA
- vkeybd – Virtual Keyboard program
- qjackctl – User interface for controlling the JACK sound server
- puredata – realtime computer music and graphics system
- rosegarden4 – music editor and MIDI/audio sequencer
- timidity – Software sound renderer (MIDI sequencer, MOD player)
- seq24 – Real time MIDI sequencer
- shaketracker – MIDI sequencer with tracker GUI
- sooperlooper – Looping Sampler LADSPA plugin
- swami – SoundFont editor
- csound – powerful and versatile sound synthesis software
- tapiir – A tool for real time audio delay and feedback effects
- freqtweak – Realtime audio frequency spectral manipulation
- mixxx – A digital DJ interface (for beat-mixing)
- terminatorx – A realtime audio synthesizer
- audatious -
- zynaddsubfx – Realtime software synthesizer for Linux
- fluidsynth – Real-time MIDI software synthesizer
- bristol – vintage synthesizer emulator
- freebirth – Bass synthesizer/sample player/sequencer similar to Rebirth
- qsynth – fluidsynth MIDI sound synthesiser front-end
- tk707 – drum sequencer for a sound card or MIDI device
- linuxsampler – software audio sampler
- linux-image-rt – Low latency kernel
Video
- pitivi – Video editor
- cinepaint – A painting and image retouching program designed to work best with 35mm film and other high resolution high dynamic range images.
- ffmpeg – Multimedia player, server and encoder
- ffmpeg2theora – Theora video encoder using ffmpeg
- kino – A non-linear editor for Digital Video data
- stopmotion – A program for creating stop motion animation.
- dvgrab – Grab digital video data via IEEE1394 links
- jahshaka – (not in the repos and deferred until next upstream release.)
- cinelerra – (not in the repos and deferred until license issues are worked out)
Graphics
- inkscape – A vector-based drawing program.
- blender – A very fast and versatile 3D suite for modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback.
- gimp – A raster-based drawing program.
- gimp-gap – GAP is a collection of plug-ins to extend the GIMP with capabilities to edit and create animations and movies as sequences of single frames.
- gimp-print – Print plugin for the GIMP
- gimp-dcraw – A plug-in to import RAW images.
- f-spot – A personal photo management application.
- scribus – A open source desktop page layout program.
- fontforge – Font Editor for PS, TrueType and OpenType fonts.
- gnome-raw-thumbnailer – a thumbnailer for GNOME that will make thumbnails for camera RAW files.
- xsane – GTK+-based X11 frontend for SANE. (Scanner Access Now Easy)
- wacom-tools – Software for you Wacom drawing pad.
- hugin – An easy to use cross-platform GUI for Panorama Tools.
- synfigstudio – A vector 2D based animation package (GUI)
- agave – Colorscheme generator.
- enblend – A tool for compositing images.
- yafray – A modern, xml-speaking raytracing-based rendering system
- nautilus-image-converter – nautilus extension to mass resize images
You can get it for free and give it a try. Now, let’s move on to the LinuxMCE project. In case you’re wondering, MCE stands for Media Center Edition. Maybe a video will be best here:
And also this one:
As you can see, LinuxMCE is full featured and very nice. Again, go download it and give it a try – it’s free!
It’s hard to beat FREE especially when it’s high quality. I’m definitely going to have to try this release out. Any idea how this stacks up against mythtv ?
I’ll have to give Linux a whirl when I get time.