JackLab/JAD Getting Started

From openSUSE

Introduction

Thank you for downloading and trying the JackLab Audio Distribution (JAD). We hope that you will have many hours of pleasure creating, editing and mastering music with this special re-mastered version of the acclaimed openSUSE 10.2 Linux distribution.

At JackLab we have gone to great lengths to fine-tune openSUSE for optimal audio performance. We have stripped away resource-hogging services and programs to ensure that as much memory and CPU resources are available for your music but keeping a level of usability to make sure that any everyday tasks that you need to do can be easily accomplished.

We are in the process of creating an extensive online help system to assist your learning of JAD and the applications it contains.

First Steps

We assume that you have successfully installed JAD onto your computer. For installation specific help, we suggest you look:

• Installation instruction can be found on openSUSE's website here
• Hardware compatibility can be checked here

JAD specific install tips

Currently, with JAD alpha1, there are a bare minimum of tools with the Enlightenment install. There is also a known bug with Entrance - e17's login manager where keyboard input doesn't work.

As a workaround to these problems, we suggest that you follow these steps:

1. On install, select KDE as your preferred desktop environment. This will install KDM as the login manager rather than Entrance and install the KDE tools you need for everyday computer tasks.
2. After installation, use YaST2 to install the Enlightenment window manager. Go to 'Software' then 'Software Management'. Under filter, select 'Patterns'. There you can see different software categories.
3. Under 'Graphical Environments', select 'E17 Desktop-Shell'. There you should see the packages that it will install in the window pane on the right. Make sure you untick 'Entrance' otherwise it will install the entrance login manager and you may have problems logging in.
4. Select 'Accept' to install e17 without the entrance login manager.

Add YaST2 installation sources

This step adds additional internet resources (called repositories) to install additional system updates and audio software.

For openSUSE 10.2 you can simply use the additional YaST install sources. Simply copy each link shown in the box below and paste into the URL field in YaST by clicking on 'Installation Source', then the 'Add' button as shown in the screenshot below:

Click on the 'Add' button to create a new source

After clicking 'Add', select the 'Specify URL' option and then click 'Next'. You will be presented with an empty text field where you can paste the copied URL.

Additional YaST Sources

JackLab       - ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/linux/misc/jacklab/SUSE-10.2/RPMS
Packman       - ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/packman/suse/10.2
Main          - ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/opensuse/distribution/10.2/repo/oss
Non-OSS       - ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/opensuse/distribution/10.2/repo/non-oss

JackLab The JackLab repository is used for updates to the audio realtime kernel and other updates/enhancements from the JackLab Team.

Packman The Packman repository has additional professional audio software, multimedia codecs, ALSA updates and a lot more for openSUSE Linux. Please use a mirror if possible as traffic can become quite high.

openSUSE 10.2 installation source Contains additional software to the 5 installation CDs or DVD

openSUSE 10.2 Non-OSS Contains additional software not open-source, flash for example

See also the official openSUSE package repositories page for more information on further official repositories or the openSUSE non-official repositories for third party repositories.

If you have any suggestions for professional audio software which isn't in any of the repositories, please post in the Jacklab wishlist section of the Jacklab Forum here

Installing the Realtime Kernel

Currently, the JackLab optimised realtime kernel is not installed as default. However, it is a simple matter to install the realtime kernel after the initial installation.

Note: Make sure that you have the JAD install DVD in the DVD drive as this is the installation source for the realtime kernel.

1. Open YaST2
2. Click 'Software Management'
3. Do a search for 'kernel-rt' - without the quote marks
4. In the result window pane on the right, select the kernel-rt package for installation
5. Click 'Accept' to install the kernel.
6. When YaST2 asks you if you wish to install any more software, say no.
7. Reboot to boot into the realtime kernel

Setting Up and Plugging In

The next job is to configure your soundcard for the Jack Audio Connection Kit (JACK) sound server. The JACK server is the heart of your Linux based Digital Audio Workstation and it is important to configure it correctly for optimal performance.

See the JackLab/JACK first steps tutorial for steps to configure JACK.

Using Enlightenment

Enlightenment DR17 as used in JAD is a very lightweight but versatile and beautiful looking window manager. It does take a little getting used to and can take a bit of time setting it up to exactly the way you like it. Don't worry, it is not as difficult as you think and with each update of Enlightenment, it gets easier.

This section will explain how to configure e17 to your tastes and how to do everyday tasks.

The official documentation for Enlightenment is here

Note: If you wish to add further desktop modules to e17, you will need to install them in YaST2:

1. Open YaST2 and go to 'Software Management'
2. Search for 'enlightenment' in the filter box - without the quotation marks
3. In the results that show in the window pane on the right, select 'ewl', 'epplet-base' and 'e_modules' for installation
4. Click 'Accept' to install the software

Using Windows VST plugins

There are currently two ways to use Windows VST plugins: fst and dssi-vst. Dssi-vst offers better all round support and uses the LGPL licence that allows us to distribute a binary package that is easy to install. Fst, on the other hand, uses the GPL licence which means that each user has to compile the binary file him/herself. If you wish to use Ardour with VST support you need fst.

• The tutorial for setting up dssi-vst for Windows VST standalone use and with Rosegarden is here
• The tutorial for compiling Ardour2 with Windows VST support via fst is here