Linux Rock Star

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

JACK - The Cable Guy

Welcome back to Linux Rock Star. Today we'll take a brief look at JACK.

From the JACK homepage:
"JACK is a low-latency audio server, written for POSIX conformant operating systems such as GNU/Linux and Apple's OS X".

Jack is a way of hooking up your music applications to each other. For example, ALSA Modular Synth is used to record a synth pad. Ardour is used to record it. How do you get the signal from ALSA Modular to Ardour? JACK provides a connection that is direct and so the sound played back is exactly as it is generated. Alternately, the sound may be altered with the use of effects, which can also be "plugged" though in JACK.

This is a very useful system and can be used with a wide range of apps. Many have adopted the standard though some apps are not JACK compliant.

One useful feature you may not have tried is the Patchbay. The Patchbay remembers whatever settings you have saved and can have multiple configurations. It may be more convenient not to have to hook up your entire application setup every time you record. It can also be used to jumpstart your creativity this way. One could have different configurations for whatever style of music you are in the mood for. Feeling like techno? Hook up some 303 VSTi's through FST or DSSI-VST into your sequencer and start cranking some bass. Feel like guitar setup? You could have a tuner routed in and a meter bridge to analyze your signal.

Here are some links: