4-track recording and editing with Ubuntu PC

ehutch,
          Take a look at the Jokosher package. It is specifically made for multitrack recording/editing. I believe it is capable of all of the things you are looking for (multi source, from multiple cards).

Thank you Matt for the reply to my question.

I have downloaded Jokosher and am learning how to use it. I noticed
that the installation instructions (on the project web site) say that
there is a problem with Gstreamer and Gnonlin with respect to Feisty
7.04 and that the program will not work properly if installed with the
synaptic package manager. Perhaps this has been fixed. I used
Synaptic with 7.04 on the assumption that some time has passed and it
may be fixed. Is that a bad idea? I am not sure I want to start
recompiling plugins that are, or may be, working fine for other apps.

I installed a second sound card in my old PC Now have ES1370 and ES1371
showing up in the hardware profile. I have not been able to get the
"instruments" to connect to mic or line inputs for recording. I believe
the line inputs are "stereo" and so I should be able to see 4 total line
inputs, or two mono mic inputs with two cards. I believe I see only two
line inputs and two mic inputs but don't seem to be able to record and
play back from those inputs. I have downloaded the Users Guide and
will spend some more time with it.

I have been able to import audio files from the HD OK except that when
importing from a FLACK file that was saved as (stereo) into an
"instrument" only one track seems to be imported (or they may be mixed?
into a single track?).

I have also downloaded Ardour, and don't seem to be able to connect the
line inputs to the tracks with it either. It seems to have a lot more
features than I need, and may take some time to figure out how to
operate at even a basic level. I'm probably not the sharpest crayon in
the box.

I have to figure out how to use the programs before I ask for more help,
but I thought I would at least thank you for your reply to let you know
that I got it and have tried the program at least superficially.

Thanks again.
Ed

>

Ed,
    Unfortunately, I don't actually USE Jokosher, I have just heard reference to it. However, taking a peak at the Jokosher homepage (jokosher.org) indicates that they have instructions for installing under Feisty. (here: http://www.jokosher.org/download).

    With regards to all the files ending up mono... here is what I just found on the forums:

====================
laszlok
Jokosher Developer

Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 52
Location: Ottawa, Canada

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:30 am Post subject: Reply with quote
Everything is recorded in the format that your sound card gives. So one microphone is one channel. With imported tracks we just realized that because of how the ladspa effects work we are unintentionally downgrading everything to mono. This will be fixed in 1.0.

====================

One thing to check on the sound cards to ensure that you can record.... go into alsamixer, and ensure your Mics aren't muted ;)

     --Matt

Matt,

Thank you for the immediate response. I checked to be sure that the mic
was not muted in ALSA. I say "it" because I can only see one card, but
it is not muted. It comes up on the left channel with Audacity ... and
records, and plays back OK.

If I "connect" to the mic input in Jokosher it appears to record,
although there is no VU meter to monitor the input, but no waveform is
created in the track. The cursor moves to the right marking off time as
if it were trying to record. Then when recording is stopped there is a
message that the track is loading. The track area "recorded" is white
(while the rest of the track is tan) there is a label that says
"Recorded audio", but nothing plays back, and there is no waveform, as
there is with an imported file.

There is also an annoying habit. Sometimes when the "Stop" button is
pushed the whole program quits. This happens in either play or record.
It may be because of my Synaptic installation of Jokosher. I suppose I
should use Synaptic to uninstall and then reinstall it with the
directions given on the Jokosher home page for installation in Feisty.
I am reluctant to introduce something that will make complications with
the OS upgrade that will certainly be out soon. The upgrade from Dapper
was flawless. I have come to have great faith in the Ubuntu dev team
and the automated management with Synaptic is great.

Thanks for the explanation of the mono from stereo from the flac file
import. I have ver 0.1 so until 1.0 that would be normal behavior.

I think I may need to learn something about JACK which I believe is used
to stand between the hardware and ALSA , since only one card shows up in
ALSA I must have some configuration error with the second card. The
odd thing is that the original card is now invisible and the second one
became the default. Both show up in the "Device Manager". Now when I
play CD's with the VLC Media Player they skip as if there competition
for system resources. I expect that there is some interference between
the two cards. Sound Juicer still plays OK (but through the second
card). Audacity plays but there is loss of sync between the two tracks,
a very interesting effect but I liked it better the way it was. I guess
I should yank the second card.

I think I will wait at least for V1.0 before spending a lot more time
with Jokosher. The inability to call up stereo or multi track files is
a serious drawback.

I suppose I should spend some money for a 4x4 sound card. Is there one
that works with ALSA and is relatively cheap? What software, if any,
would work?

I really like Audacity ... if only it could handle 4 inputs.

Thanks again for your help.

Ed

Matt Mossholder wrote:
> Your question #13546 on gnome-media in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-media/+question/13546
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Matt Mossholder proposed the following answer:
> Ed,
> Unfortunately, I don't actually USE Jokosher, I have just heard reference to it. However, taking a peak at the Jokosher homepage (jokosher.org) indicates that they have instructions for installing under Feisty. (here: http://www.jokosher.org/download).
>
> With regards to all the files ending up mono... here is what I just
> found on the forums:
>
> ====================
> laszlok
> Jokosher Developer
>
>
> Joined: 18 Jul 2006
> Posts: 52
> Location: Ottawa, Canada
>
> PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:30 am Post subject: Reply with quote
> Everything is recorded in the format that your sound card gives. So one microphone is one channel. With imported tracks we just realized that because of how the ladspa effects work we are unintentionally downgrading everything to mono. This will be fixed in 1.0.
>
> ====================
>
> One thing to check on the sound cards to ensure that you can record....
> go into alsamixer, and ensure your Mics aren't muted ;)
>
>
> --Matt
>
>

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.

I gave up on trying to use Jokosher with 2 stereo sound cards.
I would be pleased to know of any inexpensive way to record 4
simultaneous input channels to an Ubuntu PC (saving all four tracks to
disk un-mixed).
I would like to know if anyone has been successful using an inexpensive
4-track sound card with Ubuntu. If so what card? What software?
Audacity would be my first choice of software but I don't know if it is
capable of multi-track recording. I don't think it is.

Thanks.
Ed

Launchpad Janitor wrote:
> Your question #13546 on gnome-media in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-media/+question/13546
>
> Status: Open => Expired
>
> Launchpad Janitor expired the question:
> This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state
> without activity for the last 15 days.
>
>

Thanks.

I have been reading about using "raw input" with Audacity. It allows raw input of lots of tracks.

I have also been following another thread of a user trying to use an M-Audio Delta 44 PCI soundcard (I opened another window to look up the thread and the spelling of the Delta 44 and got a bit lost. I'm sure I can relocate that thread.

The Delta 44 is about $150, and a bit more than I had hoped to spend but not out of range. Assuming the other thread is solved OK then I will probably get a Delta 44. It will take the four outputs from my mic mixer and I should be set up.

Thanks again.

Ed