Open source software is just amazing. I've been working on turning an old laptop into a multi-track audio production station using all open source software. Key steps so far:
1. Install Ubuntu on the old laptop. Create an ISO bootable install disk on any windows computer with a CD-R drive using image available at the Ubuntu site.
2. Use the Ubuntu software center to install Ardour, Hydrogen Drum Machine, JACK, QjackCtl, and JAMin. Ardour is the multi-track app. JACK is an audio manager. QjackCtl provides a visual interface for JACK. JAMin is a mastering application.
3. Get a USB-based audio interface working. This has been the most "fun" part so far. I have an old TASCAM US-122. An amazing group of developers has worked on a universal audio and midi system called ALSA, and one of them has reverse engineered firmware and drivers for the US-122. Using the Ubuntu software center I also installed alsa-firmware-loaders, fxload, and alsa-tools. More details on getting this working in the next post.
A new educational focus is emerging in some institutions of higher education. These schools are taking an interdisciplinary approach to educating tomorrow’s information professionals, by mixing together science, technology, social science, and design. These new programs are beginning to educate students in these new professions – not as programmers or coders or software developers, but as professional analysts, architects, and creators of our planet’s critical information infrastructure.
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