Amateur Media Production on Linux

Its a common misconception that Linux is not robust enough to be a full fledged media editing machine. I've spent quite a while sifting through the tools and putting together an amateur studio. I'll be sharing my insight into the software, hardware, and services that will expedite your endeavours to be a content creator on the Linux Desktop.

We will be covering audio production, distribution, and the hardware to get you started with your own in-house audio workshop. We will also briefly touch the subject of Video content production, and distribution mediums as well.

Transcript

1. Amateur Media Production On Linux
2. Charles Butler @lazypower About Me
3. What I do
4. What I do
5. Why? • To prove it could be done • Relatively low cost of entry • I like the sound of my voice • Houston TX – 90's Electronic Scene • Blow off steam
7. Understanding from the basement up
8. Lets talk about Audio Audio tooling has come a LONG way on Linux
9. Audio Subsystems There are many layers to the Linux Audio Subsystem with many choices on how they are put together.
10. Audio Subsystems
11. Audio Subsystems Alsa • kernel level, provides HW access and Software API • Enabler of many sound-bridge/servers • Runs anywhere the linux kernel does • multiplexing out can be difficult
12. Audio Subsystems Pulse Audio • Layers around Alsa and Port Audio and Jack(!) • has many plugins • supports multi-soundcards • corrects clock drift • notoriously a pain in the butt
13. Audio Subsystems Jackd2 • Best thing since sliced bread • not friendly... • like, at all. • Seriously. • realtime priority for flawless audio • Supports virtual audio devices and Studio production
14. Audio Subsystems • aRts, the KDE 3 soundserver. • Phonon, the multimedia framework provided by Qt 4 and used in KDE 4. • EsounD, the Enlightened Sound Daemon. • NAS, the Network Audio System. • NMM, Network-Integrated Multimedia Middleware.
15. Breakdown • Alsa – its OK for production – Great for everyday usage. • Pulse – You might as well forget doing anything advanced, unless bound as a sync input device for jack. • Jack – AMAZING For production – forget having sound in anything else... Studio use only.
16. Audio Subsystems
17. Audio looks hard
18. In most cases, devices will “just work” (tm)
19. Hardware
20. DIY Studio You can build your own Audio Studio for less than $150 on Amazon.com
21. Hardware Retails for: $?? on Amazon - RUNS LINUX (bonus points for Ubuntu) - ~ 4GB of RAM - 500GB of DISK (I suggest more) A standard desktop computer
22. Hardware Retails for: $28.16 on Amazon - Stereo Mic support - 7.1 Surround Audio - Digital Audio Out - USB 3.0 - ALSA Compliant StarTech 7.1 USB Audio Adapter
23. Hardware Retails for: $61.00 on Amazon - Plug-and-play - Hypercardioid pickup pattern - 16-bit, 48kHz resolution - Smooth, flat frequency response of 20Hz – 18kHz - Warm tones, sometimes booming bass SAMSON C01U Condenser Mic
24. Auxillary HW Retails for: $15.45 on Amazon - Supports most Mics - Recommended to use a shockmount to isolate Noise that originates on the boom arm itself. NEEWER Microphone Suspension Boom
25. Auxillary HW Retails for: $29.95 on Amazon - Isolates mic from physical vibration, floor, and stand noise Samson SP01 Spider Shockmount
26. Total: $ 134.56 (PC not included)
27. This will get you through 90% of your AUDIO workstation needs. Entry level build, perfect for: - Podcasters - Amateur DJ's - Hobbyists
28. What about musicians? Multi-Channel audio inputs? DIY home studio enthusiasts?
29. Hardware Alesis MultiMix 4 USB Four-Channel USB Mixer Retails for: $59.99 on Amazon - Plug-and-play - 2 Channels of XLR inputs w/ gains - High impedance guitar input - Main and Headphone outs with independent levels
30. DJ Gear
31. DJ Gear Retails for: $125.51 on Amazon - Plug-and-play (mostly) - 2 Deck Controller and Mixer Controls - Built in 4 channel playback - Entry Level, but great for cutting teeth. Tiny Jog Wheels kind of suck :( - You wont be scratchmaster skrizzle, but you'll learn to mix like a pro with something like this Hercules DJ Control Instinct
32. D.A.W. D.igital A.udio W.orkstations
33. Open Source
34. LMMS • Fully Open Source • Some DSP Support with LV2 • Multi-Track Multi- Channel MIDI / MOD creation • tracker/sequencer/sy nth
35. Ardour • Fully Open Source • Some DSP Support with LV2 • Multi-Track Multi- Channel audio creation • Supports Live Instrument • Kind of unstable (crash happy, crash often)
36. Proprietary
37. Renoise • Picture doesn't do it justice • Fully programmable API • Supports Tracker style music creation • $89
38. Tracktion6 • Single Screen • DSP Support • Extremely Light Weight • Beginner Friendly • $60
39. Bitwig Studio • DSP Support • Advanced Sound Panels • 3 Modes for editing and creation • Virtual and Real instrument • Patch panel, effecting, and advanced sound routing
40. Bitwig Studio
41. Bitwig Studio Comprehensive But Expensive $299.99
42. Audio Tools (Non DAW)
43. Audacity • Best bang for your buck • Available on every platform • Can be finicky • Used in 100% of my post produced files, for cleanup and noise reduction
44. Ocenaudio • Free but not Libre • All you need for basic podcasting • Lightning Fast audio editing / exporting • Cross Platform • VST Plugin support • Powerful, and beginner friendly
45. Broadcasting (client)
46. Internet DJ Console • Station Automation • Dead simple to use • Supports multiple outputs, inputs, VOIP calling inputs, DJ inputs, Individual level monitoring, soundboards, EQ, Playlists ...
47. MIXXX • Cross Platform • Live Mixing – DJ's • Supports Audio Streaming (picky, unintuitive) • Pro Quality – used by instructors, hobbyists, and some pros
48. Broadcasting (server)
49. Shoutcast • Free but not open • D.N.A.S. is the most widely used setup • Active Listing @ shoutcast.com w/ registration • Mp3 / aac based
50. Icecast • FLOSS • Highly customizeable • Supported by most broadcasters • OGG/Theora based
51. Audio Pipeline
52. Qjackctl
53. Patchage Patchage Software Mixing Retails for: $0 on all platforms that support jack - Supports dry and 'wet' inputs - Patch between soundcards - Patch between applications - Create virtual mix panels to control audio levels (and effects if using a DSP mixer)
55. Audio Sources
56. Fiverr
57. CreativeCommons • Freesound.org • Search.creativecommons.org • Ccmixter.com • Soundcloud.com • Audionautix • Incompetech • CCTrax • AudioFarm
58. Free but not CC • BeatProduction.net • AudioBombs.com (DSP Filters and Instrument Kits) • Freesamplepacks.net • Freedrumkits.net
59. PayToPlay • Beatport • Audio Jungle • DJTechTools • LucidSamples • Loopmasters.com • Vengeance-sound
60. Tips and Tricks
61. Tip 1 Prepare a Script / Setlist
62. Tip 2 Leave 3 seconds of “silence” at the beginning and end of your recording
63. Tip 3 Dry run with any third party tools/people used in the production
64. Tip 4 Use Creative Commons material where you can.
65. Tip 5 Consider mobile users when doing live- streaming.
66. Tip 6 Use caution when changing input pipes on live inputs in Jack.
67. Video
68. Lightworks • Free to use, Subscription to unlock • Moderate learning curve • Hollywood movies have been created with Lightworks
69. OpenShot • FLOSS • Lightweight, fast, and great for home- production • Used by many linux based vodcasts
70. Blender • FLOSS • Really Powerful, like ZOMG • 3d Compositing, and Effects + modelling • Never used it, because blender confuses me
71. Kdenlive • FLOSS • Has a LiveCD Studio Edition • I've never used it
72. Video (RTMP)
73. Jitsi • Audio / Video calls • Desktop Streaming • Call Recording • Encryption • H.264 Video Encoding • Accountless • Open Source
74. Red5 • Open Source • Flash Server written in Java • Difficult setup, limited client support, relies on FLASH for clients
75. Wowza • Commercial / Proprietary • Java Based – simple setup • Has Flash/HTML5 player components • $65/server/mo
76. Video (Broadcasting / utility)
77. Open Broadcaster • FLOSS • Linux is in BETA • A bit buggy, but works really well • Stream & Record • Uses Twitch.tv as an RTMP server (or wowza or red5) • Install Instructions
78. Simple Screen Recorder • FLOSS • Super simple to use, noob friendly • Faster than VLC and ffmpeg/avconv • Can do Live Streaming (experimental)
79. Thats all, Be Creative!
80. Charles Butler @lazypower About Me Questions / Comments?