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Decibel Linux is an actively maintained, source-based, 64-bit desktop real-time Linux audio production system based on Gentoo Linux. It is designed to allow users to have a broad range of audio applications out-of-the-box, and to allow a high level of customization not generally available to other Linux audio distributions – or to Windows or Mac, for that matter. One advantage of having Gentoo as the base for this distro is its package manager, Portage, which has a system of enabling/disabling compile-time options for applications. This means application binaries can be tailored to the user’s computer hardware and the user’s needs. This in turn means more efficient use of the computer’s resources, which is always helpful to running real-time audio applications. Another advantage is that compiled programs can be optimized for the specific systems (specific CPU) they are being run on, making it more efficient than binary-based distributions.
While decibel Linux is not a commercial product – it is free – it is absolutely intended to be a full-fledged, professional audio production system for musicians, composers, audio engineers, computer music programmers, and anyone else needing an audio production system.
There is a sticky in the Multimedia section of forums.gentoo.org. (FGO.) Please post there if you need help or have any questions.
Before beginning an install, please make sure you are using a machine that does not contain any data you wish to keep, and that meets the following criteria:
- 64-bit architecture. 32-bit installs are not supported by Gentoo Studio.
- A modern, multi-core processor.
- High-capacity hard disks with a rotation speed of at least 7200 RPM and/or solid-state drives.
- As much RAM as you can manage.
decibel Linux comes with the following applications:
app-admin/syslog-ng | syslog replacement with advanced filtering features |
app-editors/nano | GNU GPL'd Pico clone with more functionality |
app-portage/cpuid2cpuflags | Tool to guess CPU_FLAGS_* flags for the host |
app-portage/eix | Search and query ebuilds |
app-portage/gentoolkit | Collection of administration scripts for Gentoo |
app-portage/smart-live-rebuild | Check live packages for updates and emerge them as necessary |
app-portage/ufed | Gentoo Linux USE flags editor |
dev-util/geany | GTK+ based fast and lightweight IDE |
dev-vcs/git | Stupid content tracker: distributed VCS designed for speed and efficiency |
gnome-extra/nm-applet | NetworkManager connection editor and applet |
media-plugins/adlplug | FM synthesizer plugin based on OPL3 sound chip emulation |
media-plugins/airwindows | Airwindows is a collection of high-quality plugins by Chris Johnson. |
media-plugins/alsa-plugins | ALSA extra plugins |
media-plugins/argotlunar | Argotlunar is a tool for creating surreal transformations of audio streams. Specifically, it is a real-time delay-line granulator. |
media-plugins/artyfx | Plugin bundle of artistic real-time audio effects |
media-plugins/calf | A set of open source instruments and effects for digital audio workstations |
media-plugins/cardinal | Cardinal is a free and open-source virtual modular synthesizer plugin/wrapper for VCV Rack. |
media-plugins/distrho-ports | Linux ports of Distrho plugins |
media-plugins/dragonfly-reverb | A set of free reverb effects |
media-plugins/drumgizmo | Open source cross-platform drum plugin & stand-alone application. |
media-plugins/fabla | LV2 drum sampler plugin |
media-plugins/lsp-plugins-lv2 | Open-source plugins that include EQs, dynamics, reverb and more. |
media-plugins/odin | 24 voice polyphonic synthesizer with effects, classic and drawn waveforms, and classic filter emulations. (VST3) |
media-plugins/opnplug | FM synthesizer plugin based on OPN2 sound chip emulation |
media-plugins/sorcer | Polyphonic wavetable synth LV2 plugin |
media-plugins/x42-avldrums | AVLinux Drumkits |
media-plugins/x42-plugins | Collection of LV2 plugins |
media-plugins/zam-plugins | Collection of LV2/LADSPA/VST/JACK audio plugins for high quality processing |
media-sound/a2jmidid | Daemon for exposing legacy ALSA sequencer applications in JACK MIDI system |
media-sound/aeolus | A synthesised pipe organ emulator |
media-sound/aliki | An integrated system for Impulse Response measurements |
media-sound/alsa-tools | Advanced Linux Sound Architecture tools |
media-sound/alsa-utils | Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Utils (alsactl, alsamixer, etc.) |
media-sound/amsynth | Virtual analogue synthesizer |
media-sound/ardour | Digital Audio Workstation |
media-sound/arpage | MIDI Arpeggiator w/ JACK Tempo Sync, includes Zonage MIDI splitter/manipulator |
media-sound/audacious | Lightweight and versatile audio player |
media-sound/audacity | Free crossplatform audio editor |
media-sound/bitmeter | Diagnosis tool for JACK audio software |
media-sound/bristol | Synthesizer keyboard emulation package: Moog, Hammond and others |
media-sound/butt | BUTT (Broadcast Using This Tool) is an easy to use, multi OS streaming tool. |
media-sound/cadence | Collection of tools useful for audio production |
media-sound/carla | Fully-featured audio plugin host, supports many audio drivers and plugin formats |
media-sound/chuck | Strongly-timed, concurrent, and on-the-fly audio programming language |
media-sound/din | Software musical instrument and audio synthesizer |
media-sound/fluidsynth | Software real-time synthesizer based on the Soundfont 2 specifications |
media-sound/galan | gAlan - Graphical Audio Language |
media-sound/ghostess | graphical DSSI host, based on jack-dssi-host |
media-sound/gmidimonitor | GTK+ application that shows MIDI events |
media-sound/hydrogen | Advanced drum machine |
media-sound/hydrogen-drumkits | Free drumkits for Hydrogen |
media-sound/jack-rack | JACK Rack is an effects rack for the JACK low latency audio API |
media-sound/jack2 | Jackdmp jack implemention for multi-processor machine |
media-sound/jackmidiclock | This program is a JACK client that sends MIDI beat clock pulses based on the current tempo given by the JACK transport. |
media-sound/jamin | Audio mastering interface for JACK Audio Connection Kit (JACK) |
media-sound/japa | JAPA is a perceptual analyzer for JACK and ALSA |
media-sound/linuxsampler | LinuxSampler is a software audio sampler engine with professional grade features |
media-sound/lmms | Cross-platform music production software |
media-sound/luppp | Live performance looping tool |
media-sound/mixxx | Advanced Digital DJ tool based on Qt |
media-sound/new-session-manager | A tool to assist music production by grouping standalone programs into sessions |
media-sound/patchage | Modular patch bay for JACK-based audio and MIDI systems |
media-sound/pure-data | Visual programming language for multimedia |
media-sound/qjackctl | Qt GUI to control the JACK Audio Connection Kit and ALSA sequencer connections |
media-sound/qmidiarp | Arpeggiator, sequencer and MIDI LFO for ALSA |
media-sound/qsampler | Graphical frontend to the LinuxSampler engine |
media-sound/qtractor | Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer written in C++ with the Qt framework |
media-sound/rosegarden | MIDI and audio sequencer and notation editor |
media-sound/sooperlooper | Live looping sampler with immediate loop recording |
media-sound/terminatorx | Realtime audio synthesizer allowing you to 'scratch' on sampled audio data |
media-sound/timemachine | JACK client record button remembering the last 10 seconds when pressed |
media-sound/tk707 | An 7x7 type midi drum sequencer for Linux |
media-sound/vmpk | Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard |
media-sound/yoshimi | Software synthesizer based on ZynAddSubFX |
net-misc/dhcpcd | A fully featured, yet light weight RFC2131 compliant DHCP client |
net-misc/networkmanager | A set of co-operative tools that make networking simple and straightforward |
sys-apps/usbutils | USB enumeration utilities |
sys-boot/grub | GNU GRUB boot loader |
sys-kernel/genkernel | Gentoo automatic kernel building scripts |
sys-kernel/linux-firmware | Linux firmware files |
sys-kernel/rt-sources | Full Linux 6.1 kernel sources with the CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT patch |
x11-base/xorg-server | X.Org X servers |
x11-misc/lightdm | A lightweight display manager |
x11-misc/mugshot | A lightweight user-configuration application |
xfce-base/xfce4-meta | The Xfce Desktop Environment (meta package) |
xfce-extra/xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin | Alternate application launcher for Xfce |
xfce-extra/xfce4-alsa-plugin | Simple ALSA volume control for xfce4-panel |
xfce-base/xfce4-power-manager | Power manager for the Xfce desktop environment |
Not supported by Gentoo Studio:
32-bit installs | Only 64-bit architectures are supported by Gentoo Studio. |
Gnome/KDE | Monolithic desktops are resource hogs. |
JACK1 | Does not support multi-processor machines. |
Pulseaudio | Gentoo Studio’s audio system centers around ALSA and JACK. Use Pulseaudio at your own risk. |
Screensavers | Screensavers interrupt sessions and consume resources. If you need to leave your session unattended for a while, manually turn off the video monitor if you are concerned about it. |
Streaming servers/radio stations | Running a server of any kind is beyond the scope of Gentoo Studio. |
Virtual machines | Running a digital audio workstation in a VM is not a good idea. |
Gentoo Studio was created by Audiodef out of love for Gentoo, music and audio. All of his personal works of music are done using Gentoo Studio. Gentoo Studio has existed in and evolved into various forms since 2007.
Fine Print
Gentoo Studio is not an official project of the Gentoo Foundation. This site is maintained by Audiodef. The Gentoo Foundation bears no responsibility for the content of this site. The Gentoo logo and Gentoo name are used according to the licensing guidelines set forth by the Gentoo Foundation. The name “Gentoo” and the “g” logo are currently trademarks of the Gentoo Foundation, Inc.The “g” logo in the background is a variant of the “Ripples Gentoo” logo found at http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/desktop/artwork/artwork.xml. This logo was modified under the CC-BY-SA license under which the Ripples Gentoo logo was published.
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