Question about JACK audio interface.
from WeebLife@lemmy.world to linux@lemmy.ml on 13 Jun 22:23
https://lemmy.world/post/16498429

Hi everyone, I got my e-drum kit to successfully work in reaper, using yabridge for the VSTs. Shortly after, I found another way in which linux audio is different than windows. While using reaper, I am unable to play audio from any other source. Through research, I discovered that it’s because I’m using ALSA and that I need to use JACK instead. I looked up guides on how to setup JACK and qctl and was unsuccessful. I came across a video explaining different problems with JACK and it mentioned that using a pcs built in audio card may not be able to handle the audio in JACK. Right now, it seems like I need to come up with a different solution. But I thought I would ask here and see if I have any other options. I don’t have any external dacs, but I do have my desktop pc that still has windows so I’m thinking of giving up on using my linux laptop for my music needs.

Tldr- want to use reaper while watching YouTube vids. Alsa won’t allow that, and jack isn’t working on my laptop.

#linux

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skami@sh.itjust.works on 13 Jun 22:34 next collapse

Maybe look into PipeWire, Reaper in jack mode works fine connected to PipeWire for me, without any of the problems you mentioned.

It is quite possible that your desktop audio already uses PipeWire depending on your distribution, you would need to look at latency settings if you want live playback.

OhYeah@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 13 Jun 22:39 next collapse

Also works for me. Been using PipeWire as my audio server for over a year while doing music production and happy with it

possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip on 13 Jun 23:38 collapse

Username checks out

OhYeah@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 14 Jun 03:27 collapse

Oh yeah

WeebLife@lemmy.world on 14 Jun 00:15 next collapse

I’m using linux mint. And sorry, but I’m a noob wktu audio software. I’m pretty sure I already have pipewire, but I’ll double check. Are you saying to try pipewire instead of qctl?

ProgrammingSocks@pawb.social on 14 Jun 01:52 collapse

There is no need to use external programs anymore unless you want some kind of special behaviour (like the plugboard that qjackctl gives you). Pipewire has reimplemented Pulseaudio, ALSA, and JACK, which at one point in time were 3 separate projects.

Pipewire emulates all 3 seamlessly. So when you run a program through JACK, pipewire picks it up pretending to be normal JACK. To the program, it looks like you have a standard JACK server, but on the backend, it’s running through Pipewire instead. You should get the same low-latency too.

Do make sure you have pipewire-jack or the equivalent package installed.

wiki.archlinux.org/title/PipeWire

WeebLife@lemmy.world on 14 Jun 05:50 next collapse

Would you recommend JACK for low latency inputs and allowing me to play along to songs on YouTube? I was able to get it work with pulse audio but the latency was too high.

WeebLife@lemmy.world on 19 Jun 21:32 collapse

Alas, I have been defeated. My smooth brain wasn’t able to figure out linux audio. But I found another solution. My drum kit has audio pass through, so I connect my laptop via aux cable to my drum kit input and my headphones to my drum kit output. That allows me to play along with songs on my laptop. The trade off is I’m stuck with the built in drum sounds on my kit, which aren’t as good as VSTs in reaper… but at least I found a solution.

WeebLife@lemmy.world on 15 Jun 21:54 collapse

I tried this, but when I use JACK in reaper, the audio is all messed up. I’m just gonna give up and find a different solution. Thanks for the help tho

smpl@discuss.tchncs.de on 14 Jun 08:43 collapse

You need to use a dmix PCM for you card as output.

If you type aplay -L | grep dmix it’ll show you a list of dmix devices. You can set one as the default if you create a file named .asoundrc in your homefolder with the content:

pcm.!default {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "dmix:CARD=Set,DEV=0"
}

You of course replace the value of slave.pcm with your desired card name. I just gave one of mine as an example. The above default configuration also takes care of automatic conversion, via the plug pcm, for different samplerates and formats to the settings the hardware is set up to use. Every program that use ALSA for output will read the above file, but you need to restart a program for changes to take effect.

If you enjoy audio production I’m sure you’ll find some good use for Jack, but for audio mixing all you need is to use an ALSA dmix pcm for output.

WeebLife@lemmy.world on 15 Jun 21:24 collapse

I tried my best, but it’s a no go. As I mentioned, I’m a smooth brain linux noobie… the only dmix devices I have are PCH, and a bunch of different Nvidia ones. I tried setting the device to PCH and Nvidia but nothing worked. I’m just going to find a different solution. Thanks for the help tho