I’m a long-time Windows user, planning on switching over to Linux and learning Ardour, and I was just wondering about the so-called real-time or RT kernels vs the default one? I want to use a MIDI keyboard so I need very low input latency. Also, how would an RT kernel affect other applications such as videogames and multimedia playback, or can they be switched out when not using Ardour? Sorry if this thread topic borders on what might be more appropriate for the Linux Mint forums, but I just thought I’d ask about it here since the RT kernel would only be for use with Ardour in my case.
For the use case you are describing, I wouldn’t worry about getting the RT kernel. Don’t really know about Mint, but currently it’s just a small tweak you have to make on the default kernel to get RT priorities enabled. With a good buffer size, for recording an instrument at a time, it should be fine. The difference between both modes with low demanding workloads ain’t much, as far as I understand. Also, if you wanted for whatever reason to enable the RT priorities, it is usually a very simple process nowadays, with several tools that streamline the process using a nice GUI.
So, all in all, I would just install Mint and get on it. It is a wonderful distro that can do anything and, is sleek and intuitive. I use my system for Audio work, gaming and multimedia work and it’s the best experience I had, tho’ I use Tumbleweed.
Thankyou for your reply. What if I wanted to track multiple instruments at once? Would it be possible to track two MIDI controllers (electronic drum kit and keyboard) and two mono audio inputs (electronic guitar and bass) at the same time, in real time? I have a decently fast enough machine, but how would Ardour on Linux Mint handle that?
Yeah, sure it can. I would start trying it out with the default settings and if you see the delay isn’t working for you, then tune the system to your preference. But of course it can and routing is better and easier than in windows really.
Of course, everything depends mostly on your PC specs.
I use Mint (LMDE 6) on a laptop and a desktop and find performance to be better with the Liquorix kernal than with either stock or RT. But it’s all fairly subjective because it depends a lot on hardware config.
Luckily it’s easy to install and remove kernels so you can try a couple of different ones and see which works best for you
Welcome to the wonderful world of Linux audio by the way.
If you are new to Linux, audio can be intimidating on Linux to set up correctly. I would recommend you take a look at AVLinux to get you started so you don’t have to worry about things like the kernel setup as much as it is already set up for you in a way that works for Glenn for his audio work. You can expand out from there, but at least that would likely get you started on a good foot.
Right, I second this if you are truly focused on multimedia production. But I have no idea of how it works in terms of gaming. Should work alright tho, but I think Mint has better “new Linux user experience” tools overall. I really love both distros, tho’ I always recommend Mint to newcomers. @ArdourAvenger I personally use Tumbleweed which has a user made repository will all the foss audio tools you could imagine, and have no issues gaming.
If you are going with Mint, you could try this tool to help you configure everything for RT work if you want to: Libre Arts - Millisecond helps set up Linux for real-time audio
All kernels should be capable of doing RT since 6.12. I think you can check with: sudo cat /sys/kernel/debug/sched/preempt
If it returns a list that contains full than your kernel can do RT. If full isn’t between parentheses then you’re not running in RT mode but you could try switching to it with: echo full | sudo tee /sys/kernel/debug/sched/preempt
Using preempt_RT still requires compiling with that option specifically enabled. You can only switch between preempt-voluntary and preempt-full using the kernel boot command line option. That is why even distributions which ship with dynamic preempt still ship a separate kernel-rt package.
I’m currently using a Roland Quad-Capture but I’m planning on switching to Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (4th gen) when I’m getting a new PC and switching over to Linux Mint.
So USB? Then lower latencies should be possible with a stock kernel. Especially if you connect your USB device to a USB port that isn’t shared with other peripherals.
In truth your individual computer and what components and peripherals it has is by far the biggest performance affecting thing you will encounter. As @autostatic said uncluttered IRQ’s can make a huge difference. As someone who has been shipping a multimedia Distro for many years with the entire performance checklist done already it is nothing short of incredible the differences in latency that people report both extremely good and extremely bad all on the same O.S./D.E. with the same kernel and the same performance tweaks… The only explanation is the difference in hardware between all these machines…
In my own Studio I opt to use full mixers with multi-channel USB connectivity, this way for Audio recording at least you can use the no latency mixer hardware monitoring and not obsess about getting latency down to inaudible levels on the Audio device itself. This of course doesn’t suit everyone and requires a significant investment in the mixer itself but I haven’t even had to think about latency for many years.
Do you happen to have a link to a good write-up on this matter?