[LAU] Small instrument hardware module

[Len Ovens]

On Mon, 20 Oct 2014, rosea grammostola wrote:

> Is it possible to install JACK etc. and for instance Pianoteq on a device
> like this, to create your own instrument module?
> 
> http://www.rikomagic.com/en/product/showpro_id_58_pid_22.html

It "looks" like it "should" be possible. It uses Ubuntu's Arm repos which 
if they do not include jack, do include all the build tools to make it 
with. There may be no FPU, so that may limit what sound modules will 
build.

What I am saying is that this is a "set top box" made to do TV kinds of 
things. The Ubuntu repos for the Arm will include those things people have 
spent the time to do for the Arm achitecture. So I would expect to have to 
build some of the things I wanted. It is impossible to know how well the 
audio HW is set up, if it has it's own irq, if it is 16bit/48k, etc. Is 
there a lowlatency kernel ready made or will you need to roll your own? 
(Is the hw put together in a way it will work without?) Control would have 
to be USB or ethernet as there is no serial port to play with. The WIFI 
may be more of a liability than a help for music (it has to be turned off 
on this netbook).

Basically, it comes down to, what is the cost? Is it cheap enough I can 
use it for something else if it doesn't work? The only way to find out for 
sure is to buy and try.

For stage use, it may need to be "reboxed" with good road worthy 
connectors, USB stuff always plugged in or at least wired out to good 
quality pannel USB plugs. 1/8 wired to 1/4 inch plus etc.

--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net