[linux-audio-dev] Audio synchronization, MIDI API

[John Check]

On Monday 16 August 2004 03:07 pm, Dave Robillard wrote:
> On Sat, 2004-08-14 at 16:07, Benno Senoner wrote:
> > The onlyproblem I envision if you want to synchronize multiple audio
> > cards over the network.
>
> I think jack-over-eth would be most useful for using seperate machines
> to take off the DSP load and send the audio back to the master machine
> which would have the audio interface (like that VST powercore stuff).
>

That was exactly what I was thinking when the penny dropped for me. 
Originally I was thinking of offload the softsynths, but FX are expensive too. 
The ideal is to make a total system, but make it modular, and give it the 
ability to connect with existing commercial systems via a VST counterpart to 
the plugin.
We need to take over incrementally and this is a killer strategy to get a 
toehold. 
If I had about $20k, I'd be booking a booth for the winter NAMM already.
Once I've got the demo code buildable, raising the capital is a strong 
possibility. I'm pretty sure I have the talent to tap to get that bit done 
now that the picture is in focus.
No penguins, no Linus, no ESR, just a box that works well with existing 
systems because that's all that matters.
It wouldn't be too hard to talk another vendor into participating with demoing 
some cross-platform-over-the-network-capability, but just a two node cluster 
of Linux boxes and a good pitch would be a start. One wouldn't be obliged to 
go whole hog with linux.

> That way you could run a big expensive synth on another machine and just
> have it send it's outputs back via jack (so really you wouldn't even
> know it's running on another machine - just another jack port)
>

Yes. A black box with an AC line in and an RJ45. And we have remote GUI
natively which is a crowd pleaser.

> I'm sure someone out there would have a use for syncing cards over the
> network, but personally I can't think of a reason it'd be useful, and
> it's certainly not worth the effort (if it's possible at all, which I
> doubt)
>

I would have to agree. One of the things that appealed to me about the 
implementation as a plug in is that it doesn't require a sound card. 
A mobo, a 1u rack case, some flash media and an LED front panel and it's
just another piece of outboard gear.

> -DR-