[linux-audio-user] some thoughts about Linux audio software documentation

[John Check]

On Friday 13 August 2004 05:59 pm, LinuxMedia wrote:
> > Y'know what? All it would take would be for one demo recorded someplace
> > to generate a contract and people would be clamoring for linux audio.
>
> If you're talking about attracting people like *us*... Yes... But, if
> you're talking about everyone else...
>

There's attracting and then there's capturing. 

There is no shortage of unscrupulous people who'll sell a system to people 
that aren't up to the challenge of using it (There's this Japanese guy named 
Roland  who comes to mind ;) and there's no shortage
of people who think the right combination is the ticket to ride.

> "Hi... I'm "Joe WindowsUser'. I just installed Linux."
>
> App_X didn't have sound, so I googled for 3 hours. Apperently, I need to
> run and "audio server" called "Jack". What's an "Audio Server"?
>
> I googled for three hours and found out how to use Jack.
>
> I must be forgetting something because it's still not working.
>
> After gigging all night, I still had time to google and find out that
> there a group called "Linux Audio Users". They will help me.
>
> Got my answer to why Jack isn't working... It was confusing and took 3
> hours to figure out. But now I can connect a mic and record some music.
> But my keyboard doesn't work... What's wrong?
>
> I googled for 3 hours and found out I need to connect "virtual ports"
> together. What the hell is a "virtual port".
>
> Linux Audio Users told me to use "KAConnect" to connect virtual ports.
> But all I saw was stuff like 'Rawmidi 0 - EMU10K1 MPU-401 (UART)'...
> What the hell is 'Rawmidi 0 - EMU10K1 MPU-401 (UART)'? I connected my
> keyboard up the the midi port... where's my midi port in the list?
>
> The next day I got my answer... and everthing was connected up right.
> But they tell me I have to "load the wavetabe". Let me send an email to
> Linux Audio Users and see if they can tell me how to "load the wavetable".
>
> Is there anyone here that thinks we're ready for the "general public"?
>

All of these things are documentation issues. Believe it or not, Windows 
user != drooling imbecile.

There are 2 classes of people that buy music production technology for home 
use. One group looks at MIDI implementation charts, knows what dynamic range 
and headroom are, and refers to the manual. The other group listens to the 
salesman, owns a lot more gear than they actually need and has an active ebay 
account. The general public turns on the radio when it's time for music.




> Rocco