Linux sampler projects, was Re: [linux-audio-user] Some music made with Linux

[Jesse Chappell]

Benno Senoner wrote on Mon, 23-Feb-2004:

 > >There is no guaranteed relative timing between two notes in GSt or LS.
 > >If you send two simultaneous MIDI events to GSt they will start when
 > >they start, just like playing two keys on the piano. They are close to
 > >each other, but they do not begin at exactly the same time.
 > >
 > >In Ardour, you can take the same two wave files as samples and place
 > >them in a track such that their relative timing is known exactly. You
 > >could, for example, play one wave file and then play the next one such
 > >that it sounded exactly right. When the first wave file finishes the
 > >second wave file will start. You will have a sample played on every
 > >clock cycle.
 > >
 > >LS and GSt will not do this. They are MIDI based and certainly there is
 > >jitter and no timing info in MIDI so you just cannot accomplish this
 > >level of control.
 > >  
 > >
 > Not true Mark :)
 > LS does not have this limitation: although the current implementation 
 > for now allows only
 > ALSA MIDI input, Christian added a time stamped event system which was 
 > planned anyway
 >  for accuracy reasons and because it will allow LS to be turned into a 
 > VSTi or AU plugin.
 > If some VSTi like standard and sequencers will arise under Linux, LS can 
 > support such features
 > without needing many modifications to the engine.
 
In addition, work is being done on midi-over-JACK which will provide
sample accurate timestamped midi events via a new jack port type.  Programs
that use this interface will get all the benefits of sample-synced
realtime performance from their sampler/synth, plus the ability
to render accurately non-realtime when JACK is in "freewheel" mode.

jlc