[LAU] Small instrument hardware module

[Patrick Shirkey]

On Tue, October 21, 2014 1:12 am, Len Ovens wrote:
> 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.
>

Unfortunately the Rockchip series are completely crap for realtime audio.
Allwinner chips provide a better all round developer experience.


> 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.
>

--
Patrick Shirkey
Boost Hardware Ltd