29 Apr
2008
29 Apr
'08
12:15 p.m.
Dave Phillips a écrit :
Again, I still agree with your basic contention.
Software should never
ignore the user's potential for confusion, especially when the software
in question is complex by nature. Ah, but how to balance access and
power, that is the question. Classic Csound resolves the issue by
tossing it out the window, i.e. you are required to learn its language
or you will be limited by the design limitations of whatever front-end
you prefer (though some are certainly better than others). I don't
disagree with that tack, but it's difficult to attract new users without
giving them polished and shiny GUIs. That's not a complaint, it's just
"where we at" in the general sound & music software world.
Indeed, it's all a question of time. Unfortunately, we can't spend all
the time we want on 'discovering' and this will always somehow lead our path. When
I first found about Csound (man that was years ago) I was baffled because it was all I
ever dreamed of. However, in the long run, I realised its 'interface' made
everything a long crawl. Although it's a mighty program to do experiments, I realised
I could do more interesting stuff with, let's say, a Nord Modular, than Csound. Not
because of the power but because of the hit/miss ratio and the time a whole cycle of test
would take. I haven't tried it since the day of the Csound book tho (I wrote a chapter
in it :) and it is possible it is a lot more friendly now. (I know the nord mod isn't
based on an os, but I find it to be an interesting case.. it's just software after
all)
In other words, if you want a better out-of-the-box
Linux audio
experience then you should open a more appropriate box.
Thanks for pointing that out. I will indeed try. My vaio should, I
guess, be no problem (finger crossed) but how many chance would I get to
run that on a EEE in your opinion ?
Btw, please don't take this commentary as a
personal jab. I truly
believe that more problems come from new (and not so new) users naively
believing that *any* Linux distro is good enough for pro-quality audio
performance, if they just toss in the right kernel, and set those
priorities, and find the necessary drivers and firmware, and tweak those
JACK and ALSA settings... Gahh, what a pile of work, and it usually
results in the conclusion that Linux just isn't up to the task. The
conclusion is wrong because the starting premise (i.e. the distro) was
wrong.
I'm not taking it personally at all, and see, with the discussion, I
learned something. But I wonder why most people (not here but other
sources I chatted with) told me to fiddle with kernel recompilation &
pam security rather than pointing me to a special distro. It's kind of
interesting...
Thanks for sharing your POV, Marc. Please continue to
do so. :)
I will, no problem !
Regards,
Marc.