[linux-audio-user] Linux for live performance

[Mark Knecht]

On 3/26/06, Lee Revell <rlrevell at joe-job.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 2006-03-26 at 01:12 +0200, cezar at mixandgo.ro wrote:
> > Hello list,
> >
> > I'd like to know what's the best setup and if it is possible to use Linux
> > on a laptop to replace traditional keyboards. So the requirements would
> > be, zero latency linux supported audio board, linux based sampler/sequencer
> > and STABILITY !
> >
>
> Whether you'll be able to get really low latency is completely dependent
> on the hardware and there's no way to tell ahead of time if a given
> laptop will be suitable for this.  If you buy a laptop for this make
> sure you can take it back if it doesn't work.
>
> IOW you'll just have to try it.  The ideal live Linux box if cost is no
> object IMHO is a portable 1U or 2U case.
>
> Lee

I agree with Lee. My experience is that you cannot tell by a list of
what's in the machine. You have to use it to find out.

For the two laptops I've purchased I took Live CD's to Frys and booted
the machines on the floor and ran Linux on them before I bought. The
guys working there had no real problem with me doing that once they
understood that I would install no software. Frankly I don't think the
sales guys would have cared even if I did. I made sure the machines
would run 4 different Linux distributions. However at that time there
was no low-latency Live CD. Today I think there is on that runs Suse
and has a bunch of audio apps on it. I'd look into making that one
version you try out if you're interested and able to do this. I'd
never buy from a shop or store that didn't allow me to test the basic
model I wanted to buy in the way I wanted to test it.

Hope this helps,
Mark