[PlanetCCRMA] introductory question. . . .

[Stephen Kelly]

Hey Brian,

I work as Broadcast Technician at CKDU-FM in Halifax.  We've been Unix/Linux
based for a few years now and we use Fedora 3 + ccrma stuff in our production
and on-air computers.  M-Audio's Delta series of audio cards are well 
supported
under alsa so I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get the card working (though
you might want to double check on the alsa web site).

As for the soudcard vs. alsa problem, I would try to run alsaconf as root and
see what you get.  On my machine its found at /usr/sbin/alsaconf
If this doesn't solve your problem feel free to send along any error or info
messages you get and I'll do my best to help out.
I think you'll find that having an internet connection for your production
machine will make maintenance and upkeep 100 times easier.

As for what version of Fedora to go with...  We've been running 3 for over a
year at CKDU and I've been very happy with it.  I also use 3 in a home studio
where we do lots of multi-tracking with Ardour and it has been great (My
computer specs are slightly less than yours).  I'm just starting to look at
Fedora core 5 so I can't really comment on it.  Whatever version you 
choose you
should be able to get things working.  Going with 5 means more time before
you'll be updating but you may run in to more bugs and the like... its hard to
say.

Let me know how it goes,
Stephen



Quoting Brian Heinrich <manager@ckxu.com>:

> I manage a small community-based campus radio station, CKXU 88.3 FM, 
> in Lethbridge, AB.
>
> For reasons that don't bear going into, we've been trying to convert 
> from an M$ shop to a 'N*x shop.  Right now, the only two things that 
> are running 'Doze are our SHOUTcast server and our production box; 
> the former will be converted to 'N*x by the end of summer and we're 
> currently trying to move production away from Windows by putting 
> together a dual-boot box that will allow people doing production to 
> get familiar with the new environment before moving over entirely.
>
> Because we're running a pirated version of Windows -- and because I'd 
> rather keep good relations with IT -- , I'd originally hoped to keep 
> the machine off-line, but it's increasingly looking like that's not 
> going to be possible, because of some problems I've encountered in 
> trying to go the FC 3/CCRMA route.  Not being able to get stuff to 
> install, for instance.  (There was a problem with ALSA and a further 
> problem with the third-party drivers for the sound card.)  That I 
> haven't been able to get any sound hasn't been particularly helpful 
> either.
>
> Our set-up consists of a 1.4 GHz P-IV with 768 MB of PC133 RAM, a 300 
> GB Seagate IDE drive, and an M-Audio Delta 1010LT sound card.  
> Although the 1010LT lacks balanced outputs, it does have two balanced 
> inputs that are mic/line switchable and don't require a separate mic 
> pre.
>
> Output is currently to a Sherwood receiver -- I did mention that 
> we're a cash-strapped campus station, right? -- , which is driving a 
> pair of Epos ELS3s.  (The current plan is to replace the receiver 
> with a Behringer A500 power amp by the end of summer.)
>
> With a bit of finagling, I might be able to get the box on the 
> University's network, so moving to FC 4 or 5 and doing on-line 
> up-dates becomes feasible; so:
>
>   1. for ease of set-up, use, and maintenance, would it make more sense
>      to install FC 4 or FC 5?
>   2. how on earth do I get sound?
>
>
> As to the second question, I did read in the archives about disabling 
> on-board sound in the BIOS and rebooting, which I did.  After 
> rebooting, I ran kudzu to get rid of the on-board VIA chipset.  I 
> then tried to run alsamixer from a term, but there was something 
> (which I neglected to note) that wasn't present, and so it wouldn't 
> run.
>
> Any help you might be able to offer would be greatly appreciated.
>
> /b.
>
> -- 
> Brian Heinrich <manager@ckxu.com>  *  Station Manager  *  CKXU 88.3 FM
> [office] 403.329.2180  *  [cell] 403.331.9122  *  <http://ckxu.com/>
>
> Showcasing, enhancing, and promoting southern Alberta's diversity.
>
>