AV Linux MX Edition is here!

[mluizescu]

Hi @AVLinux ,

Is there any way to get the sources for the latest -rt kernel (5.9.1-rt20avl1)? I need to recompile the snd-usb-audio module to add support for one of my soundcards.
Thanks in advance!

[AVLinux]

Hi!

The only thing I don't do in AV Linux is the Kernels, they are maintained by another person and it appears that perhaps the sources for the most recent 5.9.1 were not tagged posted on the Github page:
https://github.com/musical-chairs/linux/tags

Let me see if I can get that done.. In the meantime...

So I don't have a quick and easy way to do it but as it happens I custom compiled the 5.9.1-rt19 Kernel for AVL-MXE 32bit version (Trulan only does 64bit AVL Kernels now) and I made these notes for myself:

*SUGGESTED GUIDE TO BUILDING AN RT KERNEL WITH GIT

1. You should determine what the most recent RT Patch is and for which kernel version it applies.. Look at this web page:
https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/lin ... ojects/rt/

2. Let's use 5.9.1-rt19 as an example.. So first fetch the kernel source code with 'git clone':
git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git linux

3. When the cloning of the Stable Kernel source has completed, change directory to the 'linux' directory:
cd linux

4. In order to build the kernel with RT Preemption we need to add a git remote for the RT Source code:
git remote add rt-stable https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/ke ... ble-rt.git
git remote add rt-devel https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/ke ... -devel.git

5. Now fetch the RT remote sources to your 'linux' directory:
git fetch --all

6. Then checkout the source code for the kernel which in our example is 5.9.1-rt19:
git checkout v5.9.1-rt19

7. When the checkout has completed successfully you will likely want to import the configuration of your current kernel:
cp /boot/config-`uname -r`* .config

8. If you want to browse or make changes to the current config then run the configuration utility 'xconfig'
make xconfig

9. Once configuration is complete you can build your kernel and create Debian packages:
make deb-pkg

[walker]

Hi @AVLinux ,

Am also interested in the sources for the latest kernel 5.9.1-rt20avl1, mainly to try and investigate a latency issue for which I would recompile the kernel with CONFIG_LATENCYTOP, to use it from a live iso. Since I presume I'd need to apply the AVL patches too, if alternatively I were to follow Your helpful notes.

Cheers!

[AVLinux]

Hi @AVLinux ,

Am also interested in the sources for the latest kernel 5.9.1-rt20avl1, mainly to try and investigate a latency issue for which I would recompile the kernel with CONFIG_LATENCYTOP, to use it from a live iso. Since I presume I'd need to apply the AVL patches too, if alternatively I were to follow Your helpful notes.

Cheers!

Hi,

Well at this point in time we have no actual 'AVL' patching, the biggest thing that was custom patched previous to the move to MX Linux that really had nothing to do with Audio work was the 'aufs' modules because they were required for our previous ISO creation utility. So the guide above really is what we are working with; really just the usual RT patches. If you want to experiment simply import the existing 5.9.1 config as shown in the guide and make your changes then build your new Kernel.

I am strongly considering getting out of the Kernel business completely for the next AVL-MXE release based on Bullseye. RT is becoming more trouble than it is worth in various ways and the performance benefits are visible only to a tiny amount of users it seems and nVidia Users are left out in the cold..

[pianokeyjoe]

Hmm, What would be a good kernel for real time audio and midi play and recording? Windows has ASIO drivers to communicate directly with the audio/midi hardware and the software accessing it. Windows does NOT have a real time kernel.. Soooo. LINUX?? I have used MX Linux for music and it has resulted in mixed results depending on the software driver/interface I have used(JACK vs ALSA). The kernel usage was also mixed. On my first installs I just used the standard MX kernels which seem to be tweaked better than stock Debian kernels, and I have had confirmation of this from a kind dev right nere! Now, MX offers real time and stock kernels as well as the Liquorix low latency kernels. I honestly think the choice of kernel you use is very dependent on the HARDWARE/SOFTWARE combination and usage case of each individual. @AVLinux please do not give up on the kernel you are using if indeed you have had it tweaked specifically for AUDIO/VIDEO recording and playback. Stay with what works. Now nvidia hardware vs intel vs Amd, the issues will ALWAYS exist. As an artist and distro maker, just release what has worked for MOST. Most of us use Intel and AMD hardware with Nvidia being the exception. At least, when we are assembling a pro audio or pro video system, Intel and AMD has been specified since the 90s. Go with that. Please keep up the great work!!

[AVLinux]

Hi pianokeyjoe!

There is a lot of confusion and old/stale information out there about kernels for Audio work on Linux. In addition to the Kernel it is equally important to have some settings in the system itself and it is the combination of things not just the Kernel that helps with the final performance result. There is no real voodoo to the current AVL Kernel, they are vanilla Kernels patched for RT or configured for 'lowlatency'. I would say in most cases the user will not be aware of a perceptible performance difference between RT and lowlatency. The biggest difference is most likely the several system tweaks to take advantage of the Kernel features and that is where AVL-MXE differs from your usual Desktop Linux.

Those tweaks are covered in great detail here: https://wiki.linuxaudio.org/wiki/system_configuration

[pianokeyjoe]

Hi pianokeyjoe!

There is a lot of confusion and old/stale information out there about kernels for Audio work on Linux. In addition to the Kernel it is equally important to have some settings in the system itself and it is the combination of things not just the Kernel that helps with the final performance result. There is no real voodoo to the current AVL Kernel, they are vanilla Kernels patched for RT or configured for 'lowlatency'. I would say in most cases the user will not be aware of a perceptible performance difference between RT and lowlatency. The biggest difference is most likely the several system tweaks to take advantage of the Kernel features and that is where AVL-MXE differs from your usual Desktop Linux.

Those tweaks are covered in great detail here: https://wiki.linuxaudio.org/wiki/system_configuration

Amen! I do agree! It is a mix of things to get that perfect cup of coffee as it were. So far, I love the MX 19.3 version of your distro from 2020 and I am sure the next release will be even better! My thing right now is if it works and it is not broken.. play with it and enjoy it.. life is too short.. 2020 happened sooo there ya go lol!. Keep up the great work my friend! Cheers!

[pianokeyjoe]

Oh! And thankyou for the link to linuxaudio! I have a feeling all the hardware I need covered in this manual I have and then some, but the software tweaks will be a Godsend for sure!