[mdlug] Linux and Church Sound Booth

Dr. Robert Meier list1c30fe42 at bellsouth.net
Fri Sep 23 12:13:02 EDT 2016


Depending on what functionality they are looking for:

   http://www.nytheatre-wire.com/sz05082t.htm
     describes linux in terms familiar to grips (theatrical electricians)

There is too much linux sound/video software to cover quickly.
The following are some I use (or have used) and can recommend.

   inevitable
     (automated video DJ)
     In the 90s, I managed a 1-6 theater multiplex at an annual anime
       convention.
     inevitable was an ubuntu(?) distro supplemented with mplayer(1)
       cron(8) and scripts that played movies/radiodrama according
       to schedule, inserted bumps and shorts (theatrical fillers)
       according to preprogrammed criteria, and permitted smooth
       manual interruption or adjustment.
     inevitable was commercial software targeted at theaters, tv, and
       radio stations, but I believe was free to churches and charities.


   mplayer - professional suite for video/audio media
     https://www.sourceforge.net/projects/mplayer/
     Plays (AFAIK) every type of audio/video file out there.
       codecs are required as plugins.
     The most popular codecs are available free.
     AFAIK, all media distributers provide mplayer-compatible codecs
       for fees ranging from pennies (for old reruns)
       to thousands of dollars (for current releases).
   mencoder - works with mplayer
     records, edits, splices, reformats, dubs, subtitles, ...
   ffmpeg - works with mplayer
     records, edits, splices, reformats, dubs, subtitles, ...
   gmplayer, Mplayer - gui for mplayer

   vlc - easy-to-use media player
     https://www.sourceforge.net/projects/mplayer/
     plays most popular file-types

   tools
     sox - mixing board
       https://www.sourceforge.net/projects/sox/
       like "gimp-for-sound"
       split and combine multi-track files
       equalize, delay, resample, sync, ...
     audacity - splicer
       https://www.sourceforge.net/projects/audacity
       multi-track record/mix/playback
     timidity - midi synthesizer
       https://www.sourceforge.net/projects/timidity/
       supports soundfonts (simulated orchestra/instrument sets)
       supports lyrics (text) synced to music - sing-a-long prompter
       ...
     abcMIDI - convert midi to/from printable sheet music to/from abc
       http://abc.sourceforge.net/abcMIDI/
       abc is a text language, looking much like guitar chord notation
         think "html-for-music", "creole-for-music",
           or "wiki-language-for-music"
       converts midi files to printable sheet music
        converts abc to/from midi files
     xoscope - audio/ultrasonic oscilloscope
       https://www.sourceforge.net/projects/xoscope/
       debug hardware
       tweak auditorium acoustics

   Software won't cure problems of broken or low-fidelity hardware,
     but in the land of Motown, I believe there is no
     shortage of high-end hi-fidelity hardware available
     to churches.



On 09/23/2016 02:03 AM, Jeff Hanson wrote:
> Only this:
> https://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Pew-Donald-Parris/dp/1411630122
>
> A bit old.
>
> Look for stage or professional audio tools.  Ubuntu Studio is popular.
>
> On Fri, Sep 23, 2016 at 1:32 AM, JeremyBekka C <jrchristophel at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> My church is in need of a new computer and sound system. I am wondering if
>> anyone here is familiar with Linux and sound equipment. The main technical
>> guy at my church does not know much about Linux and thinks we should stick
>> with Windows. Does anyone have any information that I could use to show the
>> benefits of using Linux?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jeremy
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