Ubuntu 10.10 to Ubuntu Studio

One of the main difference with 10.10 compared to Studio is Studio have real time kernel. It suppose to have lower latency therefore improving the sound quality.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntustudio-desktop ubuntustudio-audio ubuntustudio-audio-plugins ubuntustudio-graphics ubuntustudio-video linux-rt

Ubuntu 10.10 as Audio Source - Part 3 Bit Perfect

Continue tweaking XBMC and Ubuntu and finally making it output digital using USB.

Setup as below showing sound preferences (hardware and output) and XBMC output audio.

To test whether your computer is outputting a digital format, download a DTS test file. If it plays white noise means analogue signal if you hear sound that means you are playing a digital file format.

The sound is amazing! :)

XBMC in VIsta & Ubuntu 10.10 64 Bits

Installed XBMC in Vista was easy. Just download from http://xbmc.org/download/ and run the setup file for Windows.

The interesting bit is setting up XBMC. Previously downloaded WASAPI plugin for foobar and was surprise to find that one could choose the output audio using the same plugin in XBMC.

The sound quality is surprising good and certainly comparable to foobar. Maybe is because they are using the same plugins.

Will spend more time tweaking the settings and dig deeper in forums for optimum setup.

Next up is installing in Ubuntu. Took slightly more steps then Windows but wasn't that difficult either.

Just follow steps listed in http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW-TO_install_XBMC_for_Linux_on_Ubuntu,_a_Step-by-Step_Guide -> Installing XBMC Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic or higher


It should install nicely without going through all the other steps listed. 


Just started to play with it and will try to take some screen shots as well.

Ubuntu 10.10 as Audio Source - Part 2

Continue to tweak with Ubuntu for the best sound quality and below is my settings which is better then the default one.

1. Sound Preferences ->output->Analog Stereo Surround 5.1 (as i have a USB xFi connected)
2. Use VLC as the media player (the best so far for me because it allows you to fine tune the settings)

In VLC Audio Settings->Output Module->ALSA Audio Output->Device->SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB.

Ubuntu 10.10 as Audio Source - Part 1

Since installing Ubuntu 10.10, I have been trying very hard tweaking to improve the sound quality to audiophile standard but sadly no success so far.

Installed ALSA mixer, Pulse Audio, different players Amarok, Rythmbox (default installed in Ubuntu). Overall I feel Foobar in Windows SQ is better than Linux.

Will continue to tweak and read up forums to improve the sound quality.

Dual Boot Ubuntu 10.10 with Vista (Default)

After trying many rounds using WUBI to install Ubuntu, I gave up because there is always a permission error showing.

Downloaded the ISO and burn into DVD to install Ubuntu.

Steps as follows:

1. Make Linux boot up before VISTA. F10 on startup and go into BIOS and make sure the boot sequence is CD/DVD is priority follow by harddisk. This is to ensure ISO can boot up first before Vista load from HDD.
2. Follow the installing Ubuntu instructions.
3. Edit GRUB to make Vista as default OS using an application.

Next project will load Windows 7 with Vista and Ubuntu.

Setting up 2 external display to Notebook

Have tried all morning setting this up but failed because GPU can only support 2 display (including the laptop display).

Also, tried solving notebook HDMI to LCD TV loss signal problem. It seems like the notebook boot up and LCD turn on have to sunchronize same time if not ou will have loss of signal resulting in blank screen.

No such issue for VGA.