Talk:Stereo mix with Ubuntu 10

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Gale 14Jan11: Thanks, Steve. A few points from standpoint of a complete Linux audio idiot (like me, who has never installed PulseAudio "extras"):

  • What purpose does "Ubuntu Restricted Extras" serve - do I need it for stereo mix, does it give me more options/choices?
  • Volume Controls section - needs to be clearer at the start where this is. The last time we mentioned Preferences we were in Audacity. Does PulseAudio Volume Control mirror the standard Gnome Volume Control (move one and the other moves identically)?
  • PulseAudio Volume Control Settings - perhaps when you are finished it would be good to add some iamges? Perhaps you should mention the point of the virtual inputs - I guess this will be how we connect "devices" to record stereo mix?

Also what about backwards/forwards compatibility? As you know, some users have old versions of Ubuntu even now. How far back is this info valid? And for forwards compatibility, Audacity Devices Preferences of course will not exist in 1.3.13. Perhaps it would be better to give instructions for Device Toolbar and explain the differences there if the user should compile HEAD instead of install the Audacity package?

I'm sure you haven't, but when you're done, don't forget to link to this on the Streaming audio Wiki page.


Steve 25Jan11:

  • "Ubuntu Restricted Extras" is not required for stereo mix. It includes Lame and (as a "recommend") ffmpeg codec library (both of which work with the Ubuntu build of Audacity). I think that "Recommended Packages" are installed by default in current versions of Ubuntu when packages are installed with either Synaptic or the Ubuntu Software Centre.
    • Gale: Since the tutorial is about stereo mix I still think it would be better to state what is needed for your method of making it work and what isn't. And if you mention the restricted extras I think you have to briefly say what they are or give a link to them.
  • I notice that you have "corrected" the spelling of "Centre", but in my Ubuntu installation "Ubuntu Software Centre" is spelt "re". I guess that may be different if Ubuntu is installed with American English as the default language.
    • On the Wiki, we can only be consistent within the article. If an American author writes an article, we can't change all the spellings to British English, or to US English if an English author writes it. So all instances in your article could be either "Center" or "Centre". What I corrected was a mix of those two spellings.
  • Regarding backwards/forwards compatibility, there are significant differences between Ubuntu 10.x and 9.x. Ubuntu 10.04 and 10.10 are essentially the same as far as I'm aware. Up to Ubuntu 10.x there were major changes in virtually every release (the main reason I have not attempted writing this until now). I have not yet tried Ubuntu 11 (Natty Narwhal) but the alpha 1 version is now available and I'll install it as a virtual machine as soon as I have the time. I'm hoping that PulseAudio Volume Control is reasonably similar to 10.10.
    • OK. If after researching it you think these instructions are not likely to work pre 10.x, I think it better to say that (or "similar principles apply in 8x and 9x but not tested" or whatever).
  • I'll address the other issues when I've got to the end of this first draft. I've not forgotten about linking it into the Streaming audio Wiki page but thought it best to keep this page disconnected until it is more complete.
    • Agreed. Thanks for starting it.
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