Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

[mini-jaguar]

I installed QTractor in FatDog64.

It works, but I can't find any menus that let me choose different inputs and outputs for the individual tracks. I have a USB sound card with 4 inputs and 6 outputs, it is supported by ALSA with individual volumes for all the ins and outs.

[darkcity]

Hi mini-jaguar

this is my understanding of how it works.

Before you create track

A Configure the buses

View > Buses

A1 Edit the buses name, for example mono channel 1
A2 Select the number of channels
A3 Select Create (not update)

repeat for all desired inputs

B Configure the connections

View > Window > Connections

B1 Reduce number of item shown, for example sys > qtractor or qtractor > sys
B2 Disconnect and connect as required, for mono channel 1 is only connected to input 1

C now when you create an audio track you can select its input

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theres a qtractor forum at
http://www.rncbc.org/drupal/forum

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BTW what sound card are you using, Im looking to invest in one soon?

[mini-jaguar]

I am having a hard time following step B. For example I can't get to the left and right channels.

Also, I can create new busses, say with all 4 inputs and all 6 outputs, but I can't create a new buss with say, just the 2nd input, but I can create a bus with just 1 input, which I think automatically defaults to input 1.

Furthermore, "system" only has 2 inputs and 4 outputs, there doesn't seem to be any way to change this.

Actually, it's bugging too because I am getting sounds in the level meters from the built-in microphone on the computer, even though I have the external card active, which has no built-in mic.

By the way, with Audacity this works properly and I can record all 4 inputs at the same time, but Audacity does not support multiple outputs.

I am using an ESI U46XL, it has a metal casing and it's good for the price. I kind of remember it was less than 200 Euros new, but I think they don't make it anymore. It doesn't have MIDI connectors unfortunately.

[darkcity]

[mini-jaguar]

I do not have qjackctl installed at all, but selected the card with the multiple card wizard (ALSA).

Audacity does not support multiple outputs, unless they came out with a new version that does. I know this, it's been written on their forum, and I've used Audacity for years, including Windows and Mac versions. But never mind Audacity, the only reason I brought Audacity up is that it accepted the choice I made with the Multiple Sound Card Wizard, unlike Qtractor, which accepted the choice as well but seems to run both sound cards in parallel.

O.k., so I need to install qjackctl?

Also, will adding qjackctl boost the system's (as opposed to Qtractor's) number of capture and playback tracks? I ask because it has less tracks than my interface.

[darkcity]

Jack is a back end program that allows audio to be routed to and from the system hardware and different pieces of software at the right time. (For example, you could have Gnome-player output-> Effect Rack in -> Effects rack out -> Qtractor in -> Qtractor out -> system output no.4)

When Qtractor starts it runs Jack if it isn't already going.

When Jack starts it adds the system entries to Connections-window - these are the fixed hardware entries.

Qtractor adds the default Qtractor Master input and output entries to the Connections-window, these are virtual software connection points. Hence, you can add more virtual points and connect them to hardware or software.

The fact that the Connection-window is only show two system (hardware fixed) input points makes me think Jack is configured to use the wrong soundcard (internal). To properly configure Jack (via GUI) you need QjackCtl. This should let you choose the correct USB soundcard. Once this is done, the Connections-window should show all four/eight system input points.

Or to put it another way