Software synths

[Janina Sajka]

Have you posted this to the gnopernicus list? I know I haven't. Since
it's more than just one person with one piece of hw, we should go
report, I suppose.


Tom and Esther Ward writes:
> From: "Tom and Esther Ward" <tward1978 at earthlink.net>
> 
> Well, my ac-97 is multichannel and gnopernicus crashes when attempting to
> using beast or the gnome sound recorder.
> Interesting when recording with sox it seams to work ok. Not sure what
> gives.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sean McMahon" <smcmahon at usgs.gov>
> To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 11:15 AM
> Subject: Re: Software synths
> 
> 
> > Curious to know if the problem you explained with audio recording and
> > software synths happens on systems with multi-channel soundcards?
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Janina Sajka" <janina at rednote.net>
> > To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux."
> <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 6:59 AM
> > Subject: Re: Software synths
> >
> >
> > > But, Cecil, it's not a question of should or could, it's a question of
> > > is and does.
> > >
> > > Clearly, all synths rely on software, whether or not they're housed in
> > > the main computer or an auxiliary device. The point is how they
> > > interface to the principle computer, and what resources they require to
> > > function. To date it remains my quantified experience that those running
> > > on the host computer are less respectful of system resources. I guess
> > > it's something along the lines of software expanding to fill all
> > > available space.
> > >
> > > The issue is further exaserbated if one attempts to do any serious audio
> > > work while using a synth as one's interface device. At the moment, the
> > > quickest way to crash Gnopernicus is to try and launch an audio
> > > application like Beast or Gmorgan. Is that Gnopernicus fault? Or perhaps
> > > gnome-speech? Or perhaps Esd? Or perhaps Jack? I don't know, and neither
> > > does anyone else. The issue of appropriately handling multiple audio
> > > streams on Linux remains fluid and unresolved. On Windows things aren't
> > > much better as witnessed by all those messages in the MIDI-Mag archive
> > > about keeping the speech synthesizer out of the music.
> > >
> > > So, the theory is just that--theory. The facts are something else.
> > >
> > > Whitley CTR Cecil H writes:
> > > > From: Whitley CTR Cecil H <WhitleyCH.ctr at cherrypoint.usmc.mil>
> > > >
> > > > Hi,
> > > > I'm sorry, I can't buy into there being anything inheriently bad with
> > > > software synths.  They actually provide an elegant solution.  Even the
> > > > dectalk is at it's heart a software synth, it just runs on an external
> > > > computer all it's own.  If I remember the specs, it's a 386 with a meg
> > of
> > > > memory.  If you can get that out of a 386, what should you be able to
> do
> > > > with one of the modern processors?
> > > >
> > > > Admittedly, the dectalk has some fancy DAC's.....  But once again,
> they
> > are
> > > > circa 1990....  Shouldn't todays technology be able to at least match
> > it??
> > > > After all, we're not talking tubes here.
> > > >
> > > > So in summary, I contend that with a modern processor and high end
> sound
> > > > hardware it should be possible to exceed "old" hardware synths in all
> > > > catagories.  On the other hand, if you get my dectalk express you'll
> > have to
> > > > pry it from my cold dead fingers.....
> > > >
> > > > Cecil
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Speakup mailing list
> > > > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > > > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Janina Sajka
> > > Email: janina at rednote.net
> > > Phone: +1 (202) 408-8175
> > >
> > > Director, Technology Research and Development
> > > American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
> > > http://www.afb.org
> > >
> > > Chair, Accessibility Work Group
> > > Free Standards Group
> > > http://a11y.org
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Speakup mailing list
> > > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Speakup mailing list
> > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> >
> 
> 
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-- 
	
Janina Sajka
Email: janina at rednote.net		
Phone: +1 (202) 408-8175

Director, Technology Research and Development
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
http://www.afb.org

Chair, Accessibility Work Group
Free Standards Group
http://a11y.org