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Linux Support for Multi I/O Cards?

Posted by Cliff on from the semi-professional-recording-gear dept.

TibbonZero asks: "I am using Digidesign's Digi001 audio interface with Pro-Tools 5.3.1 (an industry standard recording application), but this requires using Windows XP. I was wondering if there have been any attempts at writing drivers that would add Linux support to the soundcard? The Digi001 is a PCI based soundcard, with a breakout box. It provides 18 channels of I/O; 8 Analogue, 8 ADAT Optical, and 2 SPDIF as well as Midi I/O. There is a large users's group that supports most issues with the interfaces, and software, but few of them have the time or skills to program drivers, there is a wealth if information to be found there however. Are there any Slashdotters who are into audio and are willing to help out this community by programming drivers for it. Even getting a two channel stereo driver would be a great start (there is one available for Windows if reverse engineering it would help)." As an add-on to the question: What multi-I/O cards already have Linux support, and what do you think of them?

1 of 29 comments (clear)

  1. Limited, but in the works by b30w0lf · · Score: 3, Informative

    As far as I know, the best such drivers come from the ALSA project. In truth, there are very few multi-io cards listed as supported yet, but MOTU, Echo Audio, Yamaha and Midiman (as well as a few others) are all listed at least as being under developement. The one exception to this 'in the works' rule seems to be RME which appears to be quite well supported. Unfortunately, I see no mention of DigiDesign.

    Actually multi-tracking software is in about the same state as the drivers. The most promising package I've seen is Ardour. Their package seems to be very much modeled after ProTools, at least as far as the interface goes. It supports LADSPA open-source plugins (no VST, RTAS, or DX unfortunately... mostly due to license restrictions). It already supports multi-io and many of your standard features, but lacks some things I consider necesities such as MIDI support (especially the ability to send MIDI clock and operate as a metronome... something I almost always use). None the less, there is a future for Linux and recording. It just, more or less, remains in the future for now.