Re: [LAU] -ck patch

2010/12/13 Robin Gareus <robin@email-addr-hidden>

> >> it is much easier to screw up a
> >> kernel by blindly applying patches and generating a .config if you don't
> >> know what you're doing (and sometimes even if you know what you're
> >> doing). Also, one needs additional tools (like rtirq) to make good use
> >> of RT-linux, while -bfs runs OOTB.
> >> However these days most distributions do that setup for the users.
> >>
> >
> > well, I always followed
> > http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Low_latency_howto and never
> > screwed up a kernel
>
> Lucky you :) The information on the alsa-wiki is very good, but not
> every user is diligently following instructions as you do.
> It is also much easier to make a custom kernel that runs on one (your)
> system only, than tackling the task of compiling one that can be
> distributed.
>

let's say I learned to be careful the day after I forgot to put the --initrd
option in a make-kpkg command line statement and got a kernel panic after
rebooting my first brand new... not-working-at-all-kernel :)

> >> I don't care so much about speed. The important issue in pro-audio is
> >> reliability. It's not the smallest possible latency that counts, but the
> >> max. latency of the system.
> >>
> >
> > I really did not understand this statement and anyway I would not
> agree...
> > why anybody should be safe knowing that his box max latency is 20ms
> instead
> > of 50ms or 70ms?
>
> The max. system-latency determines the audio-latency at which you will
> never have any x-runs. (The minimal and avg. latency determines the
> speed and reactivity of your Desktop.)
>
> Without the RT-linux patch you may be good at 99.9% of the time, but
> since there is no guarantee for system-latency: there may be drop-outs.
>
> And Murphy says that this 0.1% chance will always become real when
> you're on stage in the middle of a performance. The resulting click will
> not only kill the PA but half the audience will sue you for becoming
> deaf ;-)
>

you're right but as a statistician I prefer to call it *law of large numbers
*... same results but more complicated to explain :)

> An other use-case is a studio: It's not about low-latency there but
> about no x-runs at all, they are just unprofessional. YMMV.
>

I agree about unprofessionality of xruns but what about our ears?
I trust my ears and bless them, thanks to them I can appreciate music from
Ella to Jimi and so on... but do they betray me when I realize I can't
recognize an xrun in a mix? How long is an xrun? Can we hear it when it
occurs only 3,4,5 times in a mix?
I guess I am going off topic now but I am a fan of "if it's sounds good then
it's ok"

Regards

-- 
*L'unica speranza di catarsi, ammesso che ne esista una, resta affidata
all'istinto di ribellione, alla rivolta non isterilita in progetti, alla
protesta violenta e viscerale.*

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Received on Mon Dec 13 20:15:02 2010