Blog-of-gain

A tech-oriented blog from a Linux user


Latest blog updates

2023-12-06Alesis Turbo Mesh Kit review: Add instructions for macOS and MidiPipe.
2022-08-31Of life and love: Add some recent thoughts and discoveries.
2022-02-27Learning to ice skate: Add notes about baking new skates.
2022-01-04Rant: loudness war, style over functionality, etc.: New article.
2021-12-31Uupumus - burnout (in Finnish): Lisätty perinteinen loppuvuoden päivitys.

Filtering by tag: Linux

Alesis Turbo Mesh Kit review

Are cheap electronic drums good for learning to play?

Preview

For the longest time I was considering to start playing the drums. A few years ago I finally did buy a cheap electronic drum set. This review I was supposed to write already two years ago, but better late then never I guess. Check it out to learn how a cheap drum set works for a beginner!

Updates

2023-12-06Add instructions for macOS and MidiPipe.

Updating PC hardware in the 2020s

Optimization still requires knowledge

Preview

In December 2019 I updated my PC to cutting edge technology. Unlike in my older PC article, things aren't yet obsolete, so I figured I'll write what one needs to bear in mind if they want to optimize a new PC build. I'll also discuss some hardware/firmware bugs that still bother modern components.

Motu M4 review

With measurements and Linux notes

Preview

As new motherboards don't have a PCI bus anymore, finding high-quality, low-latency audio devices that work in Linux might be hard. Released in November 2019, the Motu M4 promises class-compliance, low latency and superb sound quality. How does it measure against its specifications in practice? Read the article to find out.

Updates

2020-12-21Add Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS and RT audio info; some tidying up.
2020-08-31Add note about fixed duplex sound support.
2020-06-06Add note about systemd and realtime audio.
2020-04-13Add more Linux compatibility tests and notes.
2020-03-31Add note about switching the sample rate.

Bluetooth audio in Linux: ALSA and LDAC

Audio using pure ALSA (no PulseAudio) and LDAC codec

Preview

Ever since Bluez dropped support for Bluetooth audio using ALSA, people have been using PulseAudio to connect audio devices in Linux. However, there's a project called BlueALSA which supports high-quality cutting-edge codecs such as LDAC, and it works with pure ALSA. Read the article to see how to use it.

Detachable cable and wireless mod for the AKG K701 headphones

Tested with the new FiiO BTR3 (a review)

Preview

For a long, long time I've been thinking of modifying my original Austrian-made AKG K701 headphones to have a detachable cable. After owning the headphones for eleven years, I finally did it. At the same time I kind of made them wireless using the new FiiO BTR3. Check out the article to see how they fit together.

How to join a Skype for Business meeting from Linux

Summary: use a Windows virtual machine

In a previous article I discussed KVM and its audio capabilities. As of now there still isn't a nicely working emulated audio device for Windows 10 guests let alone a working Skype for Business client for Linux. In my day job I have to attend Skype for Business (formerly Lync) meetings quite often but it was impossible using my work laptop, which has Linux. I finally took the time to check out how USB passthrough works in KVM and solved the problem. Read the article to see how.

Updates

2018-09-08A note about a new work laptop.

Easy acoustic tweaks for your room

Stopping flutter echo, equalizing with ALSA and gstreamer

Preview

Most mortals have to listen to music in a somewhat small room - a closed space, which will usually result in boomy bass at some frequencies, and terrible flutter echo in the upper end of the audible spectrum.

Read this article to find out quick and cheap tricks to remedy the problems.

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