Real-time kernel? (was: The audio group)

[Chris Jones]

On Tue, 2010-09-07 at 06:52 -0500, Scott Lavender wrote:
> On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 2:55 AM, David Henningsson
> <david.henningsson at canonical.com> wrote:
>         2010-09-07 02:17, Chris Jones skrev:
>         > I know I've raised the question before regarding the
>         inclusion of the
>         > real-time kernel in Ubuntu Studio, but why exactly is it
>         necessary?
>         
>         That's a good question. Abogani has written a small overview
>         of his take
>         on it here:
>         https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2010-March/009323.html
>         
>         --
>         David Henningsson, Canonical Ltd.
>         http://launchpad.net/~diwic
>         
> 
> And to answer Chris's question very succinctly; better performance.
> 
> The -rt kernel can help lower latency and minimize the number of xruns
> so that your recording doesn't drop anything or create artifacts such
> as popping.
> 
> From my understanding this also includes allowing firewire audio
> interface users to be able to adjust the interrupt priority to a more
> desirable setting allowing the firewire device to experience better
> perform from fewer interrupts.  I believe I understand the basic
> principle of this but perhaps someone with broader experience can
> explain it better.
> 
> Regards,
> ScottL

So it seems to me that all examples and explanations given for the
inclusion of the real-time kernel by default are to cater for the
audiophiles using Ubuntu Studio as their platform.

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but isn't Ubuntu Studio focused toward 3
groups of multimedia professionals-- Audio, Video and Graphic?


I don't know the technicalities or possibilities to include a kernel
option upon installation, but we need to somehow give the user a choice
of which kernel to use for Ubuntu Studio.
I know that either can be installed/removed via Synaptic, but not
everyone feels comfortable doing it via this method.


My point; there really is no reason for a real-time kernel when one uses
Ubuntu Studio for Video and Graphic work.
So with its default inclusion, it's simply catering for 1/3 of the
intended audience/users.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards


-- 
Chris Jones <chrisjones at comcen.com.au>