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Ubuntu Studio
Logo
Desktop Ubuntu Studio 20.04.png
Ubuntu Studio 20.04 LTS
DeveloperUbuntu Studio Project
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen source
Initial release7.04 (Feisty Fawn) / 10 May 2007 (15 years ago) (2007-05-10)
Latest release22.10 (Kinetic Kudu)[1] / 20 October 2022; 3 months ago (2022-10-20)
Marketing targetMultimedia enthusiasts
Available inEnglish, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Package managerAdvanced Packaging Tool (APT)
Platformsx86-64
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux), patched for low latency
UserlandGNU
Default
user interface
Xfce

KDE Plasma (Beginning with 20.10[2])

LicenseFree software licenses
(mainly GPL)
Official websiteubuntustudio.org
The login screen of Ubuntu Studio 8.04
The login screen of Ubuntu Studio 8.04

Ubuntu Studio is a recognized flavor[3] of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, which is geared to general multimedia production.[4][5][6][7][8] The original version, based on Ubuntu 7.04, was released on 10 May 2007.

Features

Real-time kernel

The real-time kernel, first included with Ubuntu Studio 8.04, was modified for intensive audio, video or graphics work. The 8.10 Ubuntu Studio release lacks this real-time kernel. It has been reimplemented in the 9.04 Ubuntu Studio release and stabilized with the release of 9.10. 10.04 Ubuntu Studio, in contrast, does not include the real-time kernel by default. As of version 10.10 of the Ubuntu Studio, the real-time kernel is no longer available in the repositories.[9]

Low-latency kernel

As of Ubuntu Studio 12.04, the default kernel is linux-lowlatency, which in essence is a generic Ubuntu Linux kernel, with a tweaked configuration to allow for stable operation for audio applications at lower latencies. Since much of the real-time patch has now been implemented into the vanilla kernel, and considering the difficulties in maintaining linux-rt, Ubuntu Studio decided on using linux-lowlatency in its place.

The scheduler allows applications to request immediate CPU time, which can drastically reduce audio latency.[10] In 9.10, the "Ubuntu Studio Controls" provided under System>Administration permit the user to "Enable Nice", allowing the use of wireless networking and proprietary graphics cards drivers while maintaining low audio latency free of XRUNs (audio drop-outs) in JACK. A more negative value entered for nice reserves more CPU time for real-time audio processes.

Appearance and sound theme

Ubuntu Studio also includes custom artwork and a blue-on-black theme, as opposed to Ubuntu's default purple and orange. As with the main distribution of Ubuntu, if an accelerated graphics card and appropriate driver are used, the advanced desktop effects can be enabled. More advanced Compiz effects are available in the Synaptic Package Manager (i.e., Ubuntu repositories). In Karmic 9.10, a fresh sound theme replaces the default Ubuntu theme, with a reverberating melody at startup, and an occasional knock or ping from a button or prompt. Xfce (instead of GNOME) was the default user interface until v20.04. From Ubuntu Studio 20.10, the default user interface became KDE.

Access to Ubuntu repositories

An important advantage of Ubuntu Studio over most other Linux distributions employing the real-time kernel is access to the same repositories available to the main Ubuntu distributions through the Update Manager, Synaptic Package Manager, as well as through the Add/Remove Applications prompt. This allows for much more frequent operating system updates, and access to a much wider range of software.

Installation

In the past there has been no live version available of Ubuntu Studio, and no graphical installer. Since the 12.04 release, Ubuntu Studio has been available as a Live DVD.[11] The disk image is about 1.8 GB, too large to fit on a standard CD, and as a result the recommended installation medium for Ubuntu Studio is a DVD or USB flash drive. Ubuntu Studio can also be installed on a pre-existing Ubuntu installation by installing the "ubuntustudio-desktop" package from Advanced Packaging Tool.

In 9.10, the package "ubuntustudio-audio," shown during installation (and also available in the Synaptic Package Manager), cannot be installed without a working Internet connection.

An Internet connection is required after installation to maintain system components.

Software included

Screen shot of Ubuntu Studio 9.10 running JACK Audio Connection Kit – Qt GUI Interface 0.3.4, Ardour 2.8.2, Patchage 0.2.3, Hydrogen 0.9.3 and Blender.
Screen shot of Ubuntu Studio 9.10 running JACK Audio Connection Kit – Qt GUI Interface 0.3.4, Ardour 2.8.2, Patchage 0.2.3, Hydrogen 0.9.3 and Blender.

Audio

Installable from the Software-Center

Video

Graphics

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ubuntu Studio 22.10 Release Notes".
  2. ^ Ubuntu Studio 20.04 LTS Released
  3. ^ Ubuntu Flavors, Canonical Ltd., Retrieved on 1 August 2013
  4. ^ Ubuntu Studio Is a Treasure Trove for Creative Types | Reviews | LinuxInsider
  5. ^ Ubuntu Studio 16.04 LTS Released with a Warning, New Project Leader, Softpedia News
  6. ^ Judgement Day: Studip Dave Tests Ubuntu Studio 9.04 | Linux Journal
  7. ^ Ubuntu Studio supports serious studio, adds little for video and graphics | Linux.com | The source of Linux information
  8. ^ Distro Spotilight: Ubuntu Studio - Tom's Definitive Linux Software Roundup: Audio Production, Tom's Hardware
  9. ^ "Ubuntu Studio 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot Release Notes". Canonical, Ltd. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  10. ^ Trumm, Aaron (2004), "The Linux-Based Recording Studio", Linux Journal, 2004 (121)
  11. ^ Pleia2, "Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) Beta 1 Released", http://fridge.ubuntu.com/2012/03/01/ubuntu-12-04-lts-precise-pangolin-beta-1-released/, on 3 March 2012
  12. ^ DistroWatch (October 2020). "Ubuntu Studio". Retrieved 22 January 2021.