title: Ubuntu Linux
---
-<h2>Ubuntu Linux</h2>
-
<p>
Ubuntu Linux is the most popular variety of Linux in use on desktop
and laptop systems. It has the backing of a for-profit corporation
(Canonical Inc.) behind it, a defined philosophy and a huge and
- worldwide user base.As a result, it is a common platform for people
+ worldwide user base. As a result, it is a common platform for people
who want to use Ardour and other tools for music creation and
pro-audio work.
</p>
</ul>
</p>
-<h3>Problems with Ardour Packages</h3>
+<h2>Problems with Ardour Packages</h2>
+<dl class="faq">
+<dt>What is the problem?</dt>
+<dd>
<p>
It is not possible to know whether the current package of Ardour
released by Ubuntu has been correctly built or not. Ubuntu has a
functionality and odd behaviour that is not present in the
ready-to-run version of the program that you can get from ardour.org
(or in the packages released by other distributions)
+</p>
+<dt>Symptoms</dt>
+<dd>
<p>
If you plan to use Ardour on Ubuntu, you are <strong>strongly
recommended</strong> to download the ready-to-run version from
will not investigate bugs reported for, Ubuntu's own packages of
Ardour.
</p>
+</dd>
+<dt>How to Fix</dt>
+<dd>
<p>
If have already installed the Ubuntu package of Ardour and find that
although the program starts up and basically runs, but you are
are <strong>strongly recommended</strong> to download the
ready-to-run version from ardour.org.
</p>
+</dd>
+</dl>
-<h3>Problems with PulseAudio and JACK Configuration</h3>
-
-<h4>Problems with the interaction between PulseAudio and JACK</h4>
+<h2>Problems with the interaction between PulseAudio and JACK</h2>
+<dl>
+<dt>Background Info</dt>
+<dd>
<p>
Like many distributions, Ubuntu has decide to use PulseAudio as the
default audio system. PulseAudio is a rich and capable system that
another message, and PulseAudio can once again use the soundcard
directly.
</p>
+</dd>
+<dt>What is the problem?</dt>
+<dd>
<p>
This relatively simple system ought to be the basis for excellent
cooperation between PulseAudio and JACK. Unfortunately, it relies on
everything being correctly configured for it to work, and Ubuntu
have repeatedly failed to get this configuration correct.
</p>
-
<p>
The specific issues known at this time (spring 2013) are:
<ul>
<li>a bug that causes JACK to freeze up when told to stop,
causing issues with restarting</li>
</ul>
-
-<h5>Symptoms</h5>
-
+</dd>
+<dt>Symptoms</dt>
+<dd>
<p>
<ul>
<li>Cannot start JACK (though see the next section for other
applications that use JACK.</li>
</ul>
</p>
-
-<h5>How to fix</h5>
+</dd>
+<dt>How to fix</dt>
+<dd>
+</dd>
+</dl>
<h2>Problems with JACK configuration<h2>
-<p>
- To function as intended, JACK needs to run with access to two
- operating system facilities called "realtime scheduling" and "memory
- locking". This means that you, the user who starts JACK, must be
- allowed access to these facilities. By default, Ubuntu does create a
- user group that has this permission but ... it does not put new
- users into this group by default. Consequently, you will not have
- permission to run JACK in the way you should.
-</p>
-
-<h5>Symptoms</h5>
-
-<p>
- A message like "Cannot lock down memory" in the output from JACK as
- it starts up. This output may be "hidden" in the Messages window of
- QJackctrl (aka JACK Control), so you should check there.
-</p>
-
-<h5>How to fix</h5>
+<dl class="faq">
+ <dt>What is the problem?</dt>
+ <dd>
+ <p>
+ To function as intended, JACK needs to run with access to two
+ operating system facilities called "realtime scheduling" and "memory
+ locking". This means that you, the user who starts JACK, must be
+ allowed access to these facilities. By default, Ubuntu does create a
+ user group that has this permission but ... it does not put new
+ users into this group by default. Consequently, you will not have
+ permission to run JACK in the way you should.
+ </p>
+ </dd>
+ <dt>Symptoms</dt>
+ <dd>
+ <p>
+ A message like "Cannot lock down memory" in the output from JACK as
+ it starts up. This output may be "hidden" in the Messages window of
+ QJackctrl (aka JACK Control), so you should check there.
+ </p>
+ </dd>
+ <dt>How to fix</dt>
+ <dd>
+ <p>
+ Run the command <code>sudo usermod -a -G
+ audio <em>YOUR-LOGIN-NAME</em></code>. Then logout and login again.
+ </p>
+ </dd>
+</dl>
-<p>
- Run the command <code>sudo usermod -a -G
- audio <em>YOUR-LOGIN-NAME</em></code>. Then logout and login again.
-</p>