The Open Album — my next project
Ubuntu Studio open source Linux-based audio production
I’m a huge fan of open software and free ideas. Ever since Windows XP launched, with its authorization schemes, I’ve been on a migration path away from Microsoft. And yet, while I use a Mac laptop and Linux on my desktop for web development, I still use Windows XP along with Cakewalk SONAR for all of my recording and sound design.
There are two primary reasons I have persisted in the proprietary world of Windows and Cakewalk. The first reason is that I have invested in a lot of Windows-only hardware. And the second reason is that open source audio tools have lagged behind their proprietary counterparts in terms of features and friendliness. But those reasons no longer suffice.
This week, when Ubuntu 7.04 launches, it will have a companion, known as Ubuntu Studio. Ubuntu Studio is a community-produced collection of repository packages, audio tools and plugins that provide a comprehensive audio and video production environment. And it is my path to a fully open source music studio.
To learn the ropes in this new system, I will be recording my next album, called “The Open Album.” I’m still working out the licensing, but I think it will be something similar to the GPL.
Here’s the scoop: All tracks, plugins, and project files will be released along with the album. Other musicians will be free (and encouraged) to remix, premix, and otherwise tweak the music, provided they release all their source material, which will require that no proprietary software be used.
I’m excited to get started, but it will probably be a few weeks before I get familiar enough with the software to post anything resembling an alpha release of any of the songs.
Once the album is finished, it will be published at Jamendo, and all source materials will be released at TheOpenAlbum.com (currently redirecting to this site).
What do you think? Do the principles of software apply to music? Is it brilliant, or stupid? Intuitive or unworkable? We shall find out.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:56 am
More reason to switch to Ubuntu. Open source shall soon crush Microsoft and Apple. BWAHAHAHA!
May 3rd, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Brad Sucks did it…it worked for him.
Will you be using the cathedral or bazaar model? IE, do you plan on keeping everything open throughout production, or only at the final release?
By the way, you rock my socks,
~Conley
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Good question. I’m leaning more towards the cathedral at the moment, though it depends how the project coalesces, and whether any worthy/devoted contributors appear before I reach the beta stage.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Hej Steven,
Im a “Ubuntu” Fan and i think its a logical step from open music to open source.
Maybe a little bit hard in the beginning to learn a new system. (like Linux)
Hope to hear your new songs, me (and my wife) loves your songs sooo much.
Welcome in sweden! (But Im a german)
Regards,
Dirk
January 11th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Hello Steve
Just downloaded the great album you made a while ago : “To Get Home Before Night Comes”. Thanks for the great music you made.
Hope to hear from you in a musical way again in the near future.
with kind regards Arno
January 23rd, 2010 at 3:58 am
Did you ever do this? And how did it work. Ardour(sp?) Looks cool to me, but no midi from what I can see. Any input?
February 10th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I had a nightmare of a time getting Ubuntu Studio 9.04 to work properly. There were stability issues with the real time kernel, and I still haven’t wrapped my head around how JACK works exactly. But I like Ardour, and I hope to give Ubuntu Studio another try in May, after the 10.04 LTS version comes out.