Running Linux, 5th Edition - Matthias Kalle Dalheimer [173]
Although you can perform MP3 encoding with open source tools, certain patent claims have made the legality of doing so questionable. Ogg Vorbis is an alternative file format and encoder that claims to be free of patent issues. To use it, your player program needs to support Ogg Vorbis files because they are not directly compatible with MP3. However, many MP3 players, such as Xmms, support Ogg Vorbis already; in other cases, there are direct equivalents (such as ogg123 for mpg123). For video, Ogg has developed the Ogg Theoris codec, which is free and not encumbered by any patents.
This section lists some popular graphical tools for recording and manipulating multimedia.
Figure 9-32. Two passes of Unsharp Mask
Krec
KDE includes Krec as the standard sound recorder applications. You can record from any mixer source, such as a microphone or CD, and save to a sound file. Although it offers some audio effects, it is intended as a simple sound recorder application. A screenshot is shown in Figure 9-33.
Figure 9-33. Krec
Audacity
Audacity is an audio editor that can record and play back sounds and read and write common sound file formats. You can edit sounds using cut, copy, and paste; mix tracks; and apply effects. It can graphically display waveforms in different formats.
A screenshot is shown in Figure 9-34. The project home page is http://audacity.sourceforge.net.
Figure 9-34. Audacity
Ardour
Ardour is a full-featured digital audio workstation designed to replace analog or digital tape systems. It provides multitrack and multichannel audio recording capability, mixing, editing, and effects. A screenshot is shown in Figure 9-35. The project home page is http://ardour.org.
Figure 9-35. Ardour
Freevo
Freevo is an open source home theater platform based on Linux and open source audio and video tools. It can play audio and video files in most popular formats. Freevo can be used as a standalone personal video recorder controlled using a television and remote, or as a regular desktop computer using the monitor and keyboard.
A screenshot is shown in Figure 9-36. The project home page is http://freevo.sourceforge.net.
Figure 9-36. Freevo
MythTV
MythTV is a personal video recorder (PVR ) application that supports a number of features, including
Watching and recording television
Viewing images
Viewing and ripping videos from DVDs
Playing music files
Displaying weather and news and browsing the Internet
Internet telephony and video conferencing
A screenshot is shown in Figure 9-37. The MythTV home page is http://mythtv.org.
Figure 9-37. MythTV
Music Composition Tools
Many applications are available that help music composers.
MIDI sequencers allow a composer to edit and play music in MIDI format. Because MIDI is based on note events, tracks, and instruments, it is often a more natural way to work when composing music than directly editing digital sound files.
Scoring programs allow composers to work with traditional music notation and produce typeset sheet music. Some support other notation formats such as tablature for guitar and other instruments.
Some programs combine both MIDI sequencing and scoring, or can work with various standardized file formats for musical notation.
Brahms
Brahms is a KDE-based MIDI sequencer application that allows a composer to edit tracks and play them back. You can work with MIDI events or a traditional music score using different editor windows. A screenshot is shown in Figure 9-38. The project home page is http://brahms.sourceforge.net.
Rosegarden
Rosegarden is an audio and MIDI sequencer, score editor, and general-purpose music composition and editing environment. It allows you to work with MIDI events or music notation. It is integrated with other KDE applications and has been localized into about 10 languages.
A screenshot is shown in Figure 9-39. The project home page is http://www.rosegardenmusic.com.
LilyPond
LilyPond