Been a little while.. I know.. I'm going to try to get back into it all again - got some home recording stuff to share, and finally got this iMac running ZORIN OS!! Also figured out the backlight issue (iMac 16,2 - needs 'acpi_backlight=video' in grub) and even uses auto-backlight!! Didn't have to install any drivers.. but Bluetooth wasn't working OOB (installed bluez-firmware and all works now). Tried my old 16.x installer and it does have backlight working, still no audio apart from full volume and all coming from the left channel.. No info on the Cirrus 4280, drivers, or really anything that shows it got any kind of attention lol... So, cheap external Walmart speakers win!
Been using Ardour with my Simmons Titan 70 e-kit; kind of a dream, really. All I did was plug up with USB and am good to go!
Glad you figured out the backlight issue, so IMAC's need a grub parameter set ha? Also, its been a long time since I heard the name "IMAC," this is cause most MAC users use, laptop computers these days.
Bluetooth can be tough to get going on on Linux, as it typically relies on drivers, either in the kernel, or a manual driver install in "Additional Drivers." Good for you on getting it figured out!
Hey, if it works, awesome! I would have bought at least a pair of Edifier bookshelf speakers though. I typically listen on headphones, I am a bit of an audiophile though lol.
Hey, thats how I plugin my S.M.S.L M200 DAC! Then I run the sound through an Equalizer unit, which exits into my S.M.S.L SP200 AMP. From there, I have my Denon AH-D9200 cans.
S.M.S.L M200 DAC
Equalizer unit
S.M.S.L SP200 AMP + Denon AH-D9200 cans
Yes, I upgraded the AMP, with a gold/aluminum volume knob.
Now THAT is some cool audio equipment; that equalizer is bad!! I definitely remember taking my Dad's old Realistic car EQ and trying to use it in my Camaro lol.. didn't work. BUT - my Simmons Titan 70 kit actually 'masters' the track for me while I'm playing.. or it sounds like it. I recorded some tests and just exported from Ardour with almost CD quality. BTW! I've been installing Ardour on Flatpak - doesn't give you the silent time-out. I tried a few different ways to install and Flatpak won lol USB audio recording is pretty simple - tried running it through qjackctl but actually works better just by itself without qjackctl.. Assuming since it's not an 'input' input; 3/4" or 3.5mm. There's an app for the kit, and the control unit has bluetooth - found a website that's got tracks with the drums removed I've been playing along with, practicing -- just leave Ardour up and recording through the USB, then I can start the track on my iPad (local downloaded file), the track plays through the bluetooth receiver in the control unit, through my headphones, and then through the USB to Ardour. Probably need to separate the two; drums as one track, the audio track as another. That way I can adjust the gain as needed - right now it's just 'by ear' and kinda unbalanced.. All just 'trying stuff out' though! Definitely not a 'pro'.. by any means, ha! Once I get this all figured out, sorta, I'll be a lil more serious about it. I'd like to find somewhere online to lay down drum tracks for artists / songs but, not sure where that would be. Like studio sessions in a round about way I guess.
The iMac -- I had Mint / Ubuntu MATE installed for a long time, seemingly the only kernel that had sound support - but only out of the left channel.. weird lol Bluetooth is working good - strange though, worked OOB in pretty much all other distros - maybe just a weird hiccup or something - not a big issue though! The backlight was a strange find - and was for MacBooks for sure; this thing is basically a MacBook at heart.. So, I knew with the other really old white polycarbonite one I had before, needed a grub entry to control backlight. That one was a different parameter than this one, and most others actually used 'acpi_backlight=vendor' instead of 'video'. Also, the camera works without installing anything! So that's also a plus, like I ever use it haha but all is working on the hardware side now! I did check the additional driver tab but, nothing ever came up lol
For the sound - yeah external speakers work on the headphone port just fine! Internal speakers DO work, but in alsamixer I can't set the PCH output as the default, or the volume control - so it's either full on or modified in alsa for volume, but doesn't stick.. On the MacBook kinda setup front - 'mbpfan' works well for fan control and setting temps for fan speeds. I did try the other one, can't remember the package right off but does work as well. Mbpfan is much more simple I think though. That volume knob looks awesome!! I have thought about getting a good tube amp for sound reproduction though - just haven't moved that far along with everything hahaha and some nice speakers. I JUST saw an article that started out 'Are 'shelf speakers' better than studio speakers?' .. might have to dig out my old Sony ones and amp 'em up!
I'll be around for sure; been away for too long! Took another cross-country journey again hahaha landed back in the desert for now!
Nothing special lol Didn't get it fully in the shot, but the iPad is on the side behind the hi-hat. I'll have to admit.. only playing acoustic kits for the last 20yrs+, then grabbing one of these on sale at Guitar Center on a whim.. it's taking some practice to get used to! lol.. my 'floor tom' with this kit is soooo tiny compared to my honkin' 16in acoustic one (Yamaha stage custom ~2003). My DW 5000 pedal is probably every bit of that 20yrs in age as well; I got that when I was a teenager growing up on thrash and heavy metal LOL actually a suggestion from my uncle at the time, also a drummer..
Almost went with the Alesis kit - didn't have the extra tom pad though, and really wanted the 7pc kit feel (double-pedal in place of second bass). Not giving a review of it but, does remind me of the Roland V-drums from a few years back. But, of course not that expensive.. I have a clip but not sure how to upload into here..
That is absolutely awesome .. Had a good friend in high school with the exact name as the "President" in Independence Day. When the movie came out.. we had a lot of fun with that - and he gave the big speech at the end of the movie standing on the tables in the cafe-gym-a-torium
But good to be back! I'm bound to overnight work at the moment.. so I'll mostly be crawling around here when everyone's asleep
I've got an old MacBook Pro, but I use that for website testing in safari, so not put Zorin on it, yet....
Recently repaired my old Rotel RA-02 amp (big caps glued down with glue that goes corrosive & conductive with age and had eaten a zener diode. Repopulating all of the components in that area of the board fixed it ). Then bought some old Kef K140s off a friend. EQed with Easy Effects. Sounds sweet!
Mostly use if for listening to music from my Zorin laptop while I work and also when mixing tunes in reaper.
Currently I run it out through a USB, but have been thinking about a DAC, not sure what that would buy me in terms of improved audio quality though. If I found a cheap/decent one I'd probably give it a try.
I've found linux audio stuff a faff to setup but now it is all seems to be working pretty reliably.
I remember sharing a rented house with someone who had a Rotel AMP and receiver with cool green display. My first hi-fi was a Sony all in one, radio, twin cassette deck, and vinyl deck which had the annoying habit of 'clunking' before audio output finished. I then inherited my Dad's Sony All-in-one. No vinyl deck, but triple CD holder. The drive belt on the cd tray went west and to buy replacement was only available with Pay Pal. I did by a Sony deck which has a Pre-amp. Currently I have the Sony Deck connected to a JVC system which allows me to connect the Sony Deck, and Tevion cassette player which can export from Cassette to USB and Vinyl to USB. Sadly the blue LED behind the on/off volume knob on Tevion Device has died.
Ahh come on! Gotta give that thing the Zorin treatment - haha! jk..
Funny thing about this iMac - picked it up off eBay, under $250; nothing special, i5 and Intel graphics with 16GB RAM and now has an SSD.. was advertised as being SSD and clearly was not when I received it. Easy fix.. Anyway, initially got it for work and of course it being so old, after a little while couldn't update anything or OS version.. Was running the new Sequoia OS via OpenCore, just didn't want to be bound to the MacOS and with it being a hacked up version anyway, couldn't dual-boot like I was doing before..
So - got it on MATE (Ubuntu and Mint, both the same) for a good year-ish or so, didn't have any issues except sound. Just recently gave it another go with Zorin and instead of using internal speakers, used some cheap Walmart ones - got some good headphones for quality if needed so not really lacking in that respect haha.. Nothing serious though, just some practicing really. I fiddled around with Ardour and figured out some stuff with it, just editing and recording.
Sweeet setup though - everyone! I haven't gone that far.. yet! Have a DLNA server setup on my RPi hosting movies and soon music; also printer share and an rsync server for my router logs. Right now most of my media goes through my Roku TV and out to my soundbar.. But for now, some cheapy desk speakers just to spit some sound out for now is all I need lol Pulse Effects makes it sound way better.. and..
I recently rescued it from my car glovebox, doesn't currently have a specific use but I'm sure I'll find one for it!
Used to have a gen 3 ipod, the first ones that would work with PCs. Think my mate might still have it, I should check and can add it to my collection of obsolete audio equipment.
Was a nice position of power to be in as the only person at a party with a large collection of music in their pocket! Oh how the times have changed....
Those pics were in my office, which is out of the house. In the house we've got a tangent ampster BT2 with Mission speakers (that used to go with the rotel until it broke). It's hooked up to the TV, Chromecast audio & BT. Nice little compact amp, sounds good!
Nice drumming! My brother was the drummer in a band signed to Parlophone in the early 2000s, he got some cool gigs with big names but the band wasn't around very long.
Stuff I make is jungle/dnb mostly made on an original Nintendo Gameboy, although recently I've branched out to the Dirtywave M8. Got a new tune almost ready to go but stuck at the mixing stage cos I find it boring!
I'm looking at setting up a Jellyfin server for music & video stuff. Just trying to find the right hardware at reasonable cost for it to live on. Got a small homelab - n100 mini PC router with opnSense, another n100 with ubuntu server mainly hosting docker containerised apps for my work and a rasperry pi for tinkering and downloading crosswords automatically to my supernote.
Dude - Rockbox firmware!! I've been running mine with Rockbox for the last x-amount of years and love it! Thought about doing an SSD / solid state conversion but, now with the new 4.x release of Rockbox, I may have to pull that trigger hahaha This tiny little 80GB HDD has lasted through so many drops and years... I really wish all HDD's were like that!! And just recently picked up a 30-pin BT adapter off eBay that only seems to work on the Rockbox firmware.. doesn't work with the Mapple OS lol
And yeah dude - if you fill these things up you're a walking DJ! I'll see about getting some pics of mine up here (currently 'on the clock' technically) - I still don't know how it's lasted so long..
I'd not heard of Rockbox, right that's a project that's definitely going to happen! I need another project like I need a hole in the head but there's now an itch there that's gonna get scratched!
I've got another 80gb ipod same as that one that I fried while messing around trying to make up a cable to connect it to a home-made external battery (many, many years ago...). At some point I'll open that up and see if I can resurrect it too.
And if anyone's interested here's a before/after of the amp fix. The diode that got totally corroded through is just in front of the big cap on the right. The other components worked but I replaced them anyway as they're clearly discoloured and have over-heated at some point.
Nice! I haven't had to repair anything like that in a while - nice job, dude! I studied electronics engineering in tech college some years ago haha always loved the smell of boiling flux and burnt PCB's hahahaha! I did make a 'pocket' guitar amp for my brother - he's the real musician out of the two of us; jazz major in college with honors and such. No idea if he's still got it but, ran it off a 9-Volt with a 4in speaker - maybe a full watt or two? Sounded pretty good just for a 9-Volt! Wired in a second 3/4in jack for pedals and effect stuff.
Here's my trusty old iPod, Adwaita Dark theme, and some other custom junk (Wolfson DAC!!):
Even has DOOM on it!! I never got around to it... but apparently there was someone, I think around 2006ish, that wired an NES controller to the 30-pin and was using it as a gamepad for the games in Rockbox... no idea where all that info went but that would be AWESOME to resurrect lol.. And of course, the Linux sticker because - once upon a time, iPodLinux was actually a thing, and worked lol.. I had this one tri-booted just a few years ago with the Mapple OS (stabbing at Mac and Apple), Rockbox, and iPodLinux WITH a selectable boot loader!.. couldn't do much with the iPodLinux side - the 5g/5.5g iPods like I have never got the attention for really anything. I could make some text files and navigate, change themes.. but no music or videos..
Nice! There is definitely going to be some iPod tinkering in the very near future.
I think it's a 5th gen that I have (2 of), both 80GB.
I suspect the broken one will need a new PCB. Just plugged both in, one of them booted right up the other is totally dead.
I've never studied electronics, just started tinkering a few years ago. Made a few guitar pedals and got the part to make an analog synth at some point this year.
Here's some of the pedals I've made, the one on the right is on vero board and the others are on kit pcbs.
Inspired by this thread, I have just dug out my old and battered 80GB iPod I've not used for a long time. It's now on charge to see if it still works. The one in the photo looks pristine condition compared to mine
Good to see there is other firmware and uses it can be put to. I had used spare capacity as a USB HDD as well as apple music player till now.
Took another cross-country journey again hahaha landed back in the desert for now!
). Then bought some old Kef K140s off a friend. EQed with Easy Effects. Sounds sweet!
