Jokosher
Encyclopedia
Jokosher is a free
, non-linear multi-track
digital audio editor
, the source code
of which is released under the GNU GPL
. It is being developed in Python
, using the GTK+
interface and GStreamer
as an audio back-end, initially just for the Linux
operating system but now also with support for Windows
and Solaris.
It was released to the public on July 21, 2006. Version 0.2 was publicly released on November 20, 2006 and it included support for LADSPA
effects, and extensions. It also addressed many bugs present that made version 0.1 unusable.
was dissatisfied with the available free and open source Linux multi-track editors, and used Cubase instead to produce LugRadio
, a Linux fortnightly podcast
. He later on conceived the idea of what initially was Jonoedit. The name Jokosher came later, a pun on the fact that his name contains the phrase "no bacon". The aim was to create an open source multi-track editor that was easy to use, so the user did not require an understanding of multi-track recording.
Using LugRadio, his blog and the various planet aggregator
s connected to it, a community came together to form the Jokosher art, coding, documentation, and packaging teams now working on the project.
. Audio-tracks are called "instruments" in Jokosher. A range of instruments can be added to a project, and instruments can be renamed. Instruments can also be muted and soloed easily.
, FLAC
, WAV
and anything else supported by GStreamer
into projects. After recording, it can export back to any of these formats.
and Gnonlin installed, or a CVS
checkout of GStreamer and Gnonlin compiled. This is because the newer versions of Gstreamer have features that Jokosher is taking advantage of. It also introduces many bug fixes that previously were blocking Jokosher from any kind of release. The Jokosher development team has contributed greatly to the GStreamer development.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
, non-linear multi-track
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
digital audio editor
Digital audio editor
A digital audio editor is a computer application for audio editing, i.e. manipulating digital audio. Digital audio editors are the main software component of a digital audio workstation.-For use with music:...
, the source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
of which is released under the GNU GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
. It is being developed in Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
, using the GTK+
GTK+
GTK+ is a cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. It is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, allowing both free and proprietary software to use it. It is one of the most popular toolkits for the X Window System, along with Qt.The name GTK+ originates from GTK;...
interface and GStreamer
GStreamer
GStreamer is a pipeline-based multimedia framework written in the C programming language with the type system based on GObject.GStreamer allows a programmer to create a variety of media-handling components, including simple audio playback, audio and video playback, recording, streaming and editing...
as an audio back-end, initially just for the Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
operating system but now also with support for Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Solaris.
It was released to the public on July 21, 2006. Version 0.2 was publicly released on November 20, 2006 and it included support for LADSPA
LADSPA
LADSPA is an acronym for Linux Audio Developers Simple Plugin API. It is a standard for handling filters and effects, licensed under the GNU LGPL. It was originally designed for Linux through consensus on the Linux Audio Developers Mailing List, but works on a variety of other platforms...
effects, and extensions. It also addressed many bugs present that made version 0.1 unusable.
Background
At the beginning of 2006, Jono BaconJono Bacon
Jono Bacon is a community manager, writer, musician and software developer, originally from the United Kingdom, but now based in California...
was dissatisfied with the available free and open source Linux multi-track editors, and used Cubase instead to produce LugRadio
LugRadio
LugRadio was a British podcast on the topic of Linux and events in the free and open source software communities, as well as coverage of technology, digital rights and politics....
, a Linux fortnightly podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
. He later on conceived the idea of what initially was Jonoedit. The name Jokosher came later, a pun on the fact that his name contains the phrase "no bacon". The aim was to create an open source multi-track editor that was easy to use, so the user did not require an understanding of multi-track recording.
Using LugRadio, his blog and the various planet aggregator
Planet aggregator
In online media, Planet is a feed aggregator application designed to collect posts from the weblogs of members of an Internet community and display them on a single page. Planet runs on a web server. It creates pages with entries from the original feeds in chronological order, most recent entries...
s connected to it, a community came together to form the Jokosher art, coding, documentation, and packaging teams now working on the project.
Ease of use
The interface, which was designed from the ground up, aims to use concepts familiar with the artists and musicians that use the program. This means that the user doesn't have to have a great deal of familiarity with multi-track editors to be able to record.Editing and mixing
In Jokosher, there are tools for splitting, trimming and moving, when editing. During the mixing, multi-track volume is available with VU slidersVU meter
A VU meter is often included in audio equipment to display a signal level in Volume Units; the device is sometimes also called volume indicator ....
. Audio-tracks are called "instruments" in Jokosher. A range of instruments can be added to a project, and instruments can be renamed. Instruments can also be muted and soloed easily.
Audio
Jokosher can import audio from Ogg Vorbis, MP3MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
, FLAC
FLAC
FLAC is a codec which allows digital audio to be losslessly compressed such that file size is reduced without any information being lost...
, WAV
WAV
Waveform Audio File Format , is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs...
and anything else supported by GStreamer
GStreamer
GStreamer is a pipeline-based multimedia framework written in the C programming language with the type system based on GObject.GStreamer allows a programmer to create a variety of media-handling components, including simple audio playback, audio and video playback, recording, streaming and editing...
into projects. After recording, it can export back to any of these formats.
GStreamer
At the moment, any version of Jokosher has to have either the latest version of GStreamerGStreamer
GStreamer is a pipeline-based multimedia framework written in the C programming language with the type system based on GObject.GStreamer allows a programmer to create a variety of media-handling components, including simple audio playback, audio and video playback, recording, streaming and editing...
and Gnonlin installed, or a CVS
Concurrent Versions System
The Concurrent Versions System , also known as the Concurrent Versioning System, is a client-server free software revision control system in the field of software development. Version control system software keeps track of all work and all changes in a set of files, and allows several developers ...
checkout of GStreamer and Gnonlin compiled. This is because the newer versions of Gstreamer have features that Jokosher is taking advantage of. It also introduces many bug fixes that previously were blocking Jokosher from any kind of release. The Jokosher development team has contributed greatly to the GStreamer development.
See also
- Free audio softwareFree audio softwareThis list of free software for audio lists notable free and open source software for use by sound engineers, audio producers, and those involved in sound recording and reproduction.-Audio analysis:-Converters:-Modular systems:-Platforms:...
- Linux audio software
- Multitrack recordingMultitrack recordingMultitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...