Use Fitlet as a Guitar Effects Processor in Linux
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 10:02 am
Overview
Those of us who play electric guitar have likely used some sort of effects processor in order to get that "special sound". Such processors range from simple single-purpose "stomp boxes" to complex multi-effects units which can generate almost any sound imaginable.
The use of multiple single-purpose effects processors connected in a daisy chain can prove to be cumbersome and problematic - at least that has been my experience. Every processor connected adds noise. Plus, all the audio and power cabling becomes unwieldy, and sometimes that cabling is unreliable. The following picture makes my point about the clutter.
Individual Effects Processors - Cumbersome and Problematic
Multi-effects processors solve many of the problems associated with single-purpose processors, but they can be quite expensive. However, if you have a Fitlet, you already have the makings of a decent multi-effects guitar processor. You simply need to add a relatively inexpensive audio interface and some free and open source software.
If using Fitlet as a Guitar Effects Processor interests you, then keep reading and check out the sample audio files included at the end of this Application Note.
Hardware
I used the following hardware to set up my Fitlet Guitar Effects Processor.
1. Les Paul Guitar
2. iRig Stompbox Guitar Interface (for iOS devices - around $45 US)
3. Fender Princeton 112 Guitar Amplifier
4. Headphones - Optional - For recording, post processing, or when you don't want to use your amplifier.
5. A variety of cables
Hardware Diagram (Right Click and Click View Image In Order to See Detail)
Software
I used 3 software packages to implement my setup. All are avalable in the Linux Mint repositories. Installation is straight forward using the available package managers.
1. Jack Audio Connection Kit (required) (Packages: jackd, libjack-jackd2-dev, qjackctl, libjack-jackd2-0, jackd2, libjack-jackd2-0:i386, libasound2-plugins, vlc-nox, and pulseaudio)
2. Rakarrack Guitar Effects Processor (required)
3. Audacity Audio Editor and Recorder (optional)
Software (Right Click and Click View Image In Order to See Detail)
Those of us who play electric guitar have likely used some sort of effects processor in order to get that "special sound". Such processors range from simple single-purpose "stomp boxes" to complex multi-effects units which can generate almost any sound imaginable.
The use of multiple single-purpose effects processors connected in a daisy chain can prove to be cumbersome and problematic - at least that has been my experience. Every processor connected adds noise. Plus, all the audio and power cabling becomes unwieldy, and sometimes that cabling is unreliable. The following picture makes my point about the clutter.
Individual Effects Processors - Cumbersome and Problematic
Multi-effects processors solve many of the problems associated with single-purpose processors, but they can be quite expensive. However, if you have a Fitlet, you already have the makings of a decent multi-effects guitar processor. You simply need to add a relatively inexpensive audio interface and some free and open source software.
If using Fitlet as a Guitar Effects Processor interests you, then keep reading and check out the sample audio files included at the end of this Application Note.
Hardware
I used the following hardware to set up my Fitlet Guitar Effects Processor.
1. Les Paul Guitar
2. iRig Stompbox Guitar Interface (for iOS devices - around $45 US)
3. Fender Princeton 112 Guitar Amplifier
4. Headphones - Optional - For recording, post processing, or when you don't want to use your amplifier.
5. A variety of cables
Hardware Diagram (Right Click and Click View Image In Order to See Detail)
Software
I used 3 software packages to implement my setup. All are avalable in the Linux Mint repositories. Installation is straight forward using the available package managers.
1. Jack Audio Connection Kit (required) (Packages: jackd, libjack-jackd2-dev, qjackctl, libjack-jackd2-0, jackd2, libjack-jackd2-0:i386, libasound2-plugins, vlc-nox, and pulseaudio)
2. Rakarrack Guitar Effects Processor (required)
3. Audacity Audio Editor and Recorder (optional)
Software (Right Click and Click View Image In Order to See Detail)