Post-production studio in a box.

[shaneis]

A note for those who want/ need a multimedia solution that has MOST of the bells and whistles, Ubuntu Studio. By the way, it's stable and FREE!

 

 

Apologies for the shameless plug, but hey, that's what Ubuntu's about. Spread the joy and happiness. Immune to viruses! No need for firewalls! Thumb your nose at spyware! Reincarnate that old PC (check your sys. req's first). Spend nothing! If you don't like it, all it's cost is a couple of hours!

 

 

 

Download it, burn the image onto a DVD and you're ready.

 

From the website...

 

"Our aim is to assemble suites of applications aimed at creative people. Suites including the best open-source applications available.

For instance, Ardour 2 - A multitrack recorder/editor geared toward people familiar with Pro-Tools.

 

"Graphic design and modeling applications including The GIMP, Inkscape and Blender. Along with plugins like dcraw to help with RAW camera files and wacom-tools for people with Wacom drawing tablets.

 

"PiTiVi, Kino, Cinepaint are included for video creation. We hope to provide a creative environment to people as well as give a spotlight to some amazing open-source applications.

 

"Let the creativity fly..."

 

http://ubuntustudio.org/home

[shaneis]

Hey, I'll reply to myself!

 

What gives? Nobody's interested in a free OS/ Audio/ Video/ Graphics platform?

 

Or are you all too busy exploring your new distro?

[AJLynn]

But it's Linux. You have to install a whole other OS to use this. Still, a lot of those programs or similar ones are available for Windows - going through the list of graphics programs - Enblend, Hugin, Gimp, Inkscape, Blender, Yafray, Synfig, Scribus and Font Forge are all cross platform, Xsane isn't necessary on Mac or Windows, and Agave and F-Spot aren't available but there ae alternatives.

 

Actually, that's a good list of software right there for anybody wanting to get started in graphics without spending any money. Even better, a Mac with iLife (included), iWork (cheap) and Pixelmator (really cheap) plus Mac versions of all that free software.

[shaneis]

True that you'd need to install an OS to use Ubuntu Studio, but there is also the option of setting-up a dual boot system. Simlarly, when we decide that it's time to upgrade our workstations, there's always the option to turn the older box into a dedicated multimedia studio...at no additional cost.

 

The Mac option too is a really good idea..after all the Mac OS is a linux based OS. So I suppose that if anyone is interested in a Mac-like OS but doesn't want the cost of actually purchasing a Mac, Ubuntu Studio is a valid option.

 

Main reason for starting the thread was to let people know that there is some really good software/ OS available for free. While there are usually small limitations, (eg: The GIMP can't handle anything over 8-bit images - ie it can't read your HDRI's...yet) it doesn't hurt to give some of this software a try before we dive in to the other options - usually costing thousands of dollars.

 

Even if only one person on this site finds that these apps/ OS have solved a problem for them, it's been a success (IMHO).

 

Regards,

 

S.