Buy     logo       Buy


Menu 574
All the scripts for isolated cores have been improved and changed substantially.
As a consequence, also the scripts for boot mode and frequency scaling had to be changed
This menu version will also update automatically the proprietary ppower application to version 1.2, necessary for the correct working of the scripts
Because of this, if you have enabled isolated cores, you should reconfigure it
The new system solves also the problem that with some CPU, after disabling hyper-threading, core numbers are not in sequence, preventing proper functioning of core isolation

19/05/2023 New Raspberry kernels linux-rt-6.1.28 compiled with gcc and linux-rt-6.1.28 compiled with clang/LTO full are available
16/05/2023: New Audiolinux versions headless 5.3.0 and lxqt 7.3.0 released!

Audiolinux V3: the revolution!

The new Audiolinux headless and lxqt V3 versions are available with the following specifications:

1) Most of applications and libraries are compiled with x86_64_v3 architecture and LTO
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Arch-Linux-x86-64-v3-Port-RFC
https://www.phoronix.com/forums/forum/software/desktop-linux/1244867-x86_64-microarchitecture-levels-benchmarked
https://www.phoronix.com/review/clang-lto-kernel
All packages and kernels will have around 10% performance uplift and some packages can have higher performance uplift (15% or 36%!)

2) The kernel 6.0.11 is compiled with x86_64_v3 architecture, LTO FULL and many patches including Audiolinux ones

3) Audiolinux V3  will offer kernels optimized for your CPU. At this time pre-compiled kernels are available for HASWELL, SKYLAKE, ZEN, ZEN2, ZEN3, TIGERLAKE, ALDERLAKE, ROCKETLAKE. If your CPU is not on the list you can ask support for a new optimized kernel that after will be updated regularly or you can compile the kernel automatically yourself

5) The Audiolinux V3 price is now 99$ because of the extra work involved. You can switch to the new version for 50$ if you already have an active subscription. This price is still much lower than alternative audiophile OS… and remote support with AnyDesk is included!
-> For 1 year subscribers that have already paid 35$ for custom V3 kernel the upgrade cost will be 15$ 

6) Wonderful latency test with average delay < 1 microsecond (AMD ZEN3 5800X, Boot EXTREME2, Watchdog and Linux Journal disabled, Mitigations service enabled, ramroot, hyper-threading disabled)

T: 0 (116176) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 1 (116177) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 2 (116178) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 3 (116179) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 4 (116180) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       4
T: 5 (116181) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       4
T: 6 (116182) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3
T: 7 (116183) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      0 Act:    0 Avg:    0 Max:       3


6) Old versions are not discontinued. For prices and upgrade cost look at the first column of this page.

AudioLinux is based on realtime custom kernels and on the work of that part of linux community trying to achieve very low audio and processor latencies. The results are not audiophile subjective suggestions, but real and measurable. No magic hidden code, but only the magic of music. AudioLinux can be used in Audio Pro studio recording because of stability and freedom from glitches. With a powerful CPU is perfect for extreme upsampling (up to DSD1024  or PCM 1536 kHz). What about the sound? Clean, transparent, the last veil is removed... and a quick and complete support that no one is giving in Linux. Your system will be fine-tuned for the absolute best performance.


Buy AudioLinux now!

PRICES

Audiolinux V3 headless 1 year support with image $ 99
Audiolinux V3 lxqt 1 year support with image $ 99
Audiolinux Classic headless 1 year support with image $ 69 Audiolinux Classic lxqt 1 year support with image $ 69
Audiolinux Raspberry 1 year support with image $ 69

Audiolinux V3 headless unlimited time support $ 199
Audiolinux V3 lxqt unlimited time support $ 199
Audiolinux Classic headless unlimited time support $ 139
Audiolinux Classic lxqt unlimited time support $ 139 Audiolinux Raspberry unlimited time support $ 139
Audiolinux all versions unlimited time support* $ 299

Audiolinux V3 extra year $ 50
Audiolinux upgrade to V3** $ 50
Audiolinux additional image V3*** $ 50 Audiolinux Classic or Raspberry extra year $ 35
Audiolinux extra options $ 35 Audiolinux additional image Classic or Raspberry*** $ 35

Audiolinux USB stick/SD card with shipping -> contact
Audiolinux 10 licenses (with discount) -> contact


Audiolinux V3 will work only with Intel Haswell CPUs
and newer or AMD Excavator and newer


* You can download V3, classic and Raspberry
**
If you have an active subscription
*** If you have an active subscription to a version and you want
another

Why should you buy Audiolinux?

1) Audiolinux kernel with the realtime patch will give audio applications a very high priority with record CPU latency that can arrive at less than 1 microsecond average on some systems

2) Audiolinux V3 kernel is compiled with x86_64_v3 architecture, LTO FULL and many patches including Audiolinux ones for a performance uplift from 10% to 36%!
Moreover pre-compiled optimized kernels are available for many architectures (including HASWELL, SKYLAKE, ZEN, ZEN2, ZEN3, TIGERLAKE, ALDERLAKE, ROCKETLAKE). If your CPU is not on the list you can ask support for a new optimized kernel that after will be updated regularly or you can compile the kernel automatically yourself

3) In V3 version many applications and libraries are compiled with x86_64_v3 architecture and LTO

4) The proprietary application RTPRIORITY can assign specific realtime priority to your audiocard, audio application and network (rtirqs, rtapp, rtnet)

5) With proprietary application PPOWER you can choose and configure your CPU governor driver: acpi, intel pstate, amd pstate or amd pstate epp

6) A menu with more than 120 options with which even a system without a graphical desktop is easy to use

7) With ramroot option you can load the entire system to RAM for a record reactivity and general performance. This way you can run a system without drives

8) Full access to root will allow to install all applications available on linux and apply special configurations

9) Fast email support and remote Desktop support with AnyDesk if necessary

10) You can access
Audiolinux from another PC with ssh/sftp, Web interfaces 1 or 2 from a browser and NoMachine remoteDesktop in lxqt version

Audiolinux versions

Audiolinux classic headless is without graphical Desktop but a full set of menus. A little better in performance because of less memory used and less processes active

Audiolinux classic lxqt is with graphical LXQt Desktop and all audio applications already installed and tested. Audiolinux menus are included

Audiolinux headless and LXQt V3 are completely rebuild OS with most applications and libraries compiled with x86_64_v3 and LTO and kernel optimized for your specific CPU
The x86-64-v3 level enables AVX, AVX2, BMI2, MOVBE, XSAVE, and other instructions found on Intel and AMD processors of the past several years: Haswell CPUs and newer and AMD Excavator and newer
Audiolinux V3 headless 5.3.0
Release notes
Audiolinux V3 lxqt  7.3.0
Release notes
Audiolinux lxqt version 7.3.0
Release notes
Audiolinux headless version 5.3.0
Release notes
Audiolinux Raspberry Pi4 64 bit 3.1.0
Release notes
AudioLinux scripts and rtpriority, ppower copyright Piero Olmeda
AudioLinux image contains proprietary software. It cannot be copied without permission.
AudioLinux is not a separate Linux distribution but only a customized Archlinux installation for audio.
For all legal and copyright issues please refer to www.archlinux.org
The payment is for support, customization work, proprietary software.
Refund is possible only if the OS does not boot (provided that the
user have tried to contact support and has given all the information needed to fix the problem).
Archlinux packages maintained by AudioLinux

If you are a company that is selling a Streamer/Audio PC and you want a custom version of AudioLinux please contact us at audiolinux@fastmail.fm
AUDIOLINUX MINI GUIDE

(clik on images for full size display)

Main menu
Audio menuAudio  extra menuSystem menuStatus menuInstall/Update menuExpert menu
 INSTALLATION

--> You cannot install Audiolinux on a single partition but only to the full hard disk (Audiolinux image has 2 partitions, UEFI fat32 and linux ext4). The target drive will be deleted. Recommended minimum size is 32 GB.
We recommend to install Audiolinux first to USB stick and after copy the installation to internal drive with the option "COPY/BACKUP current installation to another drive" in System menu. Keep this USB installation, it will be useful if you want to install to a second PC or for emergency fix.

LINUX
To install audiolinux on external USB stick or internal Hard Disk, if you already have linux installed  (-> change name to your version file name):

1) Boot from your linux installation and download the image

2) Verify that the image file is not corrupted with
sha256sum
audiolinux_mini_530.img.gz

3) Find the hard disk address by typing
sudo fdisk -l

4) If, for example, the HD is /dev/sda, copy the image with
gunzip -c
audiolinux_mini_530.img.gz | sudo dd of=/dev/sda bs=1M status=progress
(this will delete the hd, it is not necessary to format it previously)

5) Extend the ext4 partition until covering the remaining part of the hard disk (this will fix also GPT size errors. Note that you will need more than the default size for Roon database)
--> If you plan to use ramroot later, leave some unallocated space on the hdd for an extra partition or add another drive, otherwise, if you copy the music files into audiolinux partition, the size will become too big for booting to ram.


6) Power off the PC, unplug previous external linux installation and boot from the new HD/USB stick.

WINDOWS

If you install from Windows, you can use Rufus version 2.18 with option "dd"

MAC

If you install from MAC, see the guide here or you can use Etcher

HOW TO RESIZE AUDIOLINUX PARTITION
a) If you have Audiolinux LXQt: make a second installation on a USB stick, boot from the new installation and extend the ext4 partition on the old installation with gparted (easy, because the application has a GUI)
b) If you don't have Audiolinux LXQt: enable ramroot, reboot, select the option resize in system menu.
If you want to switch back to normal mode: reboot answering N to ramroot boot prompt at the beginning of boot, disable ramroot, reboot


--> If you have problems booting, consult our Booting Checklist

This is the official how-to, You can use also other methods that allow the cloning of an image with multiple partitions.

You can use Audiolinux for audio in the following combinations (but you can install all applications available for linux, since you will have full access to the OS)

1)
HQPlayer embedded controlled by HQPlayer client or Jriver or HQPDcontrol, BubbleUPnP, Mconnect on smartphone/tablet
2) HQPlayer Desktop (lxqt version)
3) Roon
4) Roon wth HQPlayer Desktop or HQPlayer embedded
7) MPD controlled by Cantata  or many other control points on smartphone/tablet if you enable UPnP for MPD
8) Logitech Media Server (LMS)
and Squeezelite. Many control points on smartphone/tablet available
9) Jriver Media Center (lxqt version only)
10) Spotify with the audio sevice spotifyd, controlled by
official Spotify on smartphone/tablet/PC

Roon with HQPlayer

Tidal and Qobuz music streaming services are already integrated in HQPlayer client,  Roon, LMS
, BubbleUPnP and Mconnect.

AudioLinux CPU latency test

We have made some tests of the real performance of AudioLinux.
You can make a similar test yourself selecting Realtime test in Audiolinux Status menu.

1) Test on Audiolinux lxqt with Ryzen 5800X

Audiolinux latency test

2) A test with the same computer in Windows 11 with DPC Latency Checker

Win11 latency


Audiolinux testing system

Ryzen 5800X server, Intel i7 Fanless PC in a Streacom case as endpoint, Holo Audio Spring Dac,  custom tube preamplifier, custom Hypex power amplifier, modified Audiostatic electrostatic speakers DCI A-sinus. This system, with Focusrite mic preamplifier, is used also for audio recording/monitor.

Roon with HQPlayer

  

Commercial servers using Audiolinux

1) AudioPhool Music Server 2.0
Click on the image for more information

Audiophool server

 
Latest news

Menu 582
Removed Realtime expert from system status and profiles
Menu 581
Fix to System update asking password more than one time
Menu 580
Removed 2 'REALTIME EXPERT CONFIGURATION enable/disable' since now is covered by other options
AudiolinuxV3: added  2 'EDIT sysctl configuration (Audiolinux V3 only)' to Expert (classic) menu
AudiolinuxV3: removed systemd service optimize-interruptfreq.service because in Audiolinux there is an identical service named rtc_frequency.service
AudiolinuxV3: removed /etc/security/limits.d/99-realtime.conf already covered by /etc/security/limits.d/99-realtime-privileges.conf from package realtime-privileges
Menu 579
Some little improvements to system update and special update scripts
Menu 578
Added KERNEL TIMER FREQUENCY to 0 'SHOW configuration' (Main menu)
New experimental V3 kernels for ZEN. ZEN3 and SKYLAKE are available with kernel timer frequency 1666 Hz instead of 1000 Hz
If insterested to test, contact support
PROFILES MENU: Fixed Custom2 and Custom3 profiles not applied correctly
Menu 577
Removed options added by nistake in the custom section of Web Interface 2
Menu 576
Corrected wrong display of physical/virtual cores in hyper-threading option (Expert menu)
Fixed 0 'SHOW configuration' not displaying the enabled/disabled c-states
Menu 575
Little correction to option 16 'BOOT mode to Extreme, Extreme2, Standard or Adaptative' relative to isolated cores
Menu 574
All the scripts for isolated cores have been improved and changed substantially.
As a consequence, also the scripts for boot mode and frequency scaling had to be changed
This menu version will also update automatically the proprietary ppower application to version 1.2, necessary for the correct working of the scripts
Because of this, if you have enabled isolated cores, you should reconfigure it
The new system solves also the problem that with some CPU, after disabling hyper-threading, core numbers are not in sequence, preventing proper functioning of core isolation
19/05/2023 New Raspberry kernels linux-rt-6.1.28 compiled with gcc and linux-rt-6.1.28 compiled with clang/LTO full are available
Menu 573
Fixed corrupted script of option 13 'CPU ISOLATED CORES Assign core to irq or application' in Expert menu
Menu 572
Some fixes and imptovements to system update and application update scripts
Menu 571
Fix to System update section of Kernel custom update script
Menu 570
Fix to 18 'ISOLATED CPU CORES configuration' option not assigning isolated cores to 'user' group
Improved system update script will always update cpuset-git and will not downgrade some packages each time if hqplayer is installed
Added option to choose manually CPU architecture of custom kernel
Menu 569
Some improvements to system update and application update scripts
16/05/2023: New Audiolinux versions headless 5.3.0 and lxqt 7.3.0 released!
Menu 566-567-568 HQplayer has been updated to version 5.0.0
If you want to go back to previous versions
For HQPlayer Desktop:
yay -Sy hqplayer4 --noconfirm
For all other packages: contact support
Menu 565
Added development packages to system update
Installation option for HQPlayer Desktop will install last version 5.x
Added hqplayer5desktop to the list of audio applications in rtpriority
Menu 563-564
Added pre-compiled optimized kernel for Intel RAPTORLAKE and AMD ZEN4
This specific kernel is compiled with gcc not with LTO/clang
It will be updated to LTO when the new clang version will be available
Menu 562
Audiolinux V3: removed warning about kernel 6.3.x for Diretta users.
Problem fixed with new driver and daemon 2023.05.02
Menu 561
Updated scripts for switching to x86_64_v3 architecture
Option 3 'INSTALL/UPDATE CPU optimized v3 LTO kernel P' now allow to reinstall previous kernel.
Note that at this moment Diretta driver is not compiling with kernel 6.3.0
Menu 560
Fix to special update script not applying some changes after menu update
Menu 559
For compatibility with HQPlayer Desktop version the qt6 libraries will be downgraded to version 5.4.3
Menu 558
Fixed option FORMAT extra drive in Web Interface 2
Menu 557
Added roonbridge logs to 12 'SUPPORT logs' (Main menu)
Menu 556
Fixed bug in option 1 'REALTIME MANUAL ASSIGNMENT' (Expert menu) not assigning the right IRQ if Automatic option is selected
Menu 554-555
In the option 5 'MOUNT/UMOUNT remote drive' (System menu) increased device timeout to 60s and also added mount timeout option of 60s
Menu 553
Improved display of USB status (including now drive manufacturer) in 20 'USB/PCI enable/disable device', 1 'AUDIO CARD status' and  13 'CPU ISOLATED CORES Assign core to irq or application'
Menu 552
Fixed bug in 20 'USB/PCI enable/disable device' (Expert menu) disabling only the first PCI device in the given list
Menu 551
Added BROADWELL micro-architecture to the list of available optimized kernels in Audiolinux V3
Menu 550
Added list of USB devices with names to 1 'AUDIO CARD status' option in Status menu
This way you can check if your DAC is sharing USB with other devices
Menu 549
Fixed and improved 1 'AUDIO CARD status' option in Status menu
Fixed and improved output of 6 'CLEAN system' in System menu
Menu 547-548
New rtpriority 1.3 released
Improved option 1 REALTIME MANUAL ASSIGNMENT configuration in Expert menu now is offering 2 options for selecting IRQ with realtime priority:
1 - Automatic -> recommended, this will give priority only to USB bus where the card is connected, after giving the 'address' selected from a list (iSerial). This way with the new rtpriority 1.3 you can be sure that only the IRQ related to your DAC are selected, even if they are changing after a reboot
2 - Manual -> possible values: irq, list of irqs, xhci, ehci, snd
You should reconfigure realtime priority after this update selecting the option in System menu or the more complete one in Expert menu
Menu 545
New improved option 20 USB/PCI enable/disable device (testing) now will allow to disable also PCI devices.
This is a powerful option to disable some hardware device if BIOS will not allow it
Use it with caution since a bad choice could make the system unbootable!
Menu 544
Fix to Update V3 servers
Menu 543
Now option 20 USB enable/disable specific device is using USB product identity to avoid errors because of possible USB device number change after a reboot
Menu 542
Improvements to option 20 USB enable/disable specific device
Now it should restore default configuration without a reboot
Menu 541
Added option Update V3 servers  to 20 UPDATE Archlinux/V3 servers
This option will update V3 servers and choose the fastest ones
Added option 20 USB enable/disable specific device to Expert menu
Menu 540
removed udev ZRAM rule for some incompatibility with ramrootMenu 539
Fixed error about /tmp/running.config
Menu 312 Raspberry
Fixed BACKUP script inSystem menu not changing UUID of target drive in /boot/cmdline.txt
10 March 2023 New Raspberry kernel linux-rt-6.1.15 The same kernel is also available with LTO full
New Audiolinux Raspberry 3.2.0 released
NEW versions Audiolinux V3  headless 5.2.0, V3 lxqt 7.2.1, classic  headless 5.2.0 and classic lxqt 7.2.0
Menu 538 libbf library added in case of custom kernel compilation
Menu 537 removed zram swap for possible incompatibility with ramroot
Menu 536 Xanmod kernel 6.1.13 for Audiolinux classic released - Kernel linux-rt-amd optimized for ZEN3 removed from Audiolinux classic since now custom kernels are available in V3 version
Menu 535 Available kernel update script now displays updates for user specific architecture Corrected some typos
Menu 534 Corrected wrong options order in Audio menu