Buy     logo       Buy


Audiolinux V4 is coming...

Menu 706-707
Audiolinux V3: added options
6 - Upgrade system to V4 (experimental, long)
7 - Manual kernel compilation V4 (experimental, long)
to 3 'INSTALL/UPDATE V3 kernel (only Audiolinux V3) in INSTALL/UPDATE menu

These are experimental options to upgrade your system to V4 and compile and install last kernel for x86_64_v4 architecture if your system is supporting it (mostly AMD Ryzen 7000 series)
Please backup your system with the option in System menu or install Audiolinux in a testing USB drive before proceeding
Be sure that you have enough disk space or RAM (32 GB)
At this stage you can eventually ask Audiolinux support to do it for you in a remote AnyDesk session (on appointment)

20/03/2024 New kernel linux-audiolinux-rt  6.8.1 for Audiolinux classic and Audiolinux V3
Audiolinux V3: from now on the 1000 Hz kernel will be replaced by LTS (1000 Hz) Long Time Support kernel

NEW AUDIOLINUX RASPERRY Pi4-Pi5 is out!
NEW 19/12/2023: New kernel 6.6.6 16k RT LTO with 1666 frequency
With new kernel 6.1.64 RT LTO booting in both Pi4 and Pi5
After installation, if you have Pi5, we recommend to install the very last kernel Audiolinux 6.6.6 RT LTO 16k
The new Raspberry is delivered with menu 400 with an incredible list of new features and improvements: Release notes
The default configuration has wifi, Bluetooth and all video drivers disabled for the best audio performance. You can enable them in Expert menu
Frequency is set fixed to 2800000. It is a good setting, but you can change it together with a lot of other parameters
Included also a menu for overclocking Pi5 (use with care!)
Nice results of latency, around 4-5 times better than Pi4:

T: 0 (  944) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      2 Act:    3 Avg:    2 Max:      10
T: 1 (  945) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      2 Act:    3 Avg:    2 Max:      11
T: 2 (  946) P:98 I:100 C: 600000 Min:      2 Act:    3 Avg:    3 Max:      12
T: 3 (  947) P:98 I:100 C: 599930 Min:      2 Act:    4 Avg:    3 Max:      10


Impressive results of osnoise test with cores 1-2-3 isolated:

CPU Period       Runtime        Noise  % CPU Aval   Max Noise   Max Single          HW          NMI          IRQ      Softirq       Thread
  0 #58         58000000       933478    98.39055      247086         2618           0            0        97571            0       151816
  1 #58         58000000            0   100.00000           0            0           0            0            0            0            0
  2 #58         58000000            0   100.00000           0            0           0            0            0            0            0
  3 #58         58000000            0   100.00000           0            0           0            0            0            0            0

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 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, ZEN4, TIGERLAKE, ALDERLAKE, ROCKETLAKE, RAPTORLAKE, METEORLAKE. 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


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

if supporting avx2 extension set

* 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, 1666 Hz frequency 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 5.8.0
Release notes
Audiolinux V3 lxqt  7.8.0
Release notes
Audiolinux Classic lxqt version 7.8.0
Release notes
Audiolinux Classic headless version 5.8.0
Release notes
Audiolinux Raspberry Pi4-Pi5 64 bit 4.0.1
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 support@audio-linux.com
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_580.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_580.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 706-707
Audiolinux V3: added options
6 - Upgrade system to V4 (experimental, long)
7 - Manual kernel compilation V4 (experimental, long)
to 3 'INSTALL/UPDATE V3 kernel (only Audiolinux V3) in INSTALL/UPDATE menu

These are experimental options to upgrade your system to V4 and compile and install last kernel for x86_64_v4 architecture if your system is supporting it (mostly AMD Ryzen 7000 series)
Please backup your system with the option in System menu or install Audiolinux in a testing USB drive before proceeding
Be sure that you have enough disk space or RAM
At this stage you can eventually ask Audiolinux support to do it for you in a remote AnyDesk session (on appointment)
Menu 704
Audiolinux V3: from now on the 1000 Hz kernel will be replaced by LTS (1000 Hz) Long Time Support kernel
Fix to 'remove creation of fallback initramfs image'
Menu 703
Kernel installation and ucode scripts will now remove creation of fallback initramfs image, since Audiolinux image is already configured to include all drivers
Menu 702
WiFi configuration script does not remove previous Ethernet configuration any more
Menu 701
The option 12 'CPU ucode and scaling driver to AMD/Intel' will update Audiolinux kernel configuration following Archlinux 'mkinitcpio hook migration and early microcode':
https://archlinux.org/news/mkinitcpio-hook-migration-and-early-microcode/
Please be sure that your system is updated

Added 'If you are having problems running Roon you should disable rtapp with the option 13 'REALTIME PRIORITY configuration' (System menu), disable isolated cores if enabled and reboot' to Roonserver enable/disable option in Audio menu
The update will also set ownership of /var/roon to root user and delete custom /etc/systemd/system/roonserver.service if it exists
Removed previous Roon test script
08/03/2024 New versions of Audiolinux Classic and Audiolinux V3 released
Menu 700 experimental fix for Roon server
Menu 699
Option for Roon installation in Update menu modified for new roonserver version >= 2.0.1365-2
Menu 698
With the last version of Isolated cores script is possible to specify Ethernet interface for irq isolation (for example enp4s0. eno1, etc.)
These new options for Ethernet and Video are still experimental
Menu 697
In Isolated cores script now you can type network to isolate your Ethernet card irq to a specific group
This configuration will work even if Ethernet irq is changing after a reboot
Menu 696
In Isolated cores script now you can type video to isolate your video card irq to a specific group
Be sure that you have only one card active. If for example you have a nvidia card but also a CPU integrated card, you should disable one of them in BIOS
This configuration will work even if Ethernet irq is changing after a reboot
Menu 695
Updated option 6 'HQPLAYER Multicore/Cuda/E-cores/nblocks configuration' in Audio menu
You can now configure E-cores for some Intel CPUs and the nblocks parameter
Menu 693-694
Added a custom option to Web Interface 2 that will start/stop isolated cores for applications and disable autostart at boot
Added the same option in Expert menu
Menu 692
Updated kernel custom script for the new 2000 Hz kernel
Added
'Note: with some recent updates disabling Journal may cause dbus to stop working'
to Journal option in Expert menu
Added
'If you see errors during update, the reason could be that the script will use the default options (Y or N)
In that case go to console and update core applications and libraries with the command
sudo pacman -Syu
After you can make a full update with this script'
to System update option in Update menu
Menu 412 Raspberry
Added missing sudo to some commands in Ravenna and Diretta scripts
Added options 1.1 BLUETOOTH enable/disable, 1.2 WIFI enable/disable, 1.3 HDMI/VIDEO enable/disable also to Web Interface 2
Menu 690
Added missing sudo to some commands in Ravenna and Diretta scripts
Updated license verification
Menu 411 Raspberry
WiFi script improved and fixed
Now Ethernet connection is not disabled
Remember that you must enable WiFi in Expert menu and reboot before configuring WiFi with the option in System menu

Downgraded curl to version 8.4.0 for compatibility with MPD player

Fixed: installation of Audiolinux RT 16k failed because previous kernel not removed
You should answer Y to remove previous kernel and kernel headers
06/01/2024 New versions of Audiolinux Classic and Audiolinux V3 released!
Menu 689
Audiolinux V3: Added custom 1666 Hz kernel SKYLAKE-AVX512 (SKYLAKEX)
Menu 688
HQPlayer input option in Audio menu now is working also if HQPlayer is started as root
Menu 685-686-687 and 409 Raspberry
Updated and improved MPD configuration script
After you must re-configure MPD with the option in Audio menu
Menu 683-684
Updated camillaDSP to version 2.0.0
Configuration script in Audio_extra menu improved and updated
Menu 682
NEWS option content in Main menu is now downloaded directly from Audiolinux site and is not renewed only at menu update
Menu 681
Removed some personal options added inadvertently in the CUSTOM menu (Web Interface 2)Menu 404 Raspberry
Disabled automatic start of Audiolinux menu
New kernel 6.6.6 16k RT LTO with 1666 frequency available for Pi 5
Improved kernel update script
Menu 407-408 Raspberry
Updated camillaDSP to version 2.0.0
Configuration script in Audio_extra menu improved and updated
Menu 406 Raspberry
systemd service ppower set to enabled if disabled
Improved and fixed CPU FREQUENCY SCALING in System menu. Options are now:
     1 Scaling governor
     2 Variable Frequency (governor ondemand)
     3 Fixed Frequency (governor performance)
     4 Overclocking Pi 4
     5 Overclocking Pi 5
     6 Copy default /boot/config.txt Pi 4
     7 Copy default /boot/config.txt Pi 5
     8 EXIT
Menu 405 Raspberry
NEWS option content in Main menu is now downloaded directly from Audiolinux site and is not renewed only at menu update
Added
'Configuration options in this menu could be incompatible with your /boot/config.txt
Please copy default config.txt for PI 5 or Pi4 before using this menu for the first time
You can edit config.txt with the option 16 'OVERLAYS configuration' in System menu'
to 17 'CPU FREQUENCY SCALING (governor, frequency, overclock)'
Added
'Since you cannot assign Audio or Network IRQ to specific cores in Raspberry kernel, you should press ENTER when asked for IRQ isolation
This limitation could change in future kernels'
to 18 'ISOLATED CPU CORES configuration'
Menu 404 Raspberry
Disabled automatic start of Audiolinux menu
New kernel 6.6.6 16k RT LTO with 1666 frequency available for Pi 5
Improved kernel update scriptMenu 403 Raspberry
Corrected wrong display of Bluetooth and WiFi status
Added option for copying back default Audiolinux /boot/config.txt in System menu -> 16 'OVERLAYS configuration'
Menu 403
Corrected wrong display of Bluetooth and WiFi status
Added option for copying back default Audiolinux /boot/config.txt in System menu -> 16 'OVERLAYS configuration'Menu 402 Raspberry
Critical fix: kernel update script not setting the correct drive UUID installing new kernel (only new installations)
Menu 401 Raspberry
9 'DIRETTA target installation' in Audio extra menu will install the new diretta-alsa-target-16k package if kernel is Audiolinux RT 16k
Downgrade of some applications removed if hqplayer-network-audio-daemon is installed
15/12/2023 NEW AUDIOLINUX RASPERRY Pi4-Pi5 is out!
With new kernel 6.1.64 RT LTO booting in both Pi4 and Pi5
After installation, if you have Pi5, we recommend to install the very last kernel Audiolinux 6.6.6 RT LTO 16k
The new Raspberry is delivered with menu 400 with an incredible list of new features and improvements:

Release notes The default configuration has wifi, Bluetooth and all video drivers disabled for the best audio performance. You can enable them in Expert menu
Frequency is set fixed to 2800000. It is a good setting, but you can change it together with a lot of other parameters
Included also a menu for overclocking Pi5 (use with care!)
Menu 680
In some network configurations the systemd service systemd-networkd-wait-online will fail or finish too late
As a consequence some systemd services depending on it like roonserver will not start or will start very late
This menu should fix this problem adding a timeout of 10s to systemd-networkd-wait-online
Menu 678-679
Fixed option 0.1 SHOW audio services in Audio menu (Web Interface 2)
Fix to special updates script (last version of hqplayer_input.service not copied)
Menu 676-677
Improved menu on Web Interface 2 now is very similar to Audiolinux classic menu
Added a complete Status menu
You must have the last version 1.19.0 of script-server, that should be installed automatically during menu update
Changed kernel.sched_rt_runtime_us value to -1 in kernel sysctl configuration
General reorganization of Audiolinux scripts
Menu 675
Added 2 'KERNEL cmdline add/remove parameters' to Expert menu
With this option you can add or remove kernel parameters
Please use it with caution and possibly backup your system
Note that some kernel parameters in Audiolinux should not be added, since some options are set on-the-fly by menu options
This include isolated cores, c-states, hyper-threading, mitigations etc.
If in doubt, contact support
A complete list of available parameters can be found here:
https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
The new configuration will be applied after a reboot
Menu 672-673-674
Updated and improved  5 'HQPLAYER streaming input enable/disable' (Audio menu)
With HQPLayer input you can send audio to HQPlayer from all audio and video players (including Spotify) not supporting UPnP or HQPlayer integration (as Roon or LMS)
This version supports frequency auto-switching!
Only if the source sampling frequency is different from the previous one or you are playing the first audio file you can expect to wait around 10s for switching to the right frequency
If the sampling rate is different you must stop previous song before playing the new one
Menu 671
Audiolinux Classic: fixed system update option in kernel update script
Added KERNEL CMDLINE PARAMETERS to 0 'SHOW configuration' (Main menu)
Menu 670
Fixed linux journal enabling/disabling in the Expert menu option and in profiles menuMenu Raspberry 319-320
Updated pacman.conf
Updated kernel installation script since the new realtime kernel name is now linux-rpi
Check and eventually fix kernel cmdline when updating
Improved display of kernel version
Menu Raspberry 318
Removed gssdp gupnp gupnp-dlna gupnp-igd rygel from the list of packages 'on hold'
Menu Raspberry 317
Fixed displaying of CPU temperature and core frequency
Menu 670
Fixed linux journal enabling/disabling in the Expert menu option and in profiles menu
Menu 668-669
Option 1 'REALTIME MANUAL ASSIGNMENT configuration' (Expert menu) moved to 13 'REALTIME PRIORITY configuration' (System menu)
Previous option 13 'REALTIME PRIORITY to standard or extreme' removed
Added HARDWARE CLOCK status to 0 'SHOW configuration' (Main menu)
Little fix to isolated cores kernel cmdline parameters
Added y/n choice to system update
Menu 667
Fix to error starting SHOW configuration (main menu)
Menu 665-666
Audiolinux profiles menu: various fixes
Menu 663-664
New improved AUDIOLINUX PROFILE MENU
This option allows you to compare different system configurations so you can choose the one you consider the best
AUTO profile is auto-generated by the choices you have made with Audiolinux menus
DEFAULT is the original Audiolinux configuration
To compare 2 different configurations:
1) Select 'Copy Auto to a custom profile' and give it a name (possibly without spaces)
2) Change configuration using Audiolinux menus and select 'Copy Auto to a custom profile' using a different name
3) Switch from one to the other using 'Apply profile'