Notes
This is the section of the site where longer-form writing appears. The reference pages elsewhere on the site are organized around specific topics - a subscription page covers subscriptions, a benchmark hub covers benchmarks - and their purpose is to answer a defined question as directly as possible. Notes are different. They exist for writing that requires more than a direct answer: analysis, perspective, the kind of context-setting that is useful to someone trying to understand not just what something is but why it matters and how it connects to everything else. I have been working with Linux audio systems for a long time, and some of what I have learned does not fit neatly into a reference page. This section is where that material goes.
Topics span audio quality, latency, benchmarking methodology, the Linux audio developer community, and library resources. The common thread is depth - when a topic has something more to say than a reference page can contain.
All Notes
Mixxx 2.5.6 on Linux: The Practical Upgrade Guide (Controllers, Effects, Stability, and What Changed)
Mixxx 2.5.6 landed with controller mapping changes, new effects, and better PipeWire integration. Here is what to check before upgrading, what broke, and what finally works properly.
PipeWire JACK vs Native JACK in 2026: A Clear Decision Table for Recording, Live FX Chains, and DJ Sets
PipeWire's JACK layer or native JACK2 - which one should you use in 2026? A decision table based on your actual workflow: recording, live effects chains, or DJ sets.
Low Latency Audio Checklist for 2026: CPU Governor, IRQ Behaviour, USB Power, and Small Buffer Reality Checks
Everything you need to verify before trusting small buffers on Linux in 2026. CPU governor, IRQ affinity, USB power management, and the buffer sizes that actually work on real hardware.
Linux 6.12 and PREEMPT_RT in 2026: What Changed for Audio Workloads and What Still Needs Tuning
PREEMPT_RT is finally mainline in Linux 6.12. Here is what actually changed for audio workloads, what improved without configuration, and what still needs manual tuning for reliable low latency.
Ubuntu Studio 26.04 LTS Pro Audio Setup: New Audio Configuration Tool, PipeWire Buffers, and Low Latency Boot Tweaks
Ubuntu Studio 26.04 LTS ships with a reworked audio configuration tool and PipeWire as the default. Here is how to set it up for serious low latency audio production from a fresh install.
pw-top Walkthrough: Diagnosing XRuns, CPU Spikes, and Bad Nodes in Live Sessions (2026 Edition)
pw-top tells you exactly what is happening inside PipeWire's processing graph. Here is how to read it, what the columns mean, and how to find the node that is causing your XRuns.
PipeWire Real Time Scheduling in 2026: RTKit, Portal Realtime, and rlimits for Musicians Who Just Want Low Latency
Three ways PipeWire gets real-time scheduling on Linux. RTKit, portal realtime, and traditional rlimits - which one your system is actually using and whether it is enough for serious audio work.
WirePlumber Pro Audio Profile Explained: What It Changes, When It Helps, and When It Makes Things Worse (2026)
The WirePlumber pro-audio profile is not a magic switch. This is what it actually changes in PipeWire session management, when it helps, and when it makes audio routing worse.
PipeWire Quantum in 2026: Choosing 64, 128, 256, or 512 Without XRuns (A Repeatable Test Method)
Stop guessing your PipeWire quantum. Here is a repeatable test method for finding the lowest stable buffer size on your specific hardware, measured under real audio workloads.