From the "programming during Linux-Audio-Conference"-depth. comes the next release of JackMix.
Whats new since 0.2?
Inspired by a lot of talking during LAC I have redone the sliders. They still look kind of similar to some vu-meters but I think it isn't that bad anymore.
But there are new knobs in this version too. They did get positive feedback during the conference. :-)
The knobs from 0.2 didn't seem to scale well. At least not from the usability point.
The biggest change is that version 0.3 saves the own state to xml-files which can be read again later. Also adding a filename on the commandline opens that file on startup. This enables version 0.4 to have lash-support.
And there is a new interface so backend can interact with the gui in a better way. The main effect now is that if jackd is not running its not the jackmix mainwindow that is complaining but the backend popping up a message.
install
First grab the source from here: jackmix-0.3.1.tar.gz.
After unpacking you will probably build it: First guess is simply by calling scons configure && scons.
If that fails complaining about missing Qt4 you will have to execute something like QTDIR=<path_to_your_qt_here> scons configure && scons. If your headers are in /usr/include/qt4 and your libs in /usr/libs/qt4 you have to use QTDIR=/usr scons configure qtlibs=/usr/lib/qt4 && scons.
If you want to install jackmix somewhere into your path use scons install, you can controll the place to install by passing prefix=<path> after the configure.
Usage
Be sure to have a jackd running, preferable via qjackctl which also has a nice window to connect inputs and outputs like the back of your rack.
Next start jackmix. If all is well it will present you with a top-row of controls, a big matrix in the middle and some controls on the right. The top controls are the input gain, the right controls are output gain. The matrix in the middle controls the levels sent from the various inputs to the outputs.
If you are tired of the simple potis for each channel and want easier mixing into stereo busses there is help available. Just select the potis you want replaced by using "Select" from the context menu of each control and then use "Replace" in the top-left control you want replaced. If all is working JackMix will choose the biggest possible replacing control (current available controls are mono-to-mono, mono-to-stereo and stereo-to-stereo). You can fill the empty places from the "Edit"-menu.
Adding and removing of input- and output-channels is also done from the "Edit"-menu.
Please note that if no jackd is running, JackMix will start but not show any controls. You can tell JackMix to create new channels, but nothing will happen. Restart JackMix after starting jackd and go on with your work.