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# Guitarix

From ArchWiki

Related articles

- Professional audio
- Sound system
- JACK
- Realtime kernel
- envy24control

Guitarix is a free and open source software virtual guitar amplifier for Linux. Though originally created to be used with the JACK Audio Connection Kit, it is compatible with PipeWire.

Guitarix takes the signal from a guitar like a real amp, as a mono-signal from a sound card. The input is processed by a main amp and a rack-section. Both can be routed separately and deliver a processed stereo-signal via native JACK or via the new low-level multimedia framework PipeWire. The signal is processed with minimum latency, taking less than 10ms to be processed.

It includes a rack, that can be fill with effects from more than 25 built-in modules including, from a simple noise gate to brain-slashing modulation f/x like flanger, phaser or auto-wah.

## Hardware requirements

In order to use Guitarix, users need to connect the guitar cable into an audio interface. The audio interface converts the audio signal coming from the guitar pickups into a digital signal, then, through an USB-A or USB-C, depending on the interface model, it sends it into the computer. An audio server then is used to send the signal into Guitarix, to allow the use of effects.

Note: Some guitar multi-effect processors like the BOSS GT-1 or GT-1000 can act as audio interface, allowing users to mix the built-in effects with Guitarix.

## Installation

Install the guitarix package. For a set of extra lv2 plugins for Guitarix, install gxplugins.lv2. The guitarix.vst-gitAUR package provides extra VST3 plugins to be used with Guitarix.

### Audio server configuration

Since Guitarix interacts with JACK to provide real-time, low-latency audio, users can either use native JACK, or use PipeWire.

#### JACK-only

To use it with JACK, install JACK and follow the Professional audio#JACK-only section.

#### PipeWire-only

Install PipeWire and follow the Professional audio#PipeWire-only section.

PipeWire provides JACK compatibility through pipewire-jack, which can be used with qpwgraph to create the correct audio routing, manage virtual wiring and sinks. for Guitarix, it will allow to route the audio coming from an audio interface into Guitarix, then to the system speakers.

## System configuration

Before start using Guitarix, users should follow Professional audio#Optimizing system configuration and apply the required system optimizations. The following section resumes it as follows:

### Groups

In order to ensure a low latency for the current user, the user must be a member of the `realtime` and `audio` groups. Install the realtime-privileges package, then add your user to these groups.

## Latency

To reduce the audio latency, copy PipeWire configuration files from `/usr/share/pipewire/` to the user location `~/.config/pipewire/` and edit `jack.conf`:

    ~/.config/pipewire/jack.conf

    # global properties for all jack clients

    jack.properties = {
        node.latency       = 128/48000
    }

Tip: In case you wish to use a sample rate of 192Khz, set the sample rate value to 2048/192000. PipeWire allows to dynamically switch sample rates. See PipeWire#Changing the default sample rate and PipeWire#JACK clients for more detailed information.

## Ulimit

By default, ulimit value is not set to `unlimited`. Therefore, users may find themselves with:

    init *** mlockall failed

This can be fixed by creating an exception rule.

Create/edit the file `/etc/security/limits.d/audio.conf`, and add:

    @audio   -  rtprio     95
    @audio   -  memlock    unlimited

Add your user to the `audio` group and reboot to apply the changes.

## QPWGraph

QPWGraph is a Qt-based Graph/Patchbay for PipeWire, inspired by the JACK tool QjackCtl. It allows to save and manage and route wire sets. For Guitarix, it helps with routing the audio signals from the audio interface.

### Installation

Install the qpwgraph package.

### Configuration with Guitarix

Run QPWGraph and Guitarix. then, pipe the output of your audio interface to the input of Guitarix and the output of Guitarix to the input of your speakers by dragging the virtual wiring. Once done, you should now be able to play your guitar and hear the audio being routed from Guitarix to your speakers.

Tip: Guitarix can be combined with a DAW such as Reaper, for professional music production. See List_of_applications/Multimedia#Digital_audio_workstations for more alternatives.

## Troubleshooting

This article or section needs expansion.

Reason: The troubleshooting section needs to be added and expanded (Discuss in Talk:Guitarix)

## See also

- Official website
- Subreddit for Guitarix
- PipeWire Wiki on Freedesktop GitLab
- Official bug tracker for Guitarix
- Official documentation
- Guitarix forums
- Information on setting the sample rates dynamically for PipeWire
- Setting up HI-Fi for PipeWire

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- Music

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