audio recording

Modular set ups are where more than one program is used in a set up. JACK allows you to connect and sync various audio programs together so you can benefit from the strengths of individual applications. Session management can be used to manage and recall such complex set ups. A good suite of modular applications is the Non suite, which includes Non timeline, Non mixer and Non sequencer, although any JACK application can be incorporated into a modular set up.

Monolithic set ups are where you do all your work in one program. This is the most common approach people using Windows and Mac audio software will be used to. In Linux, JACK allows for very modular set ups, although some applications are fully featured and can also be used as monolithic set ups, eg. Ardour and Qtractor.

Signal to noise ratio, sometimes expressed as SNR or S/N, refers to the ratio of the nominal signal level to the undesired noise level. This stretches from just above your noise floor, right up to your nominal signal level. How large your signal to noise ratio is depends on what equipment you are using, your acoustic environment and also the bit depth that you use to record at.

Your noise floor is the sum of all noise sources and unwanted signals within your system. This may include low level sound sources that a mic picks up as well as system induced noise that may be introduced, for example, your preamp may also add noise to your signal path.

If you get an xrun, it basically means that your systems CPU wasn't able to keep up with the information it was being fed from your soundcard. There are many factors at play.

More information about the causes of xruns

JACK 1 and JACK 2 are equivalent implementations of the same protocol. In most cases, it doesn't matter which one you choose. unless you have a specific reason for doing so. A common misconception is that JACK 2 is a newer version, when in fact, both versions are developed alongside each other.

More details and information about the differences between JACK 1 and JACK 2