JACK Rack README
JACK Rack is a stereo LADSPA effects rack for the JACK audio API. It uses GTK+ 2 (and optionally GNOME 2) for the gui. LADSPA version 1.1 is needed. In order to save rack configurations, libxml2 is needed.
It also understands LRDF XML descriptions of LADSPA plugins. LRDF support needs liblrdf, available from http://plugin.org.uk/lrdf/. This in turn needs raptor, available from http://www.redland.opensource.ac.uk/raptor/.
Feedback
It would be very much appreciated if you could provide some user-perspective feedback here: http://arb.bash.sh/~rah/software/feedback.html
Compilation
The usual autoconf gibbins; ./configure && make && make install. A GNOME .desktop file (which puts an entry in the gnome menu) and the JACK Rack icon are installed in /usr/share/{applications,pixmaps} by default. You can make them be installed under the autoconf prefix with --disable-desktop-inst.
Running
Assuming you have some ladspa plugins installed, make sure you have your LADSPA_PATH environment variable set to include them. If you don't have any ladspa plugins installed, head over to http://plugin.org.uk/ and grab Steve Harris's excellent plugin collection.
JACK Rack searches for .rdf and .rdfs files in /usr/local/share/ladspa/rdf and /usr/share/ladspa/rdf by default. You can change this search path using the LADSPA_RDF_PATH environment variable.
JACK Rack doesn't do any port connecting by default, so you might want to use QJackConnect or jack_connect to connect it up. Alternatively, if you use the -i command line option, JACK Rack will try to connect its input ports to the capture ports of whatever physical devices are in the system. The -o option works similarly for the outputs.
When you lock a line of controls, all but one of the controls will be hidden. Using the Lock button, this will be the first control. This can hinder things if you want to use a value which isn't the first. In this case, you can hold down the CTRL key and click on the control you want to remain visible. The line will lock, but the clicked-on control will be the visible one. Clicking with mouse button 3 works similarly, but with Lock All instead.
Right-clicking on plugin controls or wet/dry controls will bring up a context menu allowing you to add MIDI controls.
Contact
Patches, bug reports, etc, go to jack-rack-devel@lists.sourceforge.net (subscribe from http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/jack-rack-devel) New versions will be available from http://arb.bash.sh/~rah/software/jack-rack/ .