Bitwig

brownerthanu · Post by **brownerthanu** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:12 pm

I'm about to fire up a Linux install, so I got curious. Shoulda allowed for multiple answers, but I assume people will just list their primary OS.

Netsu · Post by **Netsu** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:17 pm

I'm currently on OSX, but not really by choice. Been using Linux for the previous 8 years and bought Bitwig specifically for the Linux support.

brownerthanu · Post by **brownerthanu** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 5:11 am

I'm pleasantly surprised by the number of Linux votes.

Enrize · Post by **Enrize** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 6:16 am

I would try Linux, if i could install Kontakt there. Is it possible?

twumpy · Post by **twumpy** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 8:44 am

Enrize wrote:I would try Linux, if i could install Kontakt there. Is it possible?

It is possible but requires certain version and Airwave (check the topic on Airwave). If it's just for sample playing purposes, I recently found Carla+Calf Fluidsynth+Soundfonts works pretty well for my purposes. I mainly wanted "real" instruments such as strings and proper grand piano.

Netsu · Post by **Netsu** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 8:58 am

Yeah, there's not many professional VSTs for Linux. The Calf stuff is great for basics like filters, reverbs, EQs and stuff, but all this is already included in Bitwig.

Synths is where Linux is lacking most at the moment, I even bought the Monique synth, since it was one of very few with Linux support, but I must say I'm disappointed in the long run. It's monophonic, single-voice per OSC and the LFOs can modulate only very few parameters...

Excds · Post by **Excds** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:41 am

twumpy wrote:
Enrize wrote:I would try Linux, if i could install Kontakt there. Is it possible?
It is possible but requires certain version and Airwave (check the topic on Airwave). If it's just for sample playing purposes, I recently found Carla+Calf Fluidsynth+Soundfonts works pretty well for my purposes. I mainly wanted "real" instruments such as strings and proper grand piano.

Try out Pianoteq: https://www.pianoteq.com/

They have a native Linux version and you can use the trial version immediately. The thing with the trial version is that some notes will not get played.

ThomasHelzle · Post by **ThomasHelzle** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:44 am

The best native synths for Linux are probably everything from u-he (the effects are nothing to sneeze at either): http://www.u-he.com
Disco DSP has several good synths: http://www.discodsp.com/
Loomer is all Linux, synths and effects: http://www.loomer.co.uk/
Overtone DSP - good and low CPU effects: https://www.overtonedsp.co.uk/

Samplerwise it doesn't look as good.

Let's see if the VST-SDK adding more open licenses will help in this regard over time.
Bitwig definitely opened up this market...

Cheers,

Tom

Enrize · Post by **Enrize** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 12:06 pm

Excds wrote:
twumpy wrote:
Enrize wrote:I would try Linux, if i could install Kontakt there. Is it possible?
It is possible but requires certain version and Airwave (check the topic on Airwave). If it's just for sample playing purposes, I recently found Carla+Calf Fluidsynth+Soundfonts works pretty well for my purposes. I mainly wanted "real" instruments such as strings and proper grand piano.
Try out Pianoteq: https://www.pianoteq.com/

They have a native Linux version and you can use the trial version immediately. The thing with the trial version is that some notes will not get played.

I need a lot of orchestral libraries for Kontakt, its not only a piano unfortunately.

crisisinaptica · Post by **crisisinaptica** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 1:51 pm

Another Linux user here.

Enrize wrote: I need a lot of orchestral libraries for Kontakt, its not only a piano unfortunately.

Me too...

This works on my system:

Kontakt 5.5.1 (64 bit) - excellent performance and stability for almost two years now.
Service Center - downloading libraries, updates, registering products.

I have not tested more recent versions, nor Native Access.
I updated airwave one week ago, compiled from source.

It can be done.
If you decide to try, you will need to properly configure the wineprefix for this to work. Check the kontakt pages in http://www.winehq.org

Enrize · Post by **Enrize** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:16 pm

crisisinaptica wrote:Another Linux user here.

Enrize wrote: I need a lot of orchestral libraries for Kontakt, its not only a piano unfortunately.
Me too...

This works on my system:

Kontakt 5.5.1 (64 bit) - excellent performance and stability for almost two years now.
Service Center - downloading libraries, updates, registering products.

I have not tested more recent versions, nor Native Access.
I updated airwave one week ago, compiled from source.

It can be done.
If you decide to try, you will need to properly configure the wineprefix for this to work. Check the kontakt pages in http://www.winehq.org

Thanks, i will take a look!

mevla · Post by **mevla** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:35 pm

Netsu wrote:Synths is where Linux is lacking most at the moment, I even bought the Monique synth, since it was one of very few with Linux support, but I must say I'm disappointed in the long run. It's monophonic, single-voice per OSC and the LFOs can modulate only very few parameters...

All of u-he synths are available for Linux. They all work perfectly. That by itself is a wide array of high quality, rich and subtle sounds. Nothing to compare with the Monique synth.

All u-he plugins are also available, that includes Presswerk and Satin.

Then you have Discovery Pro which complements nicely the u-he synths by its rogueness an dagain, wide array of sounds.

Then you have Pianoteq (e)piano and vibraphone modeling which is fantastic.

And then Biotek, an original yet-to-be-tamed synth from Tracktion, of which the 'DAW Essential' set of plugins are also avaialble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdH54mE8OEc

On the sampler front, Bliss and Redux.

There will also be, soon, Waverazor, a wave sample manipulation synth, also from Taiho Yamada who worked on Biotek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TztXMs3zd0

As a mixing/mastering DAW there's Harrison Mixbus 32C. Harrison is a hardware console maker now reputed for very large mixing consoles for the film industry and who were also known for the studio consoles used for Supertramp, Zappa, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, etc... Mixbus 32C brings the emulation of their 32C EQ from their hardware consoles. And Mixbus 32C also goes with a set of Harrison plugins such as spectral compressor, multiband compressor, drum and bass enhancers, etc.

I have yet to try Kontakt (and some Windows plugins) via Airwave For the moment though, there's plenty for creativity purposes. If you wish, listen to some of the pieces I have made - see in the signature below. I am still learning how to mix and make 'serious' things, though

Kypresso · Post by **Kypresso** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:43 pm

What linux distro are people using, is there any particular one that is best for running bitwig on ?

mevla · Post by **mevla** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:48 pm

Kypresso wrote:What linux distro are people using, is there any particular one that is best for running bitwig on ?

I use Linux Mint 17 64 bits on i5-3570 CPU @ 3.40GHz with 16 G RAM. I should upgrade to Linux Mint 18 soon. I install the real-time Linux kernel for the distro and then do a series of optimizations. I prefer to use a general distro than a audio specialized one, simply because it is more mainstream, more general purpose.

mevla · Post by **mevla** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:57 pm

Nice to see that many users of Linux !

Bitwig

KVR Audio

Poll: Do you use Windows, Linux or OS X?

I use Bitwig on: