Setup Linux for Bitwig without an Audio Optimized Distro

[antismap]

Ok.. well I'm using a regular usb cable to those interfaces. Actually it's frustrating because I have a powerful work computer running linux that I can't use for bitwig because of this issue... And i don't really know where to look to solve this.

[antismap]

Ok maybe it has something to do with running the laptop with or without power supply. Right now i can't reproduce the issue and it's powered. But now of course another issue: running in pulseaudio mode, but the wrong audio interface is used. other apps use the right one that is currently chosen in the settings. Using jack does not work at all. Great.

EDIT: ok i was actually on F34 so I upgraded to F35. I was also using pulseaudio instead of pipewire because of issues. I now switched back to pipewire. Jack now works !

[Beerhunter]

What do you guys think about PipeWire?

I am running Pipewire since version 0.3.28
and to be honest it's working quite well.
One think that is not working right now, or I might do something wrong, is if you wanna switch the input from a Jack setup I had previously to an input shown by pipewire I will have no audio in and out.

[ThomasHelzle]

Thanks beerhunter!
I keep looking at Linux but so far it doesn't really work for me, it doesn't like my interface.
But pipewire gives me hope that Linux audio will become more integrated and streamlined finally.
Maybe one day

Cheers,

Tom

[Beerhunter]

Hey Tom, what Interface do you use?

[ThomasHelzle]

Scarlett 18i20 first gen. I can't get any audio out of it with most distributions I've tried. I'm sure it can be fixed somehow, but that is the kind of stuff I am so not interested in anymore...
Also the Nvidia drivers somehow do not like my 4k monitor and come up with the wrong size (40 pixels missing in every direction) every time on every distribution.
That again is something I do not care to fiddle with in 2021. I was fine hacking such stuff on my Amiga 500 in the early 90ies...
Since I do 3D and use the GPU for rendering, I need those drivers.
But I don't want to derail this thread, it's just the usual experience I have with Linux since 1996 when I set up my first Linux server... Something always breaks and then it's way too cumbersome to fix for me personally.

[Beerhunter]

@Tom, funny thing is
I am rocking the Scarlett 18i20 1st Gen. as well. My 4K LG Monitor is powered by an GtX660ti with the proprietary drivers.
I am using Stock Ubuntu 20.04, just a Low-latency kernel and some Jack configuration stuff.

ALSA is able to see my interface and pipewire works without a problem for my needs.

I am rocking a Ryzen 3700x on an MSI X570 with some GSkill RAM.

If I can help you, just let me know.

And yeah, let's get back to the topic again.

[rumpelkind]

Using a distro like Ubuntu Studio would likely make getting Bitwig up and running even faster, but I wanted to use Linux Mint and also avoid the great many applications that distros like Ubuntu Studio come with. After struggling through the process a bit, and repeating it on a newer machine, I thought I would share the steps that ultimately worked well for me:

Steps to configure Linux for use with Bitwig without an audio optimized distro. (Note: Ubuntu Studio Controls requires a Ubuntu based distro. Tested with Linux Mint Cinnamon 20.2.)

1) Install the low latency kernel, JACK, and an interface to control it by running the following command in the terminal:

Code: Select all

sudo apt install linux-lowlatency pulseaudio-module-jack ubuntustudio-controls

2) Open Ubuntu Studio Controls:

a) Click the button at the top to enable "real time permissions" and follow the instructions.
b) Set "CPU Governor" to "Performance"
c) Under the "Audio Setup" tab, select your audio interface next to "USB device that should be Master:"
d) Enter your desired sample rate and buffer/period numbers to adjust latency.
e) Uncheck "Bridge ALSA to Jack MIDI (turn on a2jmidid)"
f) Click "Apply Audio Settings" then "Start or Restart Jack"
g) Close out

Now you should be able to run Bitwig and select JACK as your audio driver (Settings>Audio). Done.

Thank you! This is exactly what I was searching for

[NWS]

Great to hear--hope it proves useful.

[chaocrator]

e) Uncheck "Bridge ALSA to Jack MIDI (turn on a2jmidid)"

just a note: actually, you can have a2jmidid running if you need, it just must be stopped on Bitwig startup, then you can start it again once Bitwig is running.

[NWS]

Thanks for the tip, I've added that as a note in the original instructions.

e) Uncheck "Bridge ALSA to Jack MIDI (turn on a2jmidid)"

just a note: actually, you can have a2jmidid running if you need, it just must be stopped on Bitwig startup, then you can start it again once Bitwig is running.

[cajmere]

i'm going to use this thread to get my linux system again up & running again. After 2 HDD crashes(same time) in beginning of the year i have problems with latency. I lost my old configuration of kernel and other files(didn't had backup of it). First is getting again a self-compiled kernel running again. Now i only get kernel panics and i don't know why yet .

[audiojunkie]

i'm going to use this thread to get my linux system again up & running again. After 2 HDD crashes(same time) in beginning of the year i have problems with latency. I lost my old configuration of kernel and other files(didn't had backup of it). First is getting again a self-compiled kernel running again. Now i only get kernel panics and i don't know why yet .

What distro are you using? If you use a distro that has everything built for you, you won't have to compile anything. Distros I recommend are: Ubuntu Studio for beginners. Ubuntu, Manjaro or EndeavourOS for intermediate users, and Arch for aspiring experts.

The above mentioned distros come with the complete repositories that would be required for a working audio distro. They also have installable kernels that are available to use. If you use Ubuntu, make sure you add the XKStudio repository. If you use any of the Arch family, make sure you use the AUR. If you are comfortable enough, you can use any distro at all and get what you need. However, I personally recommend the above distros for what they have available.

[cajmere]

I use Debian testing/unstable. I'm not a beginner, using linux already for 20 years. I'm used to compile my own kernels.
I use KX repo's also on top of it.

[audiojunkie]

I use Debian testing/unstable. I'm not a beginner, using linux already for 20 years. I'm used to compile my own kernels.
I use KX repo's also on top of it.

Perfect! I love Debian! The only reason I don't use Debian Testing/Unstable right now, is that I don't like relying on the work of just one person (FalkTX) for easy access to up to date audio software. If FalkTX ever got sick, the KX repos (at least as we know them right now) would die. I like the Arch family for its Arch User Repository that has many developers supporting the packages. Instead of compiling your kernel, you could look into installing Liquorix (Zen Kernel), which should be easy enough. I personally hate compiling all but the easiest of executables. Haha!