A Good Linux Distro For Music Production?

[bbbjjj]

Many things have changed in the past couple of years. More DAWs and plugins now support Linux. AV Linux 21.1 has been the most stable system I have ever used for audio. YMMV?

The issue is finding audio interfaces that work with Linux out of the box. Last I checked there is only one by Focusrite iirc.
Things do change fairly rapidly in computerl land so if at least Zoom would support Linux Id be tempted to switch from Windows.

The Tascam Model 12 works perfectly on Linux, I use it with Bitwig (Pipewire) on an ArchLinux and have not had any issues so far. I am running at 16ms (48 kHz) when I have projects with high CPU load. Just for recording I can at 8ms. Alsa and Jack without PW were both really bad with lots of cracking and crashes.

I would probably not recommend Arch for audio if you have never used it before.
AVLinux is ok but doesn't see much updates so if you have really recent hardware or software sometimes it can be a bit finicky.

I would probably recommend Ubuntu Studio if you are starting.

Don't bother with Realtime kernels too much, they don't bring much anymore now that more parts of the kernel are preemptible.

[? ? ?]

Alsa and Jack without PW were both really bad with lots of cracking and crashes.

I'm not sure i really get what PipeWire does versus Alsa. What I mean is if it's necessary to have both. Do you think the cracking and crashes has anything to do with using Arch?

I would probably not recommend Arch for audio if you have never used it before.

I'm a newbie with Linux. The last i used it was around 2008 and all I rwmember was throwing the computer out the window.

I would probably recommend Ubuntu Studio if you are starting.

Being a bit lazy here and maybe you can answer this one but what is the difference between a regular release and a long term support release?
I assume the former is a release that will soon be replaced by an updated version?

Don't bother with Realtime kernels too much, they don't bring much anymore now that more parts of the kernel are preemptible.

I read up a little on this.
https://ubuntu.com/blog/what-is-real-ti ... rminology.

[bbbjjj]

If your purpose is to make music, I would advise against starting Linux again for that purpose.
I use Linux because I've been using it almost exclusively for almost two decades.
Now if you want to learn Linux that's a different thing, and nothing stops you from having both windows and linux on the same machine so you can experiment while still being productive music-wise.
If your only problem is stability, I'm not 100% sure you would gain much from switching anyway.

[THE INTRANCER]

Just posting for reference.

viewtopic.php?t=573276

[? ? ?]

If your purpose is to make music, I would advise against starting Linux again for that purpose.

Others are doing it which means I can too especially considering other people are idiots and I are smartier.

I use Linux because I've been using it almost exclusively for almost two decades.

My condolences.

nothing stops you from having both windows and linux on the same machine so you can experiment while still being productive music-wise.

I've decided to install it on an old Mac laptop instead for now. That way the Windows system can be left alone for, as you stated, being productive while I learn the ropes for that annoying penguin.

If your only problem is stability, I'm not 100% sure you would gain much from switching anyway.

No stability issues. Linux is free and can work on outdated computers so might as well make use of the Mac.

Cheers for the info!

[spoontechnique]

I've actually had an excellent experience on Linux.

I installed the stock version of PopOS and got a cheap Behringer UMC 204HD. I knew I wanted Pipewire, and PopOS uses it. I had some annoyances early on. For example, I couldn't get my interface's extra outputs to work. But a Pipewire update fixed that issue. I can honestly say I haven't tinkered with it after the first few weeks. It's been almost a year, and it just works.

I did give up some windows VSTs, but I installed yabridge and every windows VST I have tried works fine. I only installed my favorites and mostly use stock effects nowadays.

As for DAWs, I've used Bitwig, Waveform Pro, Renoise, and now Blockhead. Bitwig has been very solid and easy to use. Waveform Pro was my old favorite on Windows, and I like it but moved on. Renoise rules, but I haven't been in a tracker mood lately. Blockhead is the hotness and a ton of fun.

I can't say everyone will have the same experience, but I've been pleasantly surprised. Everyone online said Linux audio would be a miserable slog. I did select my hardware with Linux in mind, so maybe that's the reason.

[questionaire]

If your purpose is to make music, I would advise against starting Linux again for that purpose.
I use Linux because I've been using it almost exclusively for almost two decades.
Now if you want to learn Linux that's a different thing, and nothing stops you from having both windows and linux on the same machine so you can experiment while still being productive music-wise.
If your only problem is stability, I'm not 100% sure you would gain much from switching anyway.

For me Linux was all about stability, i have only good results with Linux. Much lower latency results and less CPU strain. Nearly all my Windows VST's work with Yabridge. I'm a really happy Linux user, i wish i had moved away from Windows much longer before.

[lobanov]

Being a bit lazy here and maybe you can answer this one but what is the difference between a regular release and a long term support release?

https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle

[questionaire]

Back to the original question: I'm using Ubuntu Studio which comes with the low latency kernel and studio controls installed where you can tweak the audio to your liking and do some system important system tweaks. I do not need more then Ubuntu studio really satisfied and its free!

Ubuntu Studio comes with KDE Plasma desktop which is a really nice desktop in my opinion. KDE plasma desktop can be twaeked in any aspect.

You could also use original Ubuntu and install Studio Controls seperately to get a good audio system. Then you get Gnome desktop which is also a cool desktop.

[jens]

people are idiots and I are smartier

U mayt in deat (who nows?) - but Im how ever smartyst th'o and Im sayin u Linux is crappistest OS from all (is to cheap so not good)

[nusound mind]

I'm the noobiest of the newbs when it comes to Linux, as in I watched my first 'beginners to Linux' type yt vids sometime last week so this thread is a goldmine to me, I def. appreciate all the knowledge being dropped here. Linux always sounded daunting in the past but it's good to hear that that seems to be changing.

[machine_spirit]

One can only hope that Linux continues to gain momentum, as Microsoft continues its descent into the business model of spitroasting their users between advertisements, bloatware, extensive datamining, endless attempts to force their web browser and sales platform onto people, forced updates that are more about control than anything else and so on.

[Blaster]

One thing interesting about Presonus Studio One for Linux:

Certain features are currently unavailable in the Linux version:

CD burning
DDP import/export
Video support
Score printing
REX file support
International text input
Thunderbolt support for PreSonus hardware
Advanced PreSonus hardware integration (preamp control, etc.)
Melodyne integration
3rd-party plug-in GUIs
Linux-specific plug-in formats (lv2, dssi, vamp)

Could this mean that Melodyne will get a Linux version too? Or does this already work with something like Wine?

[stoopicus]

One other thing I should have mentioned... I don't allow Windows to auto-update.

You realize this is an absolutely terrible idea now, right?

These days skipping Windows security updates on any machine connected to the internet... not a solid plan.

[DRMR]

Linux-specific plug-in formats (lv2, dssi, vamp)

Funny thing is that these are not at all Linux specific formats.
(and vamp is pretty useless for realtime processing and use in DAWs. weird that they mention it)