The linux DAW thread

[lunardigs]

The RME Fireface line works really well with Linux, despite the lack of official drivers/TotalMix.
I have an RME UFX (original, going on 10+ years old and still working great) and the latest UFX III with ARC (USB controller) ... Linux can use both almost fully.

Yeah, it's frustrating that RME has their current position on official Linux support. However, I have to give them credit as they've actually taken feedback from others and myself. Check this thread out: https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=37699

[koalaboy]

The RME Fireface line works really well with Linux, despite the lack of official drivers/TotalMix.
I have an RME UFX (original, going on 10+ years old and still working great) and the latest UFX III with ARC (USB controller) ... Linux can use both almost fully.

Yeah, it's frustrating that RME has their current position on official Linux support. However, I have to give them credit as they've actually taken feedback from others and myself. Check this thread out: https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=37699

I've been watching that thread, and the others with 3rd-party mixing/control apps, and it is getting much closer. RME are being very good with their CC modes, and it just needs a bit more to push me over for my UFX2+. (I've been tempted to try and hack/contribute to some of the 3rd-party stuff if I find time).

I presume that, with the ARC for 'control', I could potentially USB Switch the UFX between iPad and Linux occasionally to be able to setup snapshots via the iPad UI and then save to the device to use back in Linux ? That would be almost good enough I think.

Otherwise I need to start going back over threads and the best way to get my various sample libraries (Kontakt/Opus) working as well. Definitely something to think about, as Windows is really just hanging on at this point.

An alternative/option may be that I just save up for a Digiface USB as well - use that as the Linux 'connection' into the UFX, and just use the iPad permanently connected as a mix station - if that makes sense ? I do have a Rodecaster 2 Pro that I could go via, but the latency on that really isn't great and I use it mostly for 'mixing in' an external macbook and Microphone.

[audiojunkie]

Ready for some interesting news? Linux desktop adoption is now at 6% world-wide!!!

https://www.zdnet.com/article/think-lin ... otherwise/

"This news comes after several other studies have shown the Linux desktop is right around the 6% mark. Indeed, according to the US Federal Government Website and App Analytics count, the Linux desktop market share over the last 90 days has reached 6.3%, a new high. In July, according to StatCounter, the Linux desktop also set a record high by its metrics with 5.24%."

[koalaboy]

Ready for some interesting news? Linux desktop adoption is now at 6% world-wide!!!

https://www.zdnet.com/article/think-lin ... otherwise/

"This news comes after several other studies have shown the Linux desktop is right around the 6% mark. Indeed, according to the US Federal Government Website and App Analytics count, the Linux desktop market share over the last 90 days has reached 6.3%, a new high. In July, according to StatCounter, the Linux desktop also set a record high by its metrics with 5.24%."

The crazy thing is, if some big companies also provided Linux versions, desktop adoption would likely grow much more. It's likely they won't due to the incentives from developing for Apple/Windows, but it's really good to see it's growing.

Gaming may well be the breaking point for many, if the rumoured 'Valve console' arrives.

[audiojunkie]

I just found this SOS article. It's not exactly new (Feb 2024), but it gives a nice review of someone's experiences with trying Linux Audio:

https://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advi ... tion-music

[lunardigs]

The RME Fireface line works really well with Linux, despite the lack of official drivers/TotalMix.
I have an RME UFX (original, going on 10+ years old and still working great) and the latest UFX III with ARC (USB controller) ... Linux can use both almost fully.

Yeah, it's frustrating that RME has their current position on official Linux support. However, I have to give them credit as they've actually taken feedback from others and myself. Check this thread out: https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=37699

I've been watching that thread, and the others with 3rd-party mixing/control apps, and it is getting much closer. RME are being very good with their CC modes, and it just needs a bit more to push me over for my UFX2+. (I've been tempted to try and hack/contribute to some of the 3rd-party stuff if I find time).

I presume that, with the ARC for 'control', I could potentially USB Switch the UFX between iPad and Linux occasionally to be able to setup snapshots via the iPad UI and then save to the device to use back in Linux ? That would be almost good enough I think.

Otherwise I need to start going back over threads and the best way to get my various sample libraries (Kontakt/Opus) working as well. Definitely something to think about, as Windows is really just hanging on at this point.

An alternative/option may be that I just save up for a Digiface USB as well - use that as the Linux 'connection' into the UFX, and just use the iPad permanently connected as a mix station - if that makes sense ? I do have a Rodecaster 2 Pro that I could go via, but the latency on that really isn't great and I use it mostly for 'mixing in' an external macbook and Microphone.

Same here on the contribution stuff--if only I were talented enough as well!

Yes, you can create your snapshots on another device, or to what extend in standalone mode and then use ARC as you might expect. I personally haven't gone so far in my use case.
The big ones for me though, currently, is adjusting my monitor levels (Phones 1, Phones 2 and the Mains), which of course are just outputs that can be configured.

Yeah, I wish there were a killer sample app for Linux, similar to Kontakt. In fact, if NI ever decided to build for Linux I might reinvest in their stuff ... As it stands though, I'm pretty enthused with Atlas 2. I only wish it did round robin for multi-hit-sampled drums--which the dev once upon a time told me he was working on!

[lunardigs]

Ready for some interesting news? Linux desktop adoption is now at 6% world-wide!!!

https://www.zdnet.com/article/think-lin ... otherwise/

"This news comes after several other studies have shown the Linux desktop is right around the 6% mark. Indeed, according to the US Federal Government Website and App Analytics count, the Linux desktop market share over the last 90 days has reached 6.3%, a new high. In July, according to StatCounter, the Linux desktop also set a record high by its metrics with 5.24%."

Yeah, I've long suspected that the desktop percentage numbers were screwy. Aka, skewed or incomplete, and that it was only a matter of time before some kind of official acknowledgement would have to me be made pronouncing Linux to be 'significant.'
That said, I bet 6% is actually a conservative. My guess is it's perhaps something more like 8-10%, worldwide.

[mabian]

Yeah, I wish there were a killer sample app for Linux, similar to Kontakt. In fact, if NI ever decided to build for Linux I might reinvest in their stuff ... As it stands though, I'm pretty enthused with Atlas 2. I only wish it did round robin for multi-hit-sampled drums--which the dev once upon a time told me he was working on!

Same... Decent Sampler is good but not great, same for tx16wx: as a plugin in itself it's great, but there are no libraries for it.

- Mario

[glokraw]

Scroll down at the link, the LinVst dev explains getting Native Access 2 working in wine, and related tips for installing powershell

https://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.ph ... 5&start=15

Cheers

[glokraw]

Pic has Kontakt6 & friends in linux Reaper, but the old 'legacy' 1.14 Native Access was used to set up the parts of Komplete 13 that I wanted, and that setup is carved in stone, not to be fiddled with. Hopefully things are improving for using newer versions of NI products. If I can get a deal on a 4TB drive, I'll do a separate new install, backup things in the 3 TB, and attempt latest NI/IK etc in the rest.

K6-AVLinux-wine.jpg

[havran]

Even though "As God is my witness, I am that fool!" </Gomez Addams> I still think that at time of posting it's better to use a Linux-native DAW as the basis, and if you have Windows-native plugins and circumstances allow, use yabridge to make them available to that DAW (please check the yabridge github page for known issues and workarounds).

Sure, one might think: "Why not just put the DAW and all of your favorite plugins into the same wineprefix with wineasio installed and registered?" The reason is this: some Windows-native plugins have different requirements.

[glokraw]

Here's a sound example of the above combo:

Kinetic.mp3

[havran]

Maybe this is more meta, but earlier today I hear a bird up a tree on my property making some sounds, and it seems rather unlikely that bird used any kind of DAW or any distro of Linux.

[glokraw]

@ Havran: It is clearly stated that I used the linux version of Reaper. I do use the windows Reaper and wineasio sometimes, but between LinVst and Yabridge plugin rappers, it's mainly used for running windows executables. Most non-ilok plugins will work. Some require Vulkan video libs etc,
but success is possible and fun.
Cheers

[glokraw]

Maybe this is more meta, but earlier today I hear a bird up a tree on my property making some sounds, and I don't think that bird used any kind of DAW or any distro of Linux.

Hopefully it won't crash into one of your windows...macthuddd
I've warned our bluejays not to squwawk before sunrise, but they have called my bluff