KVR Audio

audiojunkie · Post by **audiojunkie** » Thu Mar 12, 2026 4:21 pm

Which operating system is best for music-making in 2026?

https://musictech.com/guides/essential- ... g-in-2026/

kvotchin · Post by **kvotchin** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:18 pm

MacOS, ngl, rules the roost, as it has for many years.

I don’t use it, but yeah, it has distinct advantages over both Windows and Linux. Not to mention the seriously impressive power and efficiency of Apple Silicon.

TS-12 · Post by **TS-12** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:20 pm

Windows 7, 10 or 11

VariKusBrainZ · Post by **VariKusBrainZ** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:33 pm

Im on Windows but Id say Mac, I wish we could aggregate audio devices and had the current CPUs that are workhorses that hardly need feeding

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:06 pm

Depends...

Professionally, I'd say Mac due to it's stability, lack of MS-esque shenanigans (generally...), support from the larger software devs etc. Obviously you pay for that privilege.

Personally; fed up with MS, happy to play with more obscure, open source software, homebrew sample libraries etc (ie. not fussed about using NI, UA, IK etc) so... Linux.

synthesite · Post by **synthesite** » Sat May 09, 2026 12:46 pm

macOS — even though I run W11 and Linux as well not to get robbed, Apple gear costs. I try to make my old Mac gear survive as long as possible. My oldest computer now is a PMG5. With the Motu card and the 2408 it still delivers 1ms of latency. Video proof on my YouTube channel

TechHaus · Post by **TechHaus** » Sat May 09, 2026 1:38 pm

When my Mac died in 2017, I tried Windows for 2 days before asking twitter users which Linux distro I should use. I didn't want to buy a Macbook pro with the failing "butterfly keyboards" and touch bars, etc.

It was very rough going at first, but now I have a Mac again and Mac OS feels soooo janky compared to my Linux setup. I am talking about just the experience of using the operating system itself.

I miss the days of like Snow Leopard, which is right before they started adding Maps, ibooks, etc on the OS level. I guess the iphone becoming such a hit, and tim cook taking over screwed up what their computer experience became. (My first purchase out of highschool with my childhood savings bonds investments was a Power Mac G4 and a Pro Tools setup.)

Obviously, if one is heavily invested in Mac or Windows compatible software, Linux is probably a no-go. But I was able to sell Reason and my Korg Collection, etc. And the used $240 Mac Mini M2 w/ 24gb of memory I found lets me access my Final Cut Pro and Logic software that I paid for but are attached to a user account and can't really be sold.

So Linux is the best, sorry folks.

TechHaus · Post by **TechHaus** » Sat May 09, 2026 2:31 pm

kvotchin wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:18 pm MacOS, ngl, rules the roost, as it has for many years.

I don’t use it, but yeah, it has distinct advantages over both Windows and Linux. Not to mention the seriously impressive power and efficiency of Apple Silicon.

What distinct advantage does it have over Linux?

kvotchin · Post by **kvotchin** » Sat May 09, 2026 2:45 pm

TechHaus wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 2:31 pm
kvotchin wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:18 pm MacOS, ngl, rules the roost, as it has for many years.

I don’t use it, but yeah, it has distinct advantages over both Windows and Linux. Not to mention the seriously impressive power and efficiency of Apple Silicon.
What distinct advantage does it have over Linux?

Hardware and software compatibility most definitely, ease of use without a doubt, and in general I’d say stability too.

I’ve used - or indeed, tried to use in some cases - most of the same hardware and software through all three operating systems. So I’m not talking from theory / ignorance here.

TechHaus · Post by **TechHaus** » Sat May 09, 2026 2:49 pm

synthesite wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 12:46 pm macOS — even though I run W11 and Linux as well not to get robbed, Apple gear costs. I try to make my old Mac gear survive as long as possible. My oldest computer now is a PMG5. With the Motu card and the 2408 it still delivers 1ms of latency. Video proof on my YouTube channel

I rocked a 2408 on my Power Mac G4 back in the day with the HD192's. I have been secretly lusting for RME pci-e cards to achieve that type of latency again.

Shockingly, though, my recently purchased ($200, mint!) Focusrite 18i20 2nd Gen feels that solid on my linux setup right now. They are really baking audio magic in the newest kernels. Linux audio used to be "hope and pray" for me.

TechHaus · Post by **TechHaus** » Sat May 09, 2026 2:55 pm

kvotchin wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 2:45 pm
TechHaus wrote: Sat May 09, 2026 2:31 pm
kvotchin wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:18 pm MacOS, ngl, rules the roost, as it has for many years.

I don’t use it, but yeah, it has distinct advantages over both Windows and Linux. Not to mention the seriously impressive power and efficiency of Apple Silicon.
What distinct advantage does it have over Linux?
Hardware and software compatibility most definitely, ease of use without a doubt, and in general I’d say stability too.

I’ve used - or indeed, tried to use in some cases - most of the same hardware and software through all three operating systems. So I’m not talking from theory / ignorance here.

Ok, give Linux another shot in 2026.

Things have come a long way. I remember when my Motu M4, which there are at least 3 different chip versions inside of there (pandemic supply issues and AKM chip factory fire), could barely work on Linux until they built fixes into kernel like 2 years later.

And you mentioned Apple silicon - A ryzen 9700x and an Apple M3 are basically the same processor wise, minus one costing $11 to run for a year and the other $5 (not counting gpu).

Seafire Mk2 · Post by **Seafire Mk2** » Sat May 09, 2026 3:24 pm

Win 11

Winner!

End thread.

Papuzzo · Post by **Papuzzo** » Sun May 10, 2026 6:27 am

Lifelong Windows user here who bought a Mac Mini earlier this year. Windows is dying, the OS is basically spyware at this point, and it wants to control the user instead of let the user control the PC. MacOS is a bit of a pain in the ass for the first few months, but then you start to understand the reasoning behind it and it starts to make better sense. It works flawlessly, never crashes, and actually tries to benefit the user.

Scoops · Post by **Scoops** » Sun May 10, 2026 9:02 pm

I enjoy specing and building my DAW PC

Don't know what a Mac runs like, but I do know I saved a small fortune over the years by staying on a PC

uOpt · Post by **uOpt** » Tue May 12, 2026 11:09 am

macOS is kinda trashy when seen as a pure operating system. But Mac hardware has been damn nice lately. That's why my most often used laptops are Macbooks.