A Good Linux Distro For Music Production?

[dellboy]

I must be twisted but i can't find a complete list of all the audio and video tools included with AV Linux...

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I tried AV Linux yesterday but I did not get around to looking for what tools were installed, but instead spent ages trying to get it connected to the internet. I did eventually connect, but then lost it again, I guess its a driver issue. It makes no sense because Mint Linux connected later on with zero fuss. Other than that AV Linux is very nice and to my surprise Yabridge is pre-installed with a GUI to help set it up and install Windows VST plugins if desired.

[CrystalWizard]

I must be twisted but i can't find a complete list of all the audio and video tools included with AV Linux...

?

I tried AV Linux yesterday but I did not get around to looking for what tools were installed, but instead spent ages trying to get it connected to the internet. I did eventually connect, but then lost it again, I guess its a driver issue. It makes no sense because Mint Linux connected later on with zero fuss. Other than that AV Linux is very nice and to my surprise Yabridge is pre-installed with a GUI to help set it up and install Windows VST plugins if desired.

AV Linux seems like a good place to start (for me). I will be getting off the windoze train soon. Ill still have older W7 and w10 that i will continue to use, airgapped and set up as musical instruments exclusivly. My newer machines will be linux

[CrystalWizard]

I must be twisted but i can't find a complete list of all the audio and video tools included with AV Linux...

?

I’d say, start by looking in the manual:

http://bandshed.net/pdf/AVL-MXE-User-Manual.pdf

If it’s not there, you can find out by emailing Gmaq.

Tried the manual, no go. I'll email.

[Saffran]

AVLinux is acting up. Everything froze in the middle of an action in Ardour. How do you get out of it without reboot? In Windows you can, pretty often, reach the actionmanager and end processes of your choice.
The audio/midi setup seems to need more Linux knowledge to get it right. The setup is done in several stages and different software. It had a package for the Midisport hardware and it installed fine, i could see it in settings. Although i could not get any audio from the default synth in Ardour when playing my keyboard. In this synths settings i could display a virtual keyboard and playing this and i got sound from it. The day after, keyboard and mouse where not responding. Had to move around the usb contact until one of them worked. It was probably at that time the Midisport driver went away because i had to move its usb contact to a new place. I cannot get the midi driver back.
So...that's enough. Maybe i test to install Ubuntu Studio? Going forward with AVL is going to need several days of reading and learning. Commands in terminal to troubleshoot seems necessary. I dislike terminal work. I tolerate it somehow in Windows because the situations where it's needed show up so seldom.
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I hope someone can benefit of this info.

[THE INTRANCER]

For those struggling to find the Ubuntu LTS version that Studio One 6.5 requires, look here.

https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Install instructions:

Download an Ubuntu Image

Create a Bootable USB stick

Boot from USB flash drive

Installation Setup

Type of installation

Ready to install

Choose your Location

Create Your Login Details

Complete the Installation

Don’t forget to Update!

You’ve installed Ubuntu!

(Additional) Installing Ubuntu alongside Windows with BitLocker


Studio One 6.5 (Linux) Presonus
https://support.presonus.com/hc/en-us/a ... ng-Started

[dellboy]

AVLinux is acting up. Everything froze in the middle of an action in Ardour. How do you get out of it without reboot? In Windows you can, pretty often, reach the actionmanager and end processes of your choice.
The audio/midi setup seems to need more Linux knowledge to get it right. The setup is done in several stages and different software. It had a package for the Midisport hardware and it installed fine, i could see it in settings. Although i could not get any audio from the default synth in Ardour when playing my keyboard. In this synths settings i could display a virtual keyboard and playing this and i got sound from it. The day after, keyboard and mouse where not responding. Had to move around the usb contact until one of them worked. It was probably at that time the Midisport driver went away because i had to move its usb contact to a new place. I cannot get the midi driver back.
So...that's enough. Maybe i test to install Ubuntu Studio? Going forward with AVL is going to need several days of reading and learning. Commands in terminal to troubleshoot seems necessary. I dislike terminal work. I tolerate it somehow in Windows because the situations where it's needed show up so seldom.
.
I hope someone can benefit of this info.

You say you are not getting sound, the Midisport does not have audio, its just for midi, so what are you using for audio input/output?

[dellboy]

Yesterday I booted the LIVE CD Mint Linux (did not install it) - connected to the internet - installed Wine - downloaded Yabridge and somehow got it working - converted a couple of Windows VSTs - downloaded Reaper demo and made a simple 5 track song - saved it to my Windows desktop - booted into Windows and loaded the song in Reaper which worked perfectly.

[audiojunkie]

Very cool! Congratulations!

[Saffran]

...Although i could not get any audio from the default synth in Ardour when playing my keyboard. In this synths settings i could display a virtual keyboard and playing this and i got sound from it...

You say you are not getting sound, the Midisport does not have audio, its just for midi, so what are you using for audio input/output?

I thought that citation at the top made it clear that i have a midikeyboard. This keyboard is midi only and have no usb. It also say that i had audio playing the virtual keyboard. That's a software program acting as a keyboard.
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I suspect the pc itself could have something to do with it. Now it doesn't recognize my usb stick anymore. I'll clear cmos and change battery and see if that helps.

[dellboy]

So I decided to tryout Studio One on Linux Ubuntu.

Downloaded the iso and booted up the LIVE CD (not installed) - downloaded Studio One Linux - tried to install - did not work - Wayland not working - after an age I got Wayland working - installed Studio One - activated the PRIME version (no VSTs) it worked OK with audio default called "Linux Audio Architecture" (or something like).

[Saffran]

I now have tested AVLinux, Ubuntu and AVLinux a second time.
Surf, office work and listening to music is absolutely fine.
Ubuntu Studio was inferior to AVL. It demanded terminal work for seemingly small stuff, and i couldn't find a packetmanager in the, easy to handle, style of AVL. I couldn't get the Midisport driver installed because of that and those cryptic, for a windows user, sudo apt-get and sudo add things. Worsened by wrong keyboard language. It takes time and you get bored when searching for the right keys all the time.
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After changing the battery in the pc i installed AVL a second time. This time i knew how to act with the installation so it was done under 30 minutes. It behaves good this time and no freezes so far. I like AVL's packetmanager, it again found and installed my Midisport driver. I still cannot get my mididkeyboard to be recognized although i can see the mididriver being recognized in various settings.
But Ardour works. It's settings is baffling. Took me 10+ hours to find out how: to put a plugin on a track and get it sounding plus how to open the plugin gui and also finding out about using patches. Finding out how to work with midi without a piano roll is also baffling.
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When i read about Linux midi on different places it stood clear to me that my struggle with midi isn't a coincidence. Linux have problems with just that.

[dan_flash]

But Ardour works. It's settings is baffling. Took me 10+ hours to find out how: to put a plugin on a track and get it sounding plus how to open the plugin gui and also finding out about using patches. Finding out how to work with midi without a piano roll is also baffling.

Have a wee look at the Ardour forum and user manual, both are very good resources.

Ardour has a piano roll but you have to expand the track (like in pro tools) to see it as opposed to just double clicking a midi region.

Have a read up about editing modes in Ardour to get started quickly (note keyboard shortcuts like G and E etc).

If you have any familiarity with any other DAW, it really shouldn't take long to figure out plugin inserts and such like. But like I said - check the manual and forum for help.

[Saffran]

But Ardour works. It's settings is baffling. Took me 10+ hours to find out how: to put a plugin on a track and get it sounding plus how to open the plugin gui and also finding out about using patches. Finding out how to work with midi without a piano roll is also baffling.

Have a wee look at the Ardour forum and user manual, both are very good resources. (1)

Ardour has a piano roll but you have to expand the track (like in pro tools) to see it as opposed to just double clicking a midi region. (2)

Have a read up about editing modes in Ardour to get started quickly (note keyboard shortcuts like G and E etc). (3)

If you have any familiarity with any other DAW, it really shouldn't take long to figure out plugin inserts and such like. But like I said - check the manual and forum for help. (4)

I don't get such an answer. I'm a Windows user which should be obvious from my post(s). If you don't use Windows for audio/midi work you're missing the point of my posts and probably should refrain from answers.
1. A wee look is not going to make it.
2. When it's a "but" involved it somewhat negates the sentence.
3. Without midi it's wasted time.
4. I'm familiar with Cakewalk, Reaper, Mulab and Mixcraft. That does not make me familiar with Ardour.
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It all fails without any functioning midi when you want to make music with the pc.
I did record some midi on a track with the virtual keyboard (windows menu) that's automatically connected to a track. By using mouse or the regular keyboard, which has a connection to the virtual one, i made two bars but gave up. Boring. Also mentioned to clear that i'm not a dumbf..k.
PS.
There's no meaning to defense Linux as long as it doesn't fix the necessities for audio work. That means functioning midi connections.
Linux is good at most things now except from audio work. They have to fix the midi problem before they can see Windows users change over to Linux to make music.

[audiojunkie]

I have absolutely zero problems with midi. I simply plug it in and it works.

You have to use compatible hardware. What is the make (and model) of your midi device? Have you confirmed that it is linux compatible?

I can understand your frustration, but when people try to help you, mocking their speech isn’t the best way to get continued help. Dan_flash was just trying to be helpful. Maybe English is not your native language, and you didn’t mean to sound offensive—if so, I apologize for bringing the subject up. I know that language barriers can make communication difficult at times.

[dellboy]

I just tried Ardour using the AV Linux Live CD. Booted it up - switched on my Deepmind 12 as a midi controller - Behringer UMC 204HD as an audio/midi interface - opened Ardour and it started with a general midi plugin - played the Deepmind keys and recorded a quick piano tune. Looked for the virtual Ardour keyboard and found it by right clicking and selecting "largest" . The whole thing took a couple of minutes, and I have never used Ardour before.

But trying to get audio into this Daw was another thing - it just would not register a signal. Spent some time looking through the menus, and gave up. As a final try I booted qjackctl - but nothing. In contrast - Reaper - Bitwig - Waveform just work on Linux.