A Good Linux Distro For Music Production?

[dellboy]

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.
.
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.

I am not knowledgable about Linux, but I just googled your midi device "midisport", and it appears that you need a firmware driver to make it work in Linux. I am a Windows person, so how you get it to work in Linux is beyond my pay grade, but for what its worth, here is the link......

https://usb-midi-fw.sourceforge.net/

[uOpt]

I have a midisport and remember it was actual work to make it work.

[audiojunkie]

I am adding a note for future Windows users that want to explore Linux:

1. Even with the simplest of setups, there is at least some degree of a learning curve. One must learn at least the basics of how Linux does things different from other OSes. I recommend buying an intro book to Linux and reading it.
2. Starting with a turn-key distro (that has everything configured in advance is the easiest way to begin. Most of the configuration work is done for you and this allows you to use Linux and become comfortable with how it works and it allows you to come to understand what to expect. Use something like AV Linux before trying to use a regular distro for audio work.
3. Native Linux plugins are MUCH easier to set up and use than using Windows plugins on Linux. Start with some of the many great native linux plugins. Try to use native plugins as much as possible. If you come across something that you absolutely need from the Windows world, you will be much better off using Windows plugins that use simple serial number or keyfile copy protection. Things are hard enough with configuring WINE and yabridge--there's no need to complicate things with challenge/response authorizations.
4. Try to use "Class Compliant" equipment--especially for your audio interface or midi. You are inviting difficulties by trying to use anything else. Some things work, but it can be difficult to configure the equipment.

If all Linux beginners follow the above simple rules, you will have a much more pleasant Linux experience.

I hope this helps!!

[uOpt]

Good list.

I want to add: don't be too lenient with your hardware. Better hardware generally works better for Linux. If your random WiFi chip doesn't play nice rip it out and get an Intel one.

[THE INTRANCER]

My USB sticks are too small in size to even add the Ubuntu ISO, so I've ordered a 128 Gig (actual formatted size 114 Gig). I have a 1TB SSD I could install Ubuntu on or I could possibly create a partition on the USB stick as another option and have Studio One 6.5 Beta on the SSD.

If Presonus can devise a sandbox for running VST plugins in Linux with Studio One as they are on Windows, I think that would be a bit of a game changer. It's kinda funny seeing Linux mentioned in the release notes now when it's always been PC & Mac.

[havran]

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[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. (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.
.
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.

Oh well, never mind.

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.

Aye I can't remember for certain because I haven't recorded in ages and I'm generally new to Ardour but I think there was one more click involved (after arming the track) to have the input registered. Worth scanning through the manual, it's very informative;

https://manual.ardour.org/ardours-inter ... er-strips/

[dellboy]

I have just booted into AV Linux Live CD to retest and try Ardour again. Still no signal. So I tried Reaper. No signal there either - hmmmm. Fiddled around with qjackctl and could not get a signal and gave up with AV Linux and booted Ubuntu Live CD. I downloaded Ardour and without any setting up I immediately had an audio signal and recorded a couple of tracks. So it was AV Linux and not Ardour that was the problem. Make of that what you will.

[dan_flash]

I have just booted into AV Linux Live CD to retest and try Ardour again. Still no signal. So I tried Reaper. No signal there either - hmmmm. Fiddled around with qjackctl and could not get a signal and gave up with AV Linux and booted Ubuntu Live CD. I downloaded Ardour and without any setting up I immediately had an audio signal and recorded a couple of tracks. So it was AV Linux and not Ardour that was the problem. Make of that what you will.

Ooooofffff that is weird, wouldn't expect that from AV Linux. You said in an earlier post you're using the Behringer USB interface too and that's class compliant.

Does AV have some special Jack and/or Pipewire configuration out of the box? In my own experience on all distros I've tried, when using a class compliant interface, you just start the DAW -> select the interface as your ALSA audio device -> start recording and fannying about with MIDI.

[dellboy]

I have just booted into AV Linux Live CD to retest and try Ardour again. Still no signal. So I tried Reaper. No signal there either - hmmmm. Fiddled around with qjackctl and could not get a signal and gave up with AV Linux and booted Ubuntu Live CD. I downloaded Ardour and without any setting up I immediately had an audio signal and recorded a couple of tracks. So it was AV Linux and not Ardour that was the problem. Make of that what you will.

Ooooofffff that is weird, wouldn't expect that from AV Linux. You said in an earlier post you're using the Behringer USB interface too and that's class compliant.

Does AV have some special Jack and/or Pipewire configuration out of the box? In my own experience on all distros I've tried, when using a class compliant interface, you just start the DAW -> select the interface as your ALSA audio device -> start recording and fannying about with MIDI.

I retried the AV Linix Live CD and found that the audio mixer is preconfigured and a little tweaking yielded an input signal. The same for Ardour, which is pre-installed on that distro, it had been preconfigured, and I got that working as well. In contrast, if I boot up the Mint Live CD everything just works without any fiddling.

[Boone777]

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?

It works but ARA does not. Which is a bummer and one of the reasons I still use Windows for full blown production. That being said, for everyday uses, I prefer Linux with a handfull of plugins because of the snapshot capability of MXLinux.

I have 3 computers to work on and although the learning curve is rough at start now from scratch I have every apps, plugins and Reaper running in 5 minutes install from a custom ISO. If you do a lot of installs like I do its worth the time to learn.

I would recommend Linux hands down for basic stuff like Youtube, emails, streaming, etc. over anything.
For music the more none native stuff you need the more it is prone to be a show stopper in my experience.
It is still a very capable platform but you need to learn the ropes of it. Like if you want to make music today using Linux for the first time, good luck. But after a week or 2 of finding out the basic stuff it is very impowering.

If you would find a good tutorial on doing music on Linux suited to your particular need, then yes it can all be done within an hour. The problem often is you need to know the terminology of the problem you are looking to solve and also finding the solution explained in a way that does not imply you already know some basic knowledge. There is a lot of tutos that assume that you know the very basics and the obvious about linux, and that's where you get stucked until you find the answer out of many searches and frustrations trying to pinpoint an "obvious" thing.

[Boone777]

I have just booted into AV Linux Live CD to retest and try Ardour again. Still no signal. So I tried Reaper. No signal there either - hmmmm. Fiddled around with qjackctl and could not get a signal and gave up with AV Linux and booted Ubuntu Live CD. I downloaded Ardour and without any setting up I immediately had an audio signal and recorded a couple of tracks. So it was AV Linux and not Ardour that was the problem. Make of that what you will.

Ooooofffff that is weird, wouldn't expect that from AV Linux. You said in an earlier post you're using the Behringer USB interface too and that's class compliant.

Does AV have some special Jack and/or Pipewire configuration out of the box? In my own experience on all distros I've tried, when using a class compliant interface, you just start the DAW -> select the interface as your ALSA audio device -> start recording and fannying about with MIDI.

AVLinux is not going the Pipewire way I dont think it ever had any available distro with it. Even in the next release just around the corner.
He did messsed around with it trying to decide which way AVLinux was going.
According to Glen it is still more effecient the older way with Qjackctl and alsa. He has done a lot of tweaking to make it so and want to keep it that way.

[THE INTRANCER]

I've found an iso image of Cinnamon Mint 18 ISO, which I've put onto a DVD-RW Disk. The DVD-RW disk is set up like a USB read-and-write kinda thing. I've got problems trying to get the DVD-RW disk to actually run when the PC boots, even if I have it set as CD Drive in the BIOS. Could it be that because I've set the disk to act like a USB drive that, it's missing a boot sector? I've not burnt a DVD in years lol.

[Boone777]

I've found an iso image of Cinnamon Mint 18 ISO, which I've put onto a DVD-RW Disk. The DVD-RW disk is set up like a USB read-and-write kinda thing. I've got problems trying to get the DVD-RW disk to actually run when the PC boots, even if I have it set as CD Drive in the BIOS. Could it be that because I've set the disk to act like a USB drive that, it's missing a boot sector? I've not burnt a DVD in years lol.

Why use an old distro ? And a dvd not a usb key ? Or maybe you are trying to revive a very old computer that has no usb boot available. Lol I have like a dozen of old computer laying around I fiddled with a lot of low spec distros to try to revive those. Anti-X, Buddhi Linux, Puppy...unless its for very basic stuff you want those old pc up and running you are torturing yourself !

[Saffran]

So Linux is hard to work with.
If the manual have it wrong...it's effing sisyfos work for a newbie.
In Qjackctl setup i changed midi driver:sec to midi driver:raw. (Manual says it should be sec.)
Then start Qjackctl before other software.
In Ardour Audio/Midi setup i changed the audio system from Alsa to Jack. (The default is Alsa for some reason? Alsa controls midi when i looked it up)
.
I can now play my old Korg 707 and hear the synth making sounds.