What is the best Linux-Distro for Music Production

[Starbright]

Hey Everybody,
Last december I switched to MacOS because Windows got pretty crappy.
I defnetely don't regret it. But since I still have a decent working laptop I was thinking of installing Linux on it.

I'm not a clompetly Linux newbie since my father had been a big linux fanboy in my childhood, but that was 18 years ago.

I tried to inform myself a little (other kvr posts and umfa) and there are a few things I'm definetely looking for in a linux distro form my purposes:

- decent audio drivers (I use a fousrite 2i4)
- the abillity to run the latest NI Software, Omnisphere, Amplitube...
-no completicated audio routing or terminal instal.
-stabillity
So my question would be which distro is probably covering these boxes. Every advice is greatly valued, even if I'll take some time to answer.

[BBFG#]

Given those three developers, I'm inclined to suggest keeping it Windows and using one of those apps that completely strip it of all other Windows bloat and chicaneries. And another app to bridge and control it as a slave box to your Mac.
I'm in that process myself right now. Although I'm also shopping for next box components to be a windows powerhouse without Windows and be a Linux master over my now dedicated Windows of the past boxes.

[kvotchin]

Seconding Windows (cleansed and stripped back, as mentioned above) for your use case. Linux can play well with a broad selection of audio hardware and software these days, but there are still limitations.

Regarding easy to use distros set up specifically with audio production in mind, Ubuntu Studio is probably the ticket.

I would personally advise against mainstream linux, however, now and in the very near future more than ever. But that gets into some messy territory, and is likely beyond the scope of this thread anyway.

[Winstontaneous]

I've used Linux on and off since 2003, I run Mac at home and admin 150 Windows 11 computers at work...they all have their strengths and weaknesses. I've probably experimented with several hundred Linux distros over they years. At the end of the day what really matters is having a kernel able to do low latency audio; and a stable, sensible, secure approach to package management. First distro I ever used was Fodera/Red Hat and is the one I'm most comfy with.

As folks have already said...to make it work, meaning - You'll be spending your precious time/energy on actually producing music and not being a fulltime Linux sysadmin - go for (mostly paid, closed-source) programs from established DSP experts like Bitwig and u-he. Don't expect brands like NI owned by vulture capitalists to support Linux out of the goodness of their hearts, but they might someday if they think they can make money. This is not to discount open-source developers.

[audiojunkie]

....the abillity to run the latest NI Software, Omnisphere, Amplitube...

As much as I love Linux, I'm going to have to agree with the others. You would probably be better off using a debloated, minimalized version of Windows 11, if you are insisting on having the ability to run just Windows native plugins. While Linux does have the unique ability to run "some" Windows apps through WINE, if you aren't planning on focusing on Linux native apps, you are better off running native Windows apps through Windows. The apps you want to run may indeed work in Linux, but you are more likely to have a better experience if you stick with the OS that the apps you plan to use are designed for.

Of course, that wasn't your question, so to answer your question, I would suggest AV Linux in your case, because all of the configurations for WINE and OS tuning are already set up and working for you. You'll have the smoothest experience if you insist on using Linux for Windows plugins.

Best of luck!

[TechHaus]

I say ditch that stuff, since you can just continue using it all on your current mac and create a new setup and workflow on your laptop with different tools.

[GaryG]

- the abillity to run the latest NI Software, Omnisphere, Amplitube...
-no completicated audio routing or terminal instal.

i think those two are mutually exclusive, you're not going to get eg. NI plugs working without some considerable terminal time.

I say ditch that stuff, since you can just continue using it all on your current mac and create a new setup and workflow on your laptop with different tools.

I'd agree with this. I'm no pro so have no real reliance on particular tools, I moved to Linux with the intention of seeing how far I could get going purely native. Pretty far actually but found myself missing a few of my Windows plugs so caved and installed yabridge. I found a script that installs everything really simply, locked in specifically for audio plugs, and decided that if a plug didn't work with that then I would ditch it, I have nothing that important as to lose too much time over. And if it all stops working then it's a minimal part of my workflow I'd lose/ al;ways keeping an eye out for native replacements anyway.

Not sure if any of that's relevant to OP but, hey...

[audiojunkie]

I say ditch that stuff, since you can just continue using it all on your current mac and create a new setup and workflow on your laptop with different tools.

Agreed. If you can find a way to use a native Linux DAW, with native Linux apps with your native Linux machine, you'll have a much more stable and easy experience, with lower latency, and will enjoy yourself more than by fighting with WINE. As mentioned previously, some Windows tools work great, and some just don't run. But native works great.