Once the preserve of specialists, hobbyists and geeks, Linux is nowadays a wholly viable solution for everyday desktop computing. Moreover, and for various reasons, Linux tends to be less demanding of system resources than Windows and macOS, and so can give a new lease of life to older hardware that would otherwise be added to the burgeoning e-waste mountain.
The big question for us music production types, then, is ‘Can we use Linux for audio production?’ The answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’. I’d even argue it’s better than Windows and macOS.
But there are caveats — so let’s dig a bit deeper.
What actually is Linux?
The first thing to get straight about Linux is that it isn’t an operating system (OS). Rather, it’s a kernel — the core of an OS that’s loaded into memory at runtime, and that handles all of the essential low-level operations and communications between hardware and software.
The Linux kernel is free and open source software (FOSS), and so anybody can use it and modify it without paying licensing fees. This has led to an entire ecosystem of OS’s being built on the Linux kernel, these being referred to as ‘distros’ (short for ‘distributions’). And with most distros themselves being FOSS, developers are free to adapt and customise distros to their heart’s content, and build new distros based on another. This gives us lineages of related OS’s that share certain core features and compatibilities whilst being specialised in other areas.
Adding to this multifariousness are desktop environments, which are separate from distros. In simple terms, the desktop environment is responsible for providing the interface through which users interact with the computer, but it can include other tools and functionality too.
Most distros come preconfigured with a specific desktop environment, and others are offered in multiple versions differentiated by the desktop environment employed. It’s also possible to replace the desktop with a preferred option, or even to run elements of one desktop on top of another to provide compatibility for software that requires that different desktop.
This may all seem rather confusing, especially if you’re new to the world of Linux, but what should be clear is that Linux’s open source ethos allows a depth of freedom and choice that’s unheard of — and being increasingly curtailed — in Windows and macOS. Linux developers embrace this open ethos, and take full advantage of the freedom to create OS’s and apps that suit almost every use case… and yes, this includes music production.
Which Linux distro is best for music producers?
One of the most popular Linux distros for general-purpose use is Ubuntu. It provides a modern, attractive and easy-to-use OS for work and play, and benefits from being based on Debian, one of the longest-established and best supported distros there is.
Therefore, Ubuntu, or a derivative like the highly efficient and popular Linux Mint, will provide a solid platform to configure a music-making rig. But why bother doing this yourself when there’s a member of the Ubuntu family that’s done all of this for you?
Ubuntu Studio comes pre-loaded with DAWs, plugins and many other audio tools. For the non-music production tasks we have to (or like to) do, there are photo editors and librarians, graphics editing, video editing and streaming, 3D modelling and animation, and more. Plus, it’s got all the day-to-day productivity apps you may need, such as a web browser, email client, office suite, media players, and such. Best of all, all these preinstalled apps and tools are FOSS and so don’t cost you a penny.
I’m not saying Ubuntu Studio is the only game in town, but it’s a high-quality, ready-to-roll solution that doesn’t demand previous Linux experience or know-how to get started with, and is therefore my recommendation as a kick-off point for a Linux-based music production rig.
Will my audio and controller hardware work with Linux?
Hardware compatibility in Linux can be problematic because it requires manufacturers to produce Linux-compatible drivers — many don’t. Or, it means relying on members of the Linux development community who feel suitably motivated to write a custom driver.
Thankfully, audio and MIDI hardware compatibility is quite reliable, because ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture), which underpins audio and MIDI I/O in most distros, fully supports the USB Class Compliant standard; any relatively modern USB2 audio and/or MIDI interface should work just fine. Additionally, you may find custom drivers for older USB and PCI devices, and there’s a sub-system that supports a range of Firewire interfaces, so you may be able to dust off an old I/O box that’s lurking in the back of a cupboard, or pick up something inexpensive on the second-hand market.
But what about controllers – keyboards, pad controllers, mix controllers and the like? Many of these use trusty old MIDI messages for communications, and so, at the very least, any controller that has standard MIDI connectors will work via a USB Class Compliant MIDI interface. Controllers that connect directly via USB and that adhere to the Class Compliant standard will also work, although some features may rely on proprietary communications that run alongside the standard MIDI messages, and such features may not work as expected (or at all).
It’s important to keep in mind that many interfaces and controllers require a software control panel to access their full functionality, and rarely do manufacturers release Linux-native versions of such software (Bitwig’s Connect 4/12 being a notable recent exception). Is this a problem? That depends on how much setup can be performed directly from the hardware itself, but even if the software control panel is essential, all is not lost because you may be able to run the Windows version in Linux… I’ll come back to this in a moment.
Ultimately, a cursory look at manufacturers’ websites should reveal details about how well your hardware will work with Linux.
What music software can I run on Linux?
Although many of the most popular and familiar DAWs aren’t available for Linux, the platform is nonetheless very well served on this front.
The best FOSS option is probably Ardour, a professional and powerful DAW that’s not dissimilar to the likes of Cubase, Pro Tools and Logic Pro. Ardour is also available for Windows and macOS, so you can easily give it a try without needing a Linux setup. Another good cross-platform FOSS option, especially for those who enjoy FL Studio’s way of working, is LMMS.
On the commercial side are the familiar names of Bitwig Studio, Reaper and Tracktion Waveform Pro. Whilst not FOSS, all are available in Linux-native versions, and work exactly as they do on Windows and macOS.
When it comes to plugins, there are three widely used formats: LADSPA, DSSI and LV2, the latter being the most modern, capable and prevalent. There’s also a Linux-native version of Steinberg’s open VST format, which allows plugins to be compiled from the same source code as Windows and macOS VSTs. And the same trick that allows some Windows hardware control panels to run in Linux can also be used with some Windows VST plugins (patience — I’m getting there!).
As for the plugins themselves, on the FOSS front, there’s a huge choice of reverbs, dynamics processors, delays, modulation effects, and all of the other standard types of effects and processors. Some are excellent, some are good, some not-so-much, but there’s nothing lost if a free plugin turns out to be a bit lame!
There are also many excellent instruments available, including the familiar and popular Vital, VCV Rack’s free edition, and Decent Sampler.
Commercial plugin options are fewer and further between. U-he supports Linux across all of its instruments and effects, and many developers working within the Tracktion ecosphere also support the platform, giving us, for example, a Linux-native version of the powerful and innovative MOK Waverazer synth. There are others, so be sure to do a quick search to see what’s available.
You keep mentioning Windows software running on Linux…?
I have touched on the possibility of running Windows versions of hardware control panel software and plugins within Linux. The same trick can also work with some Windows apps, and is made possible by a tool called Wine.
Wine is a compatibility layer, not an emulator or virtual machine, translating back and forth between Windows API calls and the POSIX commands used by Linux. This jiggery-pokery allows Windows apps and plugins to run on Linux, although it isn’t a magic bullet because some apps — in particular those with elaborate license enforcement — won’t succumb to Wine’s charms.
Nevertheless, Wine can fix some otherwise intractable compatibility problems. To see what can run via Wine, check out the Wine HQ app database.
What makes Linux so good for audio?
Another thing I mentioned earlier is that Linux is arguably better for audio production than Windows or macOS. If that sounds hard to believe, then you don’t know JACK!
JACK is the Linux equivalent of ASIO in Windows and CoreAudio in macOS, providing support for low-latency, high sample rate audio streams for apps and audio I/O hardware. Practically all Linux audio apps (and many other creativity apps) support JACK, and those that don’t can still have their audio ins and outs piped through the JACK system.
It’s possible to leave JACK in the background to do its thing, much as you would with ASIO or CoreAudio, but that’s a big waste of its talents. You see, the apps you’re running and the I/O hardware connected to your computer create nodes within JACK, and, with the aid of an app such as Catarina, you can freely patch and route signals between these nodes. Throw in a plugin host such as Carla, and you can easily combine DAWs, standalone instruments, other apps, and processing chains into a JACK patch — Carla will even act as a master transport control for the entire patch.
So, for example, you could take the output of Mixxx (a FOSS DJ app) and SooperLooper (a FOSS live looper/sampler), and route these through some effects before mixing them directly to a track in your DAW. As another example, you could take the output of your DAW, mix in a live mic feed and some instruments hosted in Carla, and route these into OBS Studio to stream to the internet.
JACK gives Linux phenomenal power as an OS for making music. Where Windows and macOS present as platforms on which DAWs can run, JACK turns the entire OS into a DAW, and your actual DAW is just one set of nodes within that larger system. In some ways, it’s a subtle difference, but in others, it’s utterly game-changing.
Ok, you’ve convinced me… what now?
The jump from the cosseted worlds of Windows and macOS to the wide open vistas of Linux can seem daunting, and there’s much to learn and adapt to. It isn’t rocket science, though, and there’s loads of help and advice available online. So if you’re someone who doesn’t mind getting their IT hands dirty with a bit of OS installation, disk formatting and the like, then you should do just fine.
Of course, the best way of seeing if Linux is for you is to try it out. You have until October for Windows 10 to reach its end-of-life, and probably 10 minutes before Apple drops its next macOS update, so there’s never been a better moment to dig out an older machine, or look into setting up a dual-boot system, and giving Linux a go. You’ll be surprised at just how good it is.
The post Can Linux really replace Windows and macOS for music production? appeared first on MusicTech.
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