My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Discuss your workplace, instruments, amps, and any other gear.

Moderators: MattKingUSA, khz

Post Reply
Christian_le_Fou
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:04 pm

My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Post by Christian_le_Fou »

Hi, iam new here.
My Name is Chris, iam from Germany and i lead a small Orchestra "Synthonie".
Our current Hardware setup:

The Musitar (costum made):
http://www.synthonie.de/dl/musitar3.jpg
2x V-Meters (http://www.vmeter.net)
1x Akai LPD8 (http://www.akaipro.com/product/lpd8)
1x Keigh Mc Millen Qunexus (https://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/qunexus)

The Artiphon:
http://artiphon.com

The Akai EWI USB:
http://www.akaipro.de/ewi-usb

The Keys:
1x M-Audio Keystation 88es (http://m-audio.de/keystation-88es)
1x Akai MPK Mini (http://www.akaipro.com/product/mpkmini)
1x M-Audio Axiom 49 (http://www.m-audio.com/products/view/axiom-49)

Mixer:
Behringer XR18 (http://www.music-group.com/Categories/B ... 18/p/P0BI8)

Midi-Changers:
2x Icon G-Board (https://www.icondigitalusa.com/guitar-controllers)

Mics:
2x Shure SM58

(planned) Drums:
Roland SPD-SX
with a V-Drum Snare
and KD8 Kickdrum

All of this are connected to one Laptop and works nearly flawless with 10ms latency:
Sony Vaio SVE1713A4E
16GB RAM
1x SSD Intel 120GB
1x SSD Samsung 500GB

On the Laptop is installed:
Windows 7 64bit Home
Magix Samplitude Pro X (for Composing)
VstHost (for Live playing) http://www.hermannseib.com/vsthost.htm

VST´s:
Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate 9
Vir2 Electri6ty


MY QUESTION:

I work with Linux on my Work-PC, and i think about to change my Music-Laptop to Linux.
Because i have problems with the 2 Vmeters and the 2 Gboards. The old Windows Problem with USB2 Devices. Which is what?
You see the Setup above, and my question is, wich Linux Dist do i use? And wich Apps? I need a clone like Samplitude or Cubase for composing, who load the VST´s from the Native package, and one Midi Instrument. (the M-Audio Axiom 49)
...and i need a live App, who loads vst´ s and can load ALL Midi Instruments above and can played live.

I work very well with samplitude and vsthost, but the problem is the two same devices...so i need help about WHAT Linux Dist, WHAT APP for Composing, WHAT APP for Live Stuff, with all Hardware above.

Thanks!
Lyberta
Established Member
Posts: 681
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 8:15 pm
Location: The Internet
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Post by Lyberta »

I'd suggest Rosegarden for composing. It's very straightforward and easy to pick up. You can hook it to any synth via ALSA MIDI.

For distro I suggest KXStudio.
rghvdberg
Established Member
Posts: 1067
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 7:11 am
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 36 times

Re: My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Post by rghvdberg »

These are my suggestions:
Distro:
I use Linux Mint + kxstudio repos but also worth checking out is AVLinux which is basically Debian with kxstudio repos added.

Composing:
Ardour or Qtractor
Both do basically the same but Qtractor is more geared to midi, Ardour more to audio.
Both packages are under very active development.

Live play:
Carla, a very versatile plugin host. Loads just about any plugin, even Windows plugins but with windows plugins your mileage may vary.
Main strength is that it can load multiple plugins at once so giving you the option to make massive patches.
I suggest installing carla-git which has the most (latest) features.

Note:
To be honest. I think you should really think twice about making the jump to Linux because you seem to rely heavily on Windows VSTi.
What will Linux do better than your current Windows setup ? I dunno ...
Christian_le_Fou
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:04 pm

Re: My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Post by Christian_le_Fou »

I think in Linux i dont have the Problem about 2 same Devices.
About my 2 Vmeters, or the 2 G-Boards.

In Windows is currenty just one of the two devices active. When i activate the second one, nearly all Music Apps dont know with Device is for Pitch Bend (for example).
So i "hope" Linux dont use the Name, and use the id´s. (because that are unique)
Windows use the Name of the Device (and i did already some regedit hacks, but all Apps, read the Name of the Hardware.
rghvdberg
Established Member
Posts: 1067
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 7:11 am
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 36 times

Re: My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Post by rghvdberg »

Did you hookup any of these devices to Linux to see if it is supported?
rghvdberg
Established Member
Posts: 1067
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 7:11 am
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 36 times

Re: My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Post by rghvdberg »

Btw, you got any video or audio from your orchestra?
Looks awesome!
User avatar
English Guy
Established Member
Posts: 525
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:28 pm
Location: England
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Post by English Guy »

Are you aware that you can try many Linux distros from a cd or pendrive without having to install? You will need to use a music focused one such as KXstudio or AVLinux. There are plenty of instructions on line for making a live pendrive or cd/dvd. The performance is not as good as a proper install but the ability to try out without an install is priceless.
Luc
Established Member
Posts: 741
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:04 pm
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: My Setup, and question "From Win7 to Linux"?

Post by Luc »

Distro: stick to Debian or derivatives (e.g. Mint or Ubuntu) for 2 reasons:
* KXstudio seems to be mostly (if not entirely) based on it, so it's more guaranteed to work, and KXstudio is a huge help.
* Even out of the realm of KXstudio, you're more likely to find .deb packages of everything that you might run into than any other package format.

Apps: anyone's guess. It's a very personal choice, and I am not familiar with Cubase or Samplitude, so I can't offer any comparisons. I kind of like Rosegarden, but I actually prefer and use Tracktion. Bitwig is also very good. I can't take anything else very seriously.

Plugins: it looks like you use Windows plugins. We have that in Linux. Carla is interesting, but I think Airwave is a lot better if you have a DAW. Airwave lets you load Windows plugins just as if they were Linux native. Not all plugins will work, but around 95% will.

Live app: I recommend a command-line program called aj-snapshot. You can load all your programs and plugins with a very simple script and have aj-snapshot make all the connections on demand. Use Catia to keep an eye on them.

Please let me know if the Artiphon runs well on Linux. I'm curious. :-)
Post Reply