Re: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap and last update (Peter Reppert)

[Peter Reppert]

All,

Please ignore my question about audio going offline.  I just had to reset a
couple of things.  I may have missed the Studio Controls icon - after a
reboot, the menu was back to normal.  In controls, I was able to select
"USB device that should be Master" to my external soundcard.  I had also
attempted to restart pulse, but not sure whether that worked or contributed
to the fix.  And made sure Jack Setup was OK.  Did not test everything yet,
but I think I'm back on track and should be able to deal with it from here.

On Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 8:00 AM <
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>1. Re:  Virtual Instrument Gap and last update (Peter Reppert)
>
>
> --
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2020 22:59:34 -0400
> From: Peter Reppert 
> To: ubuntu-studio-devel@lists.ubuntu.com
> Subject: Re: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap and last
> update
> Message-ID:
>  jbo3k2trd508ggtljnsv_s7ofuqso-h...@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi, everyone.
>
> I upgraded to 20.04 and updated Wine - that solved pretty much all of my
> issues. Unfortunately, the last round of updates that just came out seem to
> have wreaked havoc with audio playback and Ubuntu Studio Console has gone
> missing (and I could not reinstall it).
>
> Details on that below, first the *good news*;
>
>
>- New MIDI controller maps to Reaper and can set up CC#'s with VSTi's.
>- Other controller issues fixed.
>- Running Windows 10.
>- ToneLIb GFX noise canceling works.
>- Sticking with 32-bit VSTi for now, working fine.
>
>
> As to the bigger question I was trying to pose (future-proofing), I took
> some action:
>
>- I did update the Audio Handbook Wiki with notes based on what I
>learned doing the 20.04 upgrade.  I hope to keep working on that. Please
>read and edit as you see fit.
>- I did not approach any vendors or virtual instrument makers about
>releasing/maintaining LInux versions of their software. I know it's
>pie-in-the-sky, but ideally, Linux users should voice their preference
> to
>run software natively  instead of relying on  Wine.
>- Instead I asked a couple of YouTube channels who review music
>free/shareware to review Ubuntu Studio if they have not already done
> so. If
>I see other appropriate places, I'll keep making the same suggestion.
> Power
>in numbers.
>- This laptop still won't meet the specs for some of the latest and
>greatest plugins, but now that's purely a hardware issue.  If I have
> maxed
>out the RAM, I'll just replace this laptop. In the meantime, it's not
> like
>there aren't oodles of virtual synths available.
>
> This should possibly be a separate thread, but now I've mentioned it...
>
> I don't know for certain that the last update caused my audio problem.
> Sound is choppy as in a square wave, regular interval.  This is with the
> DAW,  audio player, browser, anything that makes sound.  I should add all
> Jack audio connections that had been set up were disconnected.  Connecting
> Pulse to system out makes the choppy sound, otherwise it's mute.  And there
> are suddenly a lot of subfolders exploded in the Audio/Effects menu, I
> think because U. Studio Controls vanished.  There's been an alert pop-up
> "found a problem with you system. notify?" from the time I first upgraded
> last Friday, so maybe that's the real origin of this bug.  Did not look at
> error log yet and don't know what diagnostics to run.  For now I was just
> wondering if this is just me or a* known issue*?   I'm on an older Lenovo
> ThinkPad.
>
> Thanks again for the suggestions, they really helped!
>
> Pete
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Re: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap and last update

[Peter Reppert]

Hi, everyone.

I upgraded to 20.04 and updated Wine - that solved pretty much all of my
issues. Unfortunately, the last round of updates that just came out seem to
have wreaked havoc with audio playback and Ubuntu Studio Console has gone
missing (and I could not reinstall it).

Details on that below, first the *good news*;


   - New MIDI controller maps to Reaper and can set up CC#'s with VSTi's.
   - Other controller issues fixed.
   - Running Windows 10.
   - ToneLIb GFX noise canceling works.
   - Sticking with 32-bit VSTi for now, working fine.


As to the bigger question I was trying to pose (future-proofing), I took
some action:

   - I did update the Audio Handbook Wiki with notes based on what I
   learned doing the 20.04 upgrade.  I hope to keep working on that. Please
   read and edit as you see fit.
   - I did not approach any vendors or virtual instrument makers about
   releasing/maintaining LInux versions of their software. I know it's
   pie-in-the-sky, but ideally, Linux users should voice their preference to
   run software natively  instead of relying on  Wine.
   - Instead I asked a couple of YouTube channels who review music
   free/shareware to review Ubuntu Studio if they have not already done so. If
   I see other appropriate places, I'll keep making the same suggestion. Power
   in numbers.
   - This laptop still won't meet the specs for some of the latest and
   greatest plugins, but now that's purely a hardware issue.  If I have maxed
   out the RAM, I'll just replace this laptop. In the meantime, it's not like
   there aren't oodles of virtual synths available.

This should possibly be a separate thread, but now I've mentioned it...

I don't know for certain that the last update caused my audio problem.
Sound is choppy as in a square wave, regular interval.  This is with the
DAW,  audio player, browser, anything that makes sound.  I should add all
Jack audio connections that had been set up were disconnected.  Connecting
Pulse to system out makes the choppy sound, otherwise it's mute.  And there
are suddenly a lot of subfolders exploded in the Audio/Effects menu, I
think because U. Studio Controls vanished.  There's been an alert pop-up
"found a problem with you system. notify?" from the time I first upgraded
last Friday, so maybe that's the real origin of this bug.  Did not look at
error log yet and don't know what diagnostics to run.  For now I was just
wondering if this is just me or a* known issue*?   I'm on an older Lenovo
ThinkPad.

Thanks again for the suggestions, they really helped!

Pete
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Re: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap

[eylul]

>
>>   The latest VSTs, both free and commercial ones from companies like
>> Spectrasonics and Arturia, do not run on the older versions of Windows
>> supported by Wine (Vista is the latest).  I have encountered other
>> problems
>
> I am sure wine goes beyond vista.
>
Wine definitely goes beyond vista. (outside of the realm of audio, in
gaming, Lutris, and Steam's proton both use wine, and actually it is a
lot more reliable in running software these days. I use it a few modern
games - most if not all of which does require windows 10, and for a 3D
printer software that is specific to my 3D printer). 

You can run winecfg to switch your default wine prefix
(/home//.wine) to windows 10. It was defaulted to windows 7 on
mine. (I don't work with the default prefix much as I tend to use lutris
and  playonlinux to install software), That should fix that issue hopefully?

Best

Eylul



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[ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual instrument Gap

[Peter Reppert]

  Thank you for the thoughtful responses, suggestions, insights, and
corrections.  I hope it was clear that my preference would be to keep
running Ubuntu Studio, and I appreciate the words of encouragement.  I
asked about approaching some of the vendors because I was indeed thinking
about doing just that, but didn't want to duplicate efforts.
  I can certainly try filing bug reports - I've been going on the
assumption there's a backlog of work on everything and they must already
know about any issue I might encounter. It's basically asking a favor, so
I'm hesitant.
I have used Ardour exclusively at least since Windows 10 came out (had
some difficulty with Steinberg software at the time). Absolutely agree it's
incredible.  I didn't pull the trigger on anything yet - could be
everything works out as soon as I plug in the new controller.  I will see
about updating Wine, too, although I thought I had done so not long ago.
Dr. Thompson's approach of "the right tool for the job" is perfectly
reasonable, and it was interesting to hear from someone doing professional
work (I'm the lone weekend warrior in the back bedroom).
   Re the Handbook, I may have some time to work on it, but I'm a little
unsure where to start. I'm very glad it's in wiki format and hope people
take the liberty to make corrections and additions as they use it and spot
needed updates.  I've made a very few edits in the same way, and hopefully
they were accurate/helpful.
   As much as it sounded like a rant, I understand this is a volunteer
effort, so the tacit understanding is always that if you're asking, you may
need to roll up your sleeves and pitch in.

Thanks again Len, Erich, and Dr. Thompson for the replies.

Cheers,

Peter

On Sat, Aug 15, 2020 at 12:28 PM <
ubuntu-studio-devel-requ...@lists.ubuntu.com> wrote:

> Send ubuntu-studio-devel mailing list submissions to
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> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of ubuntu-studio-devel digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>1.  Virtual Instrument Gap (Peter Reppert)
>2. Re:  Virtual Instrument Gap (Erich Eickmeyer)
>
>
> --
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2020 10:34:17 -0400
> From: Peter Reppert 
> To: ubuntu-studio-devel@lists.ubuntu.com
> Subject: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap
> Message-ID:
> <
> cak_4avtcc79xrxnwsztw6jgrnuc68oyodz8mbom9ih4wet5...@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> TLDR: The inability to run a wide spectrum of music software on Linux is
> getting worse to the point many will throw in the towel.
>
>   I know this is an old saw and may be the wrong forum to even mention it,
> but here goes.  I am a keyboard player and I like virtual instruments (VST
> plugins). As nice as all the other capabilities of a DAW are, the ability
> to use VST synths is possibly the best feature.  There are hundreds of free
> ones, and while very few run natively, it's possible to use them via Wine.
> I think you know where this is headed...
>   The latest VSTs, both free and commercial ones from companies like
> Spectrasonics and Arturia, do not run on the older versions of Windows
> supported by Wine (Vista is the latest).  I have encountered other problems
> listed below, but the inability to run up-to-date plugins is getting to be
> a show stopper for any keyboard player who wants to move beyond vintage
> sounds and outdated sample libraries. This isn't just gear lust - the newer
> instruments are *demonstrably* better with richer sounds, better
> interfaces, etc.  Running Ubuntu Studio feels like being walled off from a
> cornucopia of options, whether or not one takes the plunge with this or
> that product or freebie.
>
> *Other issues*
>
>- Can't run the 64-bit version of (non-Linux) VST plugins.
>- Using - even brushing against - the mod wheel or anything other than
>volume on the controller crashes Carla.That did not used to happen.
> Not to
>mention almost always having to configure MIDI CC mapping for each new
> VST
>(and I've never had any luck storing these, so add "on every session")
>- GuitariX hums like a cheap tube amp the second you plug in a guitar.
>- Numerous other annoyances, crashes, and general clunkiness, some
>degree of whic

Re: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap

[s.thomp...@vcmexams.com]

opment 
Subject: Re: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap

On Sat, 15 Aug 2020, Peter Reppert wrote:

> TLDR: The inability to run a wide spectrum of music software on Linux is
> getting worse to the point many will throw in the towel.
>
>   I know this is an old saw and may be the wrong forum to even mention it,

Certainly. Ubuntu studio is a collection of software made by the Linux
commumity. Ubuntu Studio does not make software.


> but here goes.  I am a keyboard player and I like virtual instruments (VST
> plugins). As nice as all the other capabilities of a DAW are, the ability to

virtual instruments does not equal VST plugins, there are other plugin
formats

> use VST synths is possibly the best feature.  There are hundreds of free
> ones, and while very few run natively, it's possible to use them via Wine. I
> think you know where this is headed...

very good.

>   The latest VSTs, both free and commercial ones from companies like
> Spectrasonics and Arturia, do not run on the older versions of Windows
> supported by Wine (Vista is the latest).  I have encountered other problems

I am sure wine goes beyond vista.

> listed below, but the inability to run up-to-date plugins is getting to be a
> show stopper for any keyboard player who wants to move beyond vintage sounds
> and outdated sample libraries. This isn't just gear lust - the newer

Actually sample libraries are os agnostic. It is true that some companies
lock their sample libraries by packaging them in a format only their
sample player will play. File a bug report with that company.

> instruments are demonstrably better with richer sounds, better interfaces,

the interface is not a part of the sample library, that is the sample
player.

> etc.  Running Ubuntu Studio feels like being walled off from a cornucopia of
> options, whether or not one takes the plunge with this or that product or
> freebie.

I have not found this to be true but then most of my recording is real
sound made by real instruments... most likey on a stage in front of real
people. I find music made with samples to be boring and unimaginative for
the most part. However, one has to be careful when it comes to one's likes
and dislikes.

> Other issues
>  *  Can't run the 64-bit version of (non-Linux) VST plugins.
>  *  Using - even brushing against - the mod wheel or anything other than
> volume on the controller crashes Carla.That did not used to happen.  Not
> to mention almost always having to configure MIDI CC mapping for each
> new VST (and I've never had any luck storing these, so add "on every
> session")

Please file a bug report or issue with the author:
https://github.com/falkTX/Carla/issues
for both of the above complaints

>  *  GuitariX hums like a cheap tube amp the second you plug in a guitar.

Have you checked your audio interface? Have you checked the shieldiing in
your guitar? This is obviously a problem outside of the digital world.
Nothing to do with software of any kind.

>  *  Numerous other annoyances, crashes, and general clunkiness, some degree
> of which we can all put up with (and can of course happen in Windows or
> MacOS).

a very braod statement without any meat. It has no meaning.

> Now I am looking to get an 88-key controller, and there again, any bundled
> software won't run on my Ubuntu Studio laptop.  MIDI controllers often map
> onboard knobs, faders, and transport controls to a handful of popular DAWs -
> never Ardour (luckily Reaper is supported).

This sounds like FUD to me. Ardour allows taking which ever way the
controller is mapped and creating a midi map that can be useful. Some
controlers have surface support specific to the controler built in to
Ardour as well. However, most players who want an 88key controller, play
it like a piano and rarely (if ever) touch any other control save power.
If the controller maker uses standard midi controls, most things will just
work.

> If I want to run any contemporary commercial music software, they are

there are two words that probably don't belong together "commercial" and
"music".

> recommending 8 GHz, which means it's time for a hardware upgrade. I don't

8 Ghz what? I am not aware of any CPU that runs that fast... 4 Ghz is what
I mostly find. So maybe you mean something else?

> need to be on the cutting edge of everything, and appreciate all the work
> that's gone into Ubuntu Studio, not to mention the seemingly limitless
> free/shareware out there. But I am going to hold my nose and at least start
> out running Windows. I suspect the same chain of reasoning is going to
> happen for a lot of other keyboard players as they upgrade their systems.

Quite honestly, if the software you wish to use comes in a windows format,
you should probably run windows anyway. If you are a piano player, I do
not know of an

Re: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap

[Len Ovens]

On Sat, 15 Aug 2020, Peter Reppert wrote:


TLDR: The inability to run a wide spectrum of music software on Linux is
getting worse to the point many will throw in the towel. 

  I know this is an old saw and may be the wrong forum to even mention it,


Certainly. Ubuntu studio is a collection of software made by the Linux 
commumity. Ubuntu Studio does not make software.




but here goes.  I am a keyboard player and I like virtual instruments (VST
plugins). As nice as all the other capabilities of a DAW are, the ability to


virtual instruments does not equal VST plugins, there are other plugin 
formats



use VST synths is possibly the best feature.  There are hundreds of free
ones, and while very few run natively, it's possible to use them via Wine. I
think you know where this is headed...


very good.


  The latest VSTs, both free and commercial ones from companies like
Spectrasonics and Arturia, do not run on the older versions of Windows
supported by Wine (Vista is the latest).  I have encountered other problems


I am sure wine goes beyond vista.


listed below, but the inability to run up-to-date plugins is getting to be a
show stopper for any keyboard player who wants to move beyond vintage sounds
and outdated sample libraries. This isn't just gear lust - the newer


Actually sample libraries are os agnostic. It is true that some companies 
lock their sample libraries by packaging them in a format only their 
sample player will play. File a bug report with that company.



instruments are demonstrably better with richer sounds, better interfaces,


the interface is not a part of the sample library, that is the sample 
player.



etc.  Running Ubuntu Studio feels like being walled off from a cornucopia of
options, whether or not one takes the plunge with this or that product or
freebie.  


I have not found this to be true but then most of my recording is real 
sound made by real instruments... most likey on a stage in front of real 
people. I find music made with samples to be boring and unimaginative for 
the most part. However, one has to be careful when it comes to one's likes 
and dislikes.



Other issues
 *  Can't run the 64-bit version of (non-Linux) VST plugins. 
 *  Using - even brushing against - the mod wheel or anything other than
volume on the controller crashes Carla.That did not used to happen.  Not
to mention almost always having to configure MIDI CC mapping for each
new VST (and I've never had any luck storing these, so add "on every
session") 


Please file a bug report or issue with the author:
https://github.com/falkTX/Carla/issues
for both of the above complaints


 *  GuitariX hums like a cheap tube amp the second you plug in a guitar.


Have you checked your audio interface? Have you checked the shieldiing in 
your guitar? This is obviously a problem outside of the digital world. 
Nothing to do with software of any kind.



 *  Numerous other annoyances, crashes, and general clunkiness, some degree
of which we can all put up with (and can of course happen in Windows or
MacOS). 


a very braod statement without any meat. It has no meaning.


Now I am looking to get an 88-key controller, and there again, any bundled
software won't run on my Ubuntu Studio laptop.  MIDI controllers often map
onboard knobs, faders, and transport controls to a handful of popular DAWs -
never Ardour (luckily Reaper is supported).  


This sounds like FUD to me. Ardour allows taking which ever way the 
controller is mapped and creating a midi map that can be useful. Some 
controlers have surface support specific to the controler built in to 
Ardour as well. However, most players who want an 88key controller, play 
it like a piano and rarely (if ever) touch any other control save power. 
If the controller maker uses standard midi controls, most things will just 
work.



    If I want to run any contemporary commercial music software, they are


there are two words that probably don't belong together "commercial" and 
"music".



recommending 8 GHz, which means it's time for a hardware upgrade. I don't


8 Ghz what? I am not aware of any CPU that runs that fast... 4 Ghz is what 
I mostly find. So maybe you mean something else?



need to be on the cutting edge of everything, and appreciate all the work
that's gone into Ubuntu Studio, not to mention the seemingly limitless
free/shareware out there. But I am going to hold my nose and at least start
out running Windows. I suspect the same chain of reasoning is going to
happen for a lot of other keyboard players as they upgrade their systems.  


Quite honestly, if the software you wish to use comes in a windows format, 
you should probably run windows anyway. If you are a piano player, I do 
not know of any piano plugin that sounds better that pianoteq: 
https://www.modartt.com/ which does run on Linux. SetBfree has got to be 
one of the best B3 emulators. Samples are just a recording of someone 
else's playing.



   Again my 

Re: [ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap

[Erich Eickmeyer]

On 8/15/2020 7:34 AM, Peter Reppert wrote:
> TLDR: The inability to run a wide spectrum of music software on Linux
> is getting worse to the point many will throw in the towel. 
>
>   I know this is an old saw and may be the wrong forum to even mention
> it, but here goes.  I am a keyboard player and I like virtual
> instruments (VST plugins). As nice as all the other capabilities of a
> DAW are, the ability to use VST synths is possibly the best feature. 
> There are hundreds of free ones, and while very few run natively, it's
> possible to use them via Wine. I think you know where this is headed...
>   The latest VSTs, both free and commercial ones from companies like
> Spectrasonics and Arturia, do not run on the older versions of Windows
> supported by Wine (Vista is the latest).  I have encountered other
> problems listed below, but the inability to run up-to-date plugins is
> getting to be a show stopper for any keyboard player who wants to move
> beyond vintage sounds and outdated sample libraries. This isn't just
> gear lust - the newer instruments are /demonstrably/ better with
> richer sounds, better interfaces, etc.  Running Ubuntu Studio feels
> like being walled off from a cornucopia of options, whether or not one
> takes the plunge with this or that product or freebie.  
>
> *Other issues*
>
>   * Can't run the 64-bit version of (non-Linux) VST plugins. 
>   * Using - even brushing against - the mod wheel or anything other
> than volume on the controller crashes Carla.That did not used to
> happen.  Not to mention almost always having to configure MIDI CC
> mapping for each new VST (and I've never had any luck storing
> these, so add "on every session") 
>   * GuitariX hums like a cheap tube amp the second you plug in a guitar.
>   * Numerous other annoyances, crashes, and general clunkiness, some
> degree of which we can all put up with (and can of course happen
> in Windows or MacOS). 
>
>
> Now I am looking to get an 88-key controller, and there again, any
> bundled software won't run on my Ubuntu Studio laptop.  MIDI
> controllers often map onboard knobs, faders, and transport controls to
> a handful of popular DAWs - never Ardour (luckily Reaper is supported).  
>     If I want to run any contemporary commercial music software, they
> are recommending 8 GHz, which means it's time for a hardware upgrade.
> I don't need to be on the cutting edge of everything, and appreciate
> all the work that's gone into Ubuntu Studio, not to mention the
> seemingly limitless free/shareware out there. But I am going to hold
> my nose and at least start out running Windows. I suspect the same
> chain of reasoning is going to happen for a lot of other keyboard
> players as they upgrade their systems.  
>    Again my apologies if this is old news. I'm sure musicians have
> been switching operating systems as long as digital recording has been
> around. It just feels like Ubuntu Studio is going obsolete vis-a-vis
> current not-terribly-expensive yet mind-blowing software, especially
> for keyboard players and music producers.  
>   Hobbyists and non-musicians can do a lot on their phones and you can
> even run a DAW on a tablet. Pro and semi-pro musicians and engineers
> are going with ProTools or similar without giving Linux a moment's
> consideration. If you can afford a computer, you can almost certainly
> afford a commercial DAW without the need to change OS.  Who is Ubuntu
> Studio for?  
>
> Is there the remotest hope that more software will come out in three
> flavors?  
>   My guess is the software companies can't justify supporting Linux. 
> Has anyone approached them?  Is there anything on the horizon to solve
> the problem of running recent Windows/Mac applications, maybe without
> a bridge?
>
> 
>   Virus-free. www.avg.com
> 
>
>
>
Peter,

You of all people should know this: if you're having trouble with
software, such as your issues with Carla or Guitarix, report bugs. This
is stuff that the developers need to know. For Carla, for instance,
report your issues with the VST plugins and the mod wheel issues to
https://github.com/falktx/Carla. For guitarix, report that to
https://sourceforge.net/p/guitarix/bugs/.

I understand your frustration, but you're seriously barking up the wrong
tree here. You need to go to the source of the software, not the people
who distribute it. Ubuntu Studio is a *distribution* of software, not a
*developer* of software. I don't understand where the myth comes from
that we, Ubuntu Studio, develop the software we include. This couldn't
be further from the truth. The truth is, we develop two pieces of
software: Ubuntu Studio Installer and Studio Controls. That's it. Yes,
Len helps with developing Ardour, but he is far from the main developer.

My 

[ubuntu-studio-devel] Virtual Instrument Gap

[Peter Reppert]

TLDR: The inability to run a wide spectrum of music software on Linux is
getting worse to the point many will throw in the towel.

  I know this is an old saw and may be the wrong forum to even mention it,
but here goes.  I am a keyboard player and I like virtual instruments (VST
plugins). As nice as all the other capabilities of a DAW are, the ability
to use VST synths is possibly the best feature.  There are hundreds of free
ones, and while very few run natively, it's possible to use them via Wine.
I think you know where this is headed...
  The latest VSTs, both free and commercial ones from companies like
Spectrasonics and Arturia, do not run on the older versions of Windows
supported by Wine (Vista is the latest).  I have encountered other problems
listed below, but the inability to run up-to-date plugins is getting to be
a show stopper for any keyboard player who wants to move beyond vintage
sounds and outdated sample libraries. This isn't just gear lust - the newer
instruments are *demonstrably* better with richer sounds, better
interfaces, etc.  Running Ubuntu Studio feels like being walled off from a
cornucopia of options, whether or not one takes the plunge with this or
that product or freebie.

*Other issues*

   - Can't run the 64-bit version of (non-Linux) VST plugins.
   - Using - even brushing against - the mod wheel or anything other than
   volume on the controller crashes Carla.That did not used to happen.  Not to
   mention almost always having to configure MIDI CC mapping for each new VST
   (and I've never had any luck storing these, so add "on every session")
   - GuitariX hums like a cheap tube amp the second you plug in a guitar.
   - Numerous other annoyances, crashes, and general clunkiness, some
   degree of which we can all put up with (and can of course happen in Windows
   or MacOS).


Now I am looking to get an 88-key controller, and there again, any bundled
software won't run on my Ubuntu Studio laptop.  MIDI controllers often map
onboard knobs, faders, and transport controls to a handful of popular DAWs
- never Ardour (luckily Reaper is supported).
If I want to run any contemporary commercial music software, they are
recommending 8 GHz, which means it's time for a hardware upgrade. I don't
need to be on the cutting edge of everything, and appreciate all the work
that's gone into Ubuntu Studio, not to mention the seemingly limitless
free/shareware out there. But I am going to hold my nose and at least start
out running Windows. I suspect the same chain of reasoning is going to
happen for a lot of other keyboard players as they upgrade their systems.
   Again my apologies if this is old news. I'm sure musicians have been
switching operating systems as long as digital recording has been around.
It just feels like Ubuntu Studio is going obsolete vis-a-vis current
not-terribly-expensive yet mind-blowing software, especially for keyboard
players and music producers.
  Hobbyists and non-musicians can do a lot on their phones and you can even
run a DAW on a tablet. Pro and semi-pro musicians and engineers are going
with ProTools or similar without giving Linux a moment's consideration. If
you can afford a computer, you can almost certainly afford a commercial DAW
without the need to change OS.  Who is Ubuntu Studio for?

Is there the remotest hope that more software will come out in three
flavors?
  My guess is the software companies can't justify supporting Linux.  Has
anyone approached them?  Is there anything on the horizon to solve the
problem of running recent Windows/Mac applications, maybe without a bridge?


Virus-free.
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