Short version: Please tell me your favourit distro(s) for making music and why.

Long version/my use case: I’ve actually recently decided to migrate to a laptop setup from desktop. I’ve already decided on the laptop and will be running a dual boot setup. I think between SuperCollider, Pd, and Reaper, Linux could have me mostly (maybe completely) covered.

It’s tempting to just go for Ubuntu Studio or AV Linux, as they seems to have plenty of stuff ready to go. But at the same time I kind of know the apps I want to use, and (I assume) I can just get them myself for just about any other distro. I don’t want to pick a distro just because it comes with a bunch of semi-relevant stuff. But maybe it’s worth doing just that?

If it helps, my background is DAWs (Cubase and Reaper mainly) with softsynth, a little bit of eurorack and a chunk of VCV Rack, and a sprinkling of MaxMSP. I also have a monome Norns shield, for which I am attempting to learn Lua. I have no background in programming but I am drawn to learning SuperCollider as well. I have both 5 pin and usb midi controllers, and a Steinberg UR22 mkII.

  • @[email protected]
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    01 year ago

    I’m trying to choose a distro for a music-focused computer and many searches point me back to manjaro. However, I’ve heard some negative news (perhaps more meta?) about that project; what has your experience been? Is setup a long and/or bug-riddled process?

    • BKLronin
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      21 year ago

      Distro installation is installer click through with hardware auto setup. Had all my VSTs running including Native Instruments, Waves and Arturia etc via yabridge. Sometimes a bit fiddely but thats not the distros fault. I have the same installation running for quite some time so updates went well monstly.

      THey had some key and cert issues a year ago and that seems to be the main reason why its not the most recommended distro anymore. Many recommend Endeavour OS but I havent tested it as a audio platform yet.