From time to time i check out the possibilities of audio production in Linux and because of the shittines of windows 11 upgrades a little research made hope for a new attempt.
Disclaimer: This is a user perspective. I’m not familiar with every aspect of Linux nor do i intent to go there. Also this is a state of now. I may have missed some neat solutions for described issues. You’re welcome to give me info here. And lastly, since i do audio work as kind of business i need a reliable system. Therefore i try to avoid one-person beta-state projects as far as possible.
Fist of all Linux DAWs are working: Ardour, Reaper, Bitwig have native Linux versions. Others run using Wine … more or less. My view relies on Ardour and a little Reaper. Others i didn’t try. So it’s the point of plugin availability and stand alone music software.
native Linux plugins … finally
The family of native Linux plugins is growing. And not only “just” one-person-show-basement-developments but also companies are starting to explore the Linux audio market. Kazrog just opened up their collection to the Linux universe. Also Harrison with their Mixbus DAW and Harrison plugins was an early adopter. Cudos to them! And for all ProQ users check out Toneboosters, who start to offer LV-2 versions (state of now marked as beta but still, they’re awesome!!).
Nice list of Linux plugins on linuxdaw.org
Ya(y)bridge
Finally a(nother) tool that ports windows VSTs to Linux using Wine. I was able to port different manufacturers very successfully.
- VST2 seems to works generally. I didn’t run into troubles with my VST2 plugins. But i didn’t test ALL of them yet.
- The Melda stuff works (mostly). I had some trouble with the Melda Drumreplacer causing random crashes.
- TDR works
- Brainworx / Plugin Alliance works.
- My Klanghelm MJUC works but without VU metering. This is a drawback since without it’s hard to dail in properly.
- Audiority Klirrton Grindstein at least loads but i didn’t do registering yet. Dr. Drive works.
- The few STL plugins i own (that don’t use iLok) work or work not. I think ControlHub worked once but now i get crashes so we’re far away from stable here. Maybe just doing another yabridge run can fix the issue but this is a bit more time-bomb than i want for productive work. Installing Ignite NadIR (which is basically STL for me) is on the To-Do.
- The AnalogObsession stuff seems to work. Didn’t check every plugin but my usual GoTos, Buster, PoorTec, Fetish work.
- Lancaster Pulse 2 shows a black screen and causes Ardour to crash.
Also the very specific dependency on certain Wine-staging versions is tricky to handle for non-techs. Running a terminal command is one thing. Configuring the whole Wine environment with all its pitfalls is another beast. I would hope for a user-friendly wrap up, a snap package or something and ideally a GUI for keeping track. HEAR ME OUT, COMMUNITY!!
I get the “but this way you get to know your system better.” but no thanks. That’s a learning curve i take just out of needs and try to avoid where possible. I don’t want to know my system. I want to make music with it.
iLok … really?!?
My workflow heavily relies on some specific plugins that use iLok. STL Libra or Slate Trigger2 for example. The iLok dongle doesn’t work in Linux as far as i know. I could try to switch from the dongle to web-authentification but relying on internet access would be another drawback and i don’t know if that will work at all. I contacted STL and they responded they at least consider to move the Libra code base away from iLok but when this will happen has to be seen.
Native Instruments WHAT THE ACTUAL F
Having a dedicated “update manager” (UM) is a common thing nowadays and has it’s benefits. So does NI. BUUT … the UM from NI fails to run with Wine. There where several how-to guides for the different versions but as state of now the issue is marked “unsolved”. Shame on you NI. You do great stuff but coding at least the UM in a way to intentionally keeping Linux users out is a very questionable move. An UM has to compare versions and then download new version from an internet address for petty’s sake. How difficult can one make this simple task. For that matter i’m reaching out to find replaces for your product. If you intend to loose customers … keep doing.
stand alone is lost stand
While VST is a standard that everyone has to follow so occurring issues hopefully are solved one for all stand alone programms don’t have these restrictions and there go plenty of problems. I wasn’t able to port the iK Multimedia TONEX application. The STL stand alone amps didn’t work either.
There is some movement to make games run on Linux. I don’t really got into that rabbit hole yet but from my noob thought games are stand alone apps. If they get to work then audio stand alone apps should benefit from that … well, yeah, i’m that naive.
audio devices so so
I personally had no issues. Focusrite and also Behringer (X32) have their USB standards well done so everything works. The Focusrite stuff is also so big in the community that there are several projects for mixer GUIs aso. The RME line seems also working well so we have professional units available. But otherwise. I read that the Audient EVO 16 doesn’t do both ADATs in Linux so if you want the 24 i/os you’re screwed. This seems to be still a trial and error and hopefully having someone with too much time and driver coding capabilites that put up a github repo somwhere.
personal conclusion
mixing
I can mix in linux. I don’t have EVERY plugin but i have more than enough options to get the job done on a quality level. For some tasks where i used iLok stuff i have to look for alternatives but there ARE alternatives. Some of the things i miss could be replaced by the LV2 world. IR loaders, eq, compression, metering are covered. I wouldn’t even need Slate Trigger. LSP has a trigger plugin afaik. But the basic stuff ist also the stuff that works with yabridge. It’s the specialists like STL ControlHub or NI that are still without replacement … which kind of sucks.
Also loading time for yabridged VST3s is noticeable slower than on native windows. Once they’re set up it’s ok but always waiting for loading (and hoping it does) doesn’t feel very productive.
On the other hand, beeing able to set the buffer size beyond the 1024 is cool for CPU heavy productions. It’s also needed for yabridged plugins consume more CPU than native because of the WINE translation.
composing / producing
Composing is still a search. I relied on NI pretty heavily. Their stuff is awesome for sure but if they don’t get their shit together i have to search for new sound libraries. This will take serious time that i would rather spend composing. Bummer! (Again FFS, NI!!!)
modeling
Finally there is my business where i create and sell IR packs (no problem here) and amp models, TONEX among others. Either i get the TONEX modeler app ported, iK does a native version (c’mon guys, DO IT!!) or i have to have some kind of windows still running for that special task. Which would make all the other thoughts useless because point was to not need a windows.
final note
A lot has evolved since my last check for linux audio. But still it’s a struggle because companies still denying Linux as a market. It feels a little that small one-person companies have their codebase together and take the time for porting stuff while the big names “vibe code” ridiciously unportable code together. Again, no, you don’t NEED to offer native Linux (would be great though) but at least take care that Yabridge or Wine work.
To Do list / cry for help
Here a quick list with the stuff i’m still not successfull with. Will update if i found a solution. I appreciate every hint and/or suggestion!!
- make iLok dongle work or find alternative solution without constant web-access need
- Native Instruments
- STL ControlHub
- iK Multimedia TONEX Modeler stand alone app
- Slate Trigger 2
- random Melda crashes with DrumReplacer
- VU Meter in Klanghelm MJUC
What needs to be tested
- Waves (have some very old licences. V9-12. Installation of these old suckers on a new windows machine is a pain. Didn’t even try on Linux atm.)
- Dynamount Mic Robot. Their control app runs mac/windows/mobiles. Need to check, if Wine can handle the app. Maybe i could set up a workaround with an android VM in Linux. Not ideal though.
That’s it for now.
Cheers eighty
