Hi everyone,
I’m getting fed up windows and want to switch my laptop to linux. My laptop also doesn’t meet windows 11 standards so I figured nows a good time to switch. I don’t do a whole lot on my laptop, but there are some programs that I do need to use. I have an E drum kit and right now I use reaper and Steven slate audio center to play and record my drums through my laptop. I looked at reaper, and I see linux options for download. But for Steven slate , I only see windows and Mac. This is pretty disappointing and so I figured I ask to see what would work for me.
I was going to go with Ubuntu, because it seems to be the most user friendly and has good support. I also use mullvad VPN on my laptop very frequently, which was another reason I chose Ubuntu.
Any help is appreciated. I’m willing to look at other distros too if there is one that better fits my needs.
EDIT: I have successfully migrated to linux mint and have reaper working with yabridge. Thanks, everyone, for your help and suggestions!
Right now I’d say the best open-source DAW for Linux is LMMS if you want to do everything just on your laptop, or Ardour if you want to use external instruments.
LMMS has some shockingly versatile built in synths, including a port of ZynAddSubFX, supports LADSPA/LV2 plugins, and supports using Wine to run 32-bit Windows VSTs. I’m unsure of Ardour’s VST support, but it at least supports LV2 plugins. Either of those, if you install them through your distro, will likely include Calf Studio Gear, an extensive collection of LV2 effects and a couple synths. As for ones that run natively on Linux, there’s synthv1, samplv1, drumkv1, and padthv1, though I’ve had trouble getting them working myself.
I’ve found some good stuff on the Linux Audio Wiki but IDK how up to date most of it is.
Not sure about Reaper, but most Windows-only VSTs work fine on Linux using yabridge in my experience. Some DRM can have issues, though, and sometimes you need to install dependencies using winetricks.
Also, I noticed you mentioned using Ubuntu since Mullvad is supported. I have a feeling that you’re attempting to download software through websites instead of using your distro’s repo or by using flathub. Downloading software “the Windows way” by using websites isn’t recommended unless it is not available on repos. Mullvad works on every distro, for example, and is available on most repos.
Oh ok, that’s good to know that I can use vsts on linux. And I’m just overall being more privacy conscientious lately.
Mullvad (and every other decent VPN) supports WireGuard and OpenVPN configurations that will be supported on any distro through the network settings without the need for additional software. It’s also pretty likely the mullvad client will be in the software center of whatever distro you’re using
Oh I see what you’re saying. I’m still getting used to linux. I have a steam deck and have been using the desktop mode quite a bit, so I’m familiar with the app store in there. But I’m still not used to it thinking about going there to install what I need. Thanks for the tip
If you don’t mind paying for it, Bitwig is probably the best that officially supports Linux. There are also ways to run windows VSTs in wine on Linux. I’m no pro, but I love Bitwig, it has boatloads of cool stuff. Reaper also supports Linux. Ubuntu is fine IMO, I think there is a spin that’s specific to audio workloads that might be nice for a beginner. I use Arch at home but I use Ubuntu for work, it’s pretty nice these days.
I wouldn’t mind paying for a program. But I’m wary of paying for programs because companies these days change their policies and make their services subscription based, and when that happens they gradually increase the price. But I will check it out. Thanks for the recommendation.
Does that program come with drum samples? Or would I have to get that separately?
Bitwig comes with so much that I can’t remember if they have drum samples or just machines or both. I highly recommend you try the free trial to see if you like it before you buy.
I checked it out and it is a more than I’m needing right now. I’m not an audio guy and bitwig is a little over whelming.
bitwig studio comes with tons of samples. it’s a fantastic daw.
there’s a reason a lot of ableton users switch over to bitwig.
reaper is also very good, but a bit clunky for edm/techno/etc.
You should use Ardour, it’s a DAW with native linux version. It’s free for Linux users and it’s a free software.
LMMS isn’t really a DAW, as it can’t really manipulate audio easily, only midi. Reaper and Bitweeg have native Linux version but aren’t free softwares.
Windows Vst are running fine on linux these days, but on Linux there are a lot of audio plugins on Lv2 format you should try as well… Lastly, native vst for Linux do exist and work flawlessly.
Edit: as a general rule, audio in Linux is fairly different than on windows/macos, because it allows more flexible workflows, with the use of multiple softwares in sync to get the best of their abilities. For instance I make professional audio mainly with Ardour but I also use rosegarden, guitarix, luppp, non-daw, open stage control or pure data for some specific functions.
LMMS isn’t really a DAW, as it can’t really manipulate audio easily, only midi.
IIRC it can use audio files as instruments though I never used that feature so idk how limited it is , I believe other DAWs can import audio more directly
my favorite daw is renoise. The sample management is excellent (it’s a tracker) and it manages VST perfectly well.
