Kott wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 8:07 pm
Now you're talking about closed source drivers and Windows software while question was about Linux drivers and software. Your statement covers all non-class compliant devices (USB or not even) which has separate modules in the Linux kernel and has a professional standalone mixers for it, like RME, Echo, Focusrite and other.
I also avoid like the plague music/audio hardware that needs software in Linux. Focurite is a good example of that. I know that I'm stepping on toes here because most people love Focusrite, but I hate it with a passion. I don't care that a Linux driver has been written for certain non-class compliant audio hardware. It's a lot of hassle, dependent on one single sympathetic well meaning hobbyist but the company itself doesn't give a damn. An even if they do: they won't support their hardware for ever, not even for Windows. Sorry, I personally advice my friends against stuff like that.
merlyn wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 5:10 pm
This seems a bit confused. Windows drivers do stop working with updates. That's a reason not to use Windows. You can't separate computer hardware and software -- hardware needs drivers. Computer hardware physically plugs into a computer through a port, slot or socket and plugs into the OS with software.
It annoys me when people talk about 'no drivers required'. Every single piece of hardware, from the mouse to the network adapter has drivers. 'No drivers required' is a stupid Windows thing. Hardware always has drivers.
Sure, class compliant is the only way a USB interface is going to work on Linux. But what about the new Linux Focusrite driver? There will be no problem with that going forward.
Also Windows drivers don't work at all in Linux. 
I get what you mean. You're right of course. Everything connected to a computer needs a driver, even a mouse. But who wants to connect his synthesizer to his computer if you don't have to? A synth should not need software. Not to configure or "update" it, not for anything. An USB audio device should be class compliant and should not have a downloadable driver on the manufacturers website. The maker of your operating system (be it Windows, Linux, Android, MacOS, etc. etc.) is responsible for that and good it. And an OS maker can only make drivers for stuff that adheres to a standard or has very well defined properties (like a video card and even that's problematic in Linux sometimes). That's my opinion. But then again, I like to use 10+ year old hardware if it's my favourite. Y'all might not. No problem. Everybody his own preferred way of computing and/or making music. 
I'm no Wine expert, but I thought that certain Windows drivers might work in Wine. But then again, if that's impossible then I stand corrected.
However, I do know that certain software (not drivers) to configure hardware does work in Wine. Like I said above: I advise my friends to avoid that like the plague. Has nothing to do w/ Windows or Linux. I avoid hardware that won't work standalone and needs software. Like that awful Novation Launchpad/Launchcontrol shite which are dongles for Ableton Live. Brrrrrr. I do like Novation's standalone sampler and drummachine tho.
Just my 2 cents. If the TS wants to build a PC to use w/, for instance, a Focusrite audio device then he'll find all the help he needs here. I'd spend my time looking for nice hardware that'll work without having to download drivers and/or software, but that's me.
P.S. Example of hardware that needs software to configure and what I mean in this recent topic. Hopeless imho.
- I am on 40% - 60% for it, while Linux is on a 70% at present.
