LinuxMusicians

Hello everybody,

May I turn to you for some advice?

My laptop carries KDE Mint, for everyday use. I also own a desktop serving as music production machine. The latter is, currently, in dual boot (Ubuntu 12.04 LTS/Windows 7) – yet on the nomination for replacement with something else since a) 12.04 LTS is showing considerable wear and tear now and b) the Windows 7 partition has definitely outlived its usefulness.

The present proposition is to replace dual boot with KDE Mint. However, vague noises that KDE may not be well suited to music production are a reason for some hesitation. On the other hand: the present quality of Ubuntu's audio environment seems to give rise to many complaints as well, these days; from what I have heard, anyway. Especially with still fresh in mind the unequivocal thumbs-down an overseas composer friend gave it, of recently.

The desktop is in use for music production, mainly – as said before; but it also comes in handy for transferring DVDs to video file format. And with the latter I have a problem, in KDE – for neither dvd::rip, AcidRip, nor Handbrake are working. K9copy doesn't either – but in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS it operates to complete satisfaction (although being obsolete, formally).

Hence, I'm presently inclined to stick with Ubuntu (14.04 LTS, possibly). However, for KXStudio – to which KDE Mint seems much more suited – I'll also have a use, in the longer term (although getting my head around KX remains an epic struggle still). In short: I just don't know what to do now.

Hence, I'd very much like your feedback. As well as your experience(s) with KDE (if any) as music production platform.

Thank you very much.

tnob

KXStudio could be considered basically ubuntu using KDE that someone already tweaked and configured to make music right out of the box. I can't suggest a better alternative. You can also try AVLinux which has a slightly different approach, and is not Ubuntu based, but also gives an excellent out of the box music creation setup. From what I understand of your wants right now, I really reccommend KXStudio.

tnob wrote:getting my head around KX remains an epic struggle still

What part of it seems confusing? Lets see if we can help you.

I suggest a cd sized 64bit bodhi linux, with E17 desktop, and install k3b, and dolphin file manager,
which brings in some core kde framework, then add kx repositories, and install only what
you will use. Then Focus on one area of prioritized need at a time, until victorious. Could be
Carla +plugins
sync audio software with external gear
compile specially needed apps
establish a wine setup for windows apps/plugins
compare divergent linux distros
Set up commercial daw testing, bitwig, tracktion, reaper, ardour
test commercial linux apps/instruments/fx
compare various video apps

Any of these could be of value, require some study, and prove fruitful.
Mastering them all, in short order, would be a daunting task. Linux coders
give us a great toolbox, without padlock & chain

Mint seems to me, more suited to soho, than the music studio, by design.
While quite successfull, it may be at the price of too much code to manage easily.
I've no time for surprises, so keep audio setup as simple as possible.
If it works as desired, it is NOT obsolete

I agree with glowrak guy. My wife uses Mint for work, and it seems indeed a well-rounded distro, no doubt. I think for people used to Windows, Mint is a good place to start.
That said, I haven't tried tweaking it for music making, since I use others (like Ubuntu Studio and Bodhi linux). Bodhi is MUCH lighter than both Mint and Ubuntu, just because it starts out with almost nothing installed. But that's the beauty of it.
But if anyone has good success with Mint for music production too, all the better!


brian