I have been using Ubuntu Studio now for about 2 years, but haven't used it for much more than basic recordings of the band. I am now wanting to delve a little deeper into what Linux has to offer for music, although the bulk of my work will still be recording my band.
My first foray into music was in the 1980's with a TRS-80 Color Computer, where I first heard Axl F, and was immediately drawn to composing music on a computer. A few years later, I started to make my own Mods on a 386 computer I had. I didn't devote as much time as I should have to computer music production, and pretty much got out of it.
In the late 90's I started playing around again with music on computers. I had been involved with Linux since 1996 when I downloaded Slackware onto 100 or so floppies so I could do my C/UNIX coursework from home instead of using the College computer lab. At the time, I was trying different ways to record music using Windows 95, but it was a painful experience back then.
I got back into using the Computer for music recording in 2006, when my band chipped in on a Presonus Firepod (now known as the FP10). At the time I used the included Cubase LE software that came with the unit. Even though I was a staunch supporter of Linux at work, I really didn't know that the music scene was shaping up so good. I didn't really start looking at Linux as a DAW until I switch to Ubuntu from Red Hat in 2008 and stumbled upon Ubuntu Studio. I started with Ubuntu Studio 8.04 version and have been using it since. The one thing I do like is the fact that no matter where I go, I can load the software and still access my old recordings without problems...
What brings me to this site is pure knowledge of it now. I've collected a good deal of music equipment over the past year including 2 new guitars, a new bass, an ART Tubefire 8 (I love it, don't know why the EOL'd it), and an Axiom 49 keyboard. Because I want to start exploring more of what Linux can do for me, I decided to upgrade to Ubuntu Studio 10.04, Daisy chain my FP10 and ART 8 to my laptop, and start using the Axiom for more than my wifes piano lessons. That led me into a rabbit hole per say due to issues getting everything on the same page, which with the great help of some of the Ubuntu Studio 10.04 community led me here.
I look forward to learning all I can, and offering any insight I may have. Like I said, the bulk of my effort will be going into getting the best recordings of my band that I can, with some time devoted to learning new stuff. I have a fairly demanding job, and a family, so I can only spend so much time with my hobby. I also waste way too much of my free time playing EVE Online
