Hi!<br><br>Rather than tell you what software is "best" to use, (as its down to opinion anyway)<br>I'll tell you about how I go about making my tracks:<br><br>-Audio & MIDI: JACK is an server that does inter application audio / midi routing. It's gonna be the core of any pro-audio system you have on linux. QJackCtl is the frontend to the server, & that's how to launch it all. <br>
<br>-Sequencer software: Qtracktor, handles both audio & midi tracks, has some useful keybindings you'll need to learn before you get the most out of it.<br><br>-Audio recording: I usually compose tracks in MIDI, bounce them trough an XV-3080 roland synth, record the audio *back* into Qtractor. That way I can keep that instrument playing, and change the patch on the synth, to record another instrument or 2... Then I export the audio to .wav files, and import them into Ardour. (tip: make the recordings all from the beginning, and align the starts to a beat in Ardour. No more messy aligning the tracks per ear.) In Ardour I make all the automation, effects, mixing volumes etc. Export the track once happy.<br>
<br>-Mastering: Audacity, just load it up, and have a look if your happy with the overall dynamics or if it could benefit from some compression / name it. Export to .ogg, .mp3, .flac, .wav or whatever format you want, type in the track info, done! :)<br>
<br>Hardware wise, the following is *needed* for the above setup:<br>-Soundcard: can be simple & onboard thing, but for better performance & quality go with a pro-interface. Check compatibility of the card before you splash out!<br>
-MIDI interface: To drive the synth. (Also to record MIDI into QTractor if you so wish)<br>-Mixer: a hardware mixer isn't strictly needed, but its healthy to have a real fader you can pull down if things go too loud.. :S<br>
-Speakers: but you know that :)<br><br>Accessories: Of course you can add on as much hardware as you like, but sometimes its *easier* to do things in software, like automation of parameters on you FX unit over MIDI can be a pain, Ardour takes care of details if you use an LV2 or LADSPA reverb.<br>
<br>Note that there are many many more sequencers, another couple of HDR solutions and hunderds of other workflows available. The best part is that you get to pick a workflow that suits you best. As I've said, I've described my workflow here, no need to stick to it!<br>
Cheers & good luck! -Harry<br><br>