[linux-audio-dev] linux use (was [OT] marketing hype)

[vanDongen/Gilcher]

Well as a profesional linux user (music is my dayjob) I can maybe describe 
some of the things that make linux much more productive for me than mac or 
windows.

Jack is one of the key points. (with alsa sequencer but midi loopback is not 
unique, the mac has had that for ages)
Workspaces and keyboard control in the window manager is another.

As you say, making a production involves a lot of different pieces of software 
and/or equipment. I work mainly in software these days, but there are always 
some things easier with outboard stuff.

So I need many different programs, and the fact that they can all talk to each 
other is great, because ,even on the mac, you always need that one small 
utility to fix a little thing, do a special effect etc. 
For instance, I had to do some songs for a children's theatre show (music for 
the elephant, the crocodile on the train etc). It was so nice to edit the 
score in rosegarden (which has pretty nice score entry) send it as midi to 
fluidsynth and hydrogen and record it into ardour which has the best 
editing/mixing facilities. 
I can quickly make a special special-effect in csound and run parts of a 
session through that, never having to quit this, start that, make batches so  
etc.
So unless you are willing to stick with one mega-application (logic or 
cubase), and I have never been able to,  linux is more productive in this 
way.

The other thing that makes linux more productive for me is the windowmanager I 
am using: ion, a tabbed/tiled window manager which I would like to promote 
here as one of the most productivity enhancing piece of software I know.

It is unorthodox, but it manages your windows instead of cluttering the 
desktop. No icons, no eyecandy. Takes getting used to, but I never ever have 
to hunt for a window hidden underneath somewhere, or find it on the toolbar 
or the thingy OSX has now (a seperate program that shows all windows in 
minature so you can click where you want to go).

Instead I have the screens (dual head) seperated into tiles, I can navigate 
with my keyboard to whatever window I want, I optimize screen real-estate, so 
it is much easier to show many different plugin windows f.i. etc.. etc..

But I have worked a only little bit on OSX and I found it very annoying, 
ridiculous special effects, a toolbar that pops up,no extra workspaces to 
order your apps. Way to much fluff.

In conclusion, I can say that I could probably make the endresult, the music, 
on any system, but that I can do it quicker and more to my liking on linux.
But I am not your average user probably, I code sometimes as a hobby and I 
like looking at the internals.


Gerard


On Friday 11 June 2004 09:01, linux-audio-dev-request at music.columbia.edu 
From: Tim Orford <tim at orford.org>
> i dont mean to be aggressive, i'm just really intrigued to
> know how people get any music done. There is never any talk on
> this list or LAU about real software usage or workflows etc.
>
> for most people its not enough just to be able to do something,
> it has to be doable without impacting productivity or creativity.
>
> my personal experience is this: Music production is now an
> integrated process where the synthesis, composition, programming,
> recording, arrangement, and mixing of music overlap and everything
> is editable at all stages. I guess i'm biased by my own desires and
> studio experiences, but i do beleive this is what the majority of
> people want.
>
> such a system is not acheivable by bedroom hackers, it requires
> some cooperation and organisation. Currently all we have are
> the supporting peripherals (synths, editors, fx).
>
> is there really noone here who is seriously interested in this?

-- 
electronic & acoustic musics-- http://www.xs4all.nl/~gml