[LAU] An appeal to famous artists?

Alexandre Prokoudine alexandre.prokoudine at gmail.com
Wed Aug 3 07:13:40 UTC 2011


On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 8:36 AM, michael noble  wrote:

> Where do commercial Linux-based products like the Muse Receptor or
> Korg Oasys fit in with this?

Nowhere really.

> but I suspect that many people don't count these products as advocating
> the FOSS model.

Because they are not.

> This really brings up the point of what your intentions are.

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar" (c) S. Freud

:)))

> Ultimately, famous artists are usually famous not because they
> use certain tools, but because they make music that appeals to
> a broader base.

Yes

> Those that actively promote certain products
> are either paid to do so, or are happy to do so because they
> enjoy using the product.

Yes

> Given that, at best, Linux audio tools
> are musically equivalent in functionality or capability to
> commercial solutions, then the only advantages they offer are
> political or economic ones.

I really hope you were joking when you wrote that. Linux audio tools
of 2011 are not functionally equivalent to commercial solutions of
2011. Or you will have to own up that you use a tiny fraction of
features :)

> My point being, if you are
> trying to convert people to use a certain tool because it is
> "politically" better, then you are probably fighting a losing battle,
> or at least one that has little do with music or audio production.

I'm attracted by ideas and technologies. I don't have a habit of going
around and making a face if an interesting technology turns out to be
proprietary. You can't really tell someone (s)he isn't smart and the
idea isn't worth a penny just because his/her software isn't under GPL
(well, you can, but most people would think you are an asshole who
deserves a thrashing).

For me free software has several appealing aspects, none of which has
politics in it. In fact I'm considerably anti-Stallman. I participate
in some free software projects and I know for sure that those
developers can do miracles when collaboration is organized the right
way. I'm interested in applying that experience to more projects, and
I justify my attempts to get more people to use the software by having
experience of turning potential users to actual users to developers.
Fair enough? :)

> Personally, I do believe that people should embrace the FOSS model,
> but I've given up trying to evangelize in any way other than sharing
> my enjoyment of using the tools.

Which is what I think is the right thing to do.

Alexandre Prokoudine
http://libregraphicsworld.org


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