[LAU] Ardour Version Question: 2 versus 3?

[Len Ovens]

On Mon, 4 May 2015, Ivan K wrote:

> I have some question regarding versions of Ardour
> that people are using.

4

> Currently, I am running Fedora 20, and their
> software repository has two versions of Ardour available:
>
> ardour-2.8.16-12.fc20
> ardour-3.5.403-1.fc20
>
> I seem to recall that in the past, despite
> Ardour3 being available, some people were still preferring
> to use Ardour2.  This seems to be supported by the
> fact that Fedora offers both versions.
>
> Why might one prefer Ardour2 over Ardour3?

A project started in A2 might be finished in A2. But then, I think also I 
would be using the whole OS version surounding it as well (GCDMaster for 
example). I personally have not had any problems moving A2 projects to A3 
(and then A4) but mine are generally pretty sparse and non-complex to 
begin with. I make very little use of the midi editing and so that reason 
for moving to A3 did not effect me. However, some of the other things like 
the use of control surfaces does. And with things like GCDMaster no longer 
available because the libs it uses are not around any more (well they are 
around, but would interfere with the newer version lib versions) A4s 
improved export is also needed. The LV2 standard seems to have changed... 
A4 works better with the newer standard... so A2 might limit you to older 
plugins. A4 supports linux VSTs. There is much more than just MIDI editing 
to find in A3/4... even little things like the channel strip trim "pot" 
that appeared a short while ago.

There are reasons to stick with A2... but not many. In general, for any 
computer with 1g ram or more (it is hard to find a newer computer with 
even only 2G) and for new projects, A4 is the way to go.

In my opinion...
Ardour is worth supporting. There have been whole HW platforms that are no 
longer around (like the Atari ST with some of the very best MIDI 
sequencing) because the SW developers were not supported. There are some 
really useful Linux projects that are gone for the same reason. audio 
creation in the Linux world is a very small group of people... the 
everything in Linux is free attitude, has kept some kinds of SW from 
really developing well here.

Quite honestly, Ardour is the first SW I have put money into since I 
bought some stuff for the ST megga2. I have gotten to the point where I 
either did that or bought something closed. The A3 that comes from the 
repo is fine as a demo, but the support and updates from the Ardour site 
are worth paying for... and the features I would like to see down the road 
are worth support as well.

--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net