[linux-audio-dev]converting old pc hardware to a live music performance toy

Hi Everybody! I have some old pc hardware that I want to use for live music performance. To start with it would be an effects box, then if all goes well an expander, a sampler, and/or whatever other ideas I come up with. I was thinking of using a footswitch controller, with a few buttons and a wah-wah like pedal as a knob. I have yet to buy the controller so I'm open to suggestions. It would work with USB or MIDI, or better both. If MIDI, then I also need a MIDI input card. Ultimately I would like the software to be as compact as possible, so I can run it off a flash card instead of a hard drive. It would probably be without GUI, though I'm leaving this open. Now to the linux bit: There is all this cool stuff already programmed for linux that I could be able to tailor to my needs, so its worth looking at, it seems. And I am sure I am not the first one to come up with this idea. So would you have any suggestions on where to start? As you have probably gathered, I'm a newbie to Linux. But I'm not to programming, and I'm ok with doing some coding. bye, Ariel