I'm currently running Windows 11 on a powerful PC with 64GB of RAM and a 13th Gen Intel Core i7, but I'm thinking about switching to Linux. As an audio engineering student, I've heard mixed opinions from my professors who say Linux isn't great for audio work, mainly due to poorly optimized drivers like ASIO. They recommend against the switch, especially since I rely on software like ProTools and Cubase. I do have a decent Behringer U-Phoria interface and plan to upgrade my hardware later. My main concern is whether my professors are outdated in their views since they typically use Macs. I've heard that Linux is becoming better for video editing too, which is also a plus for me. Can anyone share their experiences or recommend a Linux distro for audio production?
2 Answers
You can absolutely use Linux for audio mixing with software like Reaper and distributions like Linux Mint or Ubuntu Studio. I've had no issues with my UMC202HD interface. The drivers like PulseAudio and PipeWire work well with ALSA, but yeah, there might be some compatibility quirks with Windows VSTs. Overall, for audio editing and mixing, Linux is definitely viable.
You should definitely check how many audio interface manufacturers support Linux before making the switch. Unfortunately, many companies, like MOTU, have limited support, which can make your audio work challenging. I've been using Linux for years but I don't have a Linux desktop for audio work simply because the software and driver support just isn't there. Linux may be great for servers and programming, but when it comes to audio, you'll likely face hurdles in a professional setting.
I think that's a bit of an outdated view. I've been using Linux for over 20 years in professional audio and video production. Many modern audio interfaces, like the MOTU 828, work great on Linux right out of the box. You might need to dig a bit, but you'll find that Linux audio production has grown a lot! It's just as capable as Mac or Windows, especially with software like PipeWire.