Hey everyone! I just installed Linux Mint and I'm going to use it completely offline as a dedicated setup for recording music, editing videos, and doing some animation work. Right now, my biggest worry is the sound setup. I followed a somewhat old YouTube guide that talked about using PipeWire and JACK, but I can't seem to find PipeWire in my settings when trying to select input.
Could anyone share the right modern process to set up stable audio for recording and mixing? Should I go with PipeWire, JACK, or both? Also, how can I make sure everything is properly configured for offline use?
On top of that, I'm looking to buy an audio interface this weekend. What budget-friendly interfaces work well with Linux without needing internet? Any advice on what to check before buying to avoid compatibility issues would be great!
Lastly, I want to ensure that I can keep Linux Mint running offline indefinitely. I'm unsure what the support date means on the download page—does it mean I can't use the system after that, or can I keep using it normally as long as I avoid updates?
Thanks a lot for your help!
3 Answers
Have you looked into Ubuntu Studio? It's specifically designed for music and multimedia production. It includes JACK and a low-latency kernel, which is awesome for audio work! I found it works great with budget MIDI interfaces. My setup is pretty simple now, but it used to work like a charm!
Hey, I’ve been using Linux Mint with PipeWire for my music needs too! It can be a bit confusing, but it gets easier. I recommend just installing the PipeWire-JACK package from the software manager, so you can run apps that require JACK easily. Just start Ardour with `pw-jack ardour`, and you’re good to go! For my interface, I’m using a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, and it just works out of the box.
You should definitely check out the Ubuntu Studio elements. In a terminal, you can run:
```bash
sudo apt install ubuntustudio-installer
```
Then follow the guides on the [Ubuntu Studio site](https://ubuntustudio.org/ubuntu-studio-installer/). It's tailored for audio and multimedia work, so it should really help with your setup!
I tried making a bootable USB for Ubuntu Studio, but it got partitioned incorrectly. I’d prefer sticking with Ubuntu too since it’s ready to go after installation.