OS for Studio Recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter carlosbeans
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Properly configured, Linux can be rock-solid for recording, but you will find actual recording applications for linux systems limited. Red Hat is not optimal for recording but there are several Pro-Audio oreiented Linux distributions available. Ardour is good for audio, but it has no ability to record midi. You won't be able to use dx or Vst or au or any other plug-in format. If you have a major app like PT, SONAR, Digital Performer, Logic, etc. in mind, you will not be able to use a Linux distro.

I would recommend against using Linux because no matter what distro you use, you have to be a pretty major tech-head to get it up and running. Also, many audio interface companies don't make Linux drivers for their products. All in all, Linux for Audio, while it can be good, is a major headache.
 
carlosbeans said:
hello, i'm new here. been recording music at home for about 4 or 5 years in some shape or form.

i'm gathering research to build a custom PC strictly for home studio use, and i've gotten some good suggestions from people as far as hardware is concerned (i'm still pretty happy with my CEP 2.0 as far as software goes. :) )

i'm not sure how relevant this would be, although i would think it would be somewhat important,but does anyone have any suggestions as to what type of OS to use for the studio environment?

i've been using Windows XP for a few years now, and of course as is the case with Windows, it's never as stable as you'd like. i know that the MAC OSX system is based off of the Linux platform which in turn would provide more stability as i understand it.

does anyone have any thoughts as to whether a program like Red Hat or some other operating system would be optimal for recording?

just curious...
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Mac OS is not based off linux. Mac OS is based off of the old NeXT operating system which predates linux and is based on FreeBSD.

Their is no serious all in one multi track for Linux right now.

Regarding WinXP, it is wicked stable for me. I keep my machine off the net and have limited the application set to stable audio apps only.

There are loads of people here who run trouble free on WinXP. I am now one of them.
 
You actually could seriously consider Mac OSX It is as stable for me as the claim of many on this thread about XP. Good system, good audio applications and hardware. Just a thought- please don't flame me XP folks, my opinion is as valid as yours.
 
Since Win XP and Mac OSX both got their initial kinks worked out one is equivalent to the other. Only real difference to me is the cost of the hardware involved (Macs aren't always more expensive, just usually) and the software availible for each platform. And personal preference.

I've used both without any major problems, but then I know how to keep them running. And I'm like Ford- the computer has to do everything so it does. Never had any trouble posting to the BBS while bouncing a mix...

Stability is not an issue with either XP or OSX. User saavy is. If you don't know how to keep your machine running clean no OS is going to work reliably.

-C
 
My install of windows XP, that I set up for soley audio, is probably the most stable, not to mention manageable, operating system I have ever had. I tihnk the thing that affects stability most is whether it is connected to the internet and what sites you visit on it. I have the network cards disabled on the audio install. It boots completely in less than a minute still after a year. In other words it's never been exposed to the sort of crap that would make it particularly unstable.
 
sonnylarsen said:
Ardour is good for audio, but it has no ability to record midi. You won't be able to use dx or Vst or au or any other plug-in format.

I would recommend against using Linux because no matter what distro you use, you have to be a pretty major tech-head to get it up and running.
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- you can use most of the vst plugins with linux, although it's not the easy part. But it's getting more easier all the time. And with Linux, you can install a huge collection of free ladspa plugins.

- I already posted a link of Studio to Go!, which is a commercial audio/midi linux OS. And cheap. And easy to get it up. Just insert the CD-ROM in the drive and that's it.
 
XP has been solid here. Did any of you run ME? Talk about getting pissed off. I got it stabilized just before I moved to XP.
 
i used ME for awhile because it came with the computer we purchased (Sony VAIO desktop PC). we had a lot of problems with it crashing, i think it was right when ME came out.

anyways, as far as using XP, is there a particular version that would be better? say Home Edition or Professional or does it even matter?

i would love to use MAC OSX if i had a mac! :)

anyone know where i could get a copy of XP for cheap?
 
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im a mac advocate.

but sure, if your windows machine is properly built and maintained, it will run fine.

as for mac's being more money, they really arent. i dont want to get into this really...

no more flame wars please.
 
dude you jsut asked where to hack a program illegaly...

you can buy an OEM single licesnse from newegg for $90. just did last week so i can dual boot xp and osx on my macbook (which i only payed $700 used, fully loaded in excellent/perfect condition.)
 
carlosbeans said:
i used ME for awhile because it came with the computer we purchased (Sony VAIO desktop PC). we had a lot of problems with it crashing, i think it was right when ME came out.

anyways, as far as using XP, is there a particular version that would be better? say Home Edition or Professional or does it even matter?

i would love to use MAC OSX if i had a mac! :)

anyone know where i could get a copy of XP for cheap?
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I haven't seen any evidence showing one to be better than the other for recording (home vs. pro).

carlosbeans said:
anyone know where i could get a copy of XP for cheap?
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cheap = pirated?
 
the primary difference between home and Pro is network security related and Pro is the only one with actual user administration...

So if you have kids and you want to lock them to certian disk quotas (to limit games and torrentz) you have to use Pro because Home can't do it... it'll say it does it but in practice it doesn't...


Back to linux recording... if you have a typical PCI soundcard like the Delta1010... setting up a linux recording workstation is painfully easy with an audio distribution... the hardest part of using linux is deciding which distro you prefer.

If you use a firewire interface it's still a bit complicated, but it works.

As far as all in one solutions...thats just not linux... it's modular so looking for a audio-midi-vsti-everything_else application isn't going to work... The way it works is you run JACK and all of the applications interface with that so you create your own environment. The main limit to VSTs on linux is the steinberg license makes it hard to redistribute them.
 
TravisinFlorida said:
cheap = pirated?
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no. he edited the post.

it said cheap or a good torrent. or something like that....

very smart to edit that out though..
 
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