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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

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Music Production and Software Synthesizers/VST's under Linux (lemmy.ml)

submitted 2 weeks ago by golden_zealot@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Hey everyone,

When I was previously on windows I had a lot of fun doing music production. My workflow took place in FL studio and used a lot of software synthesizers (VST files mainly).

After my switch to Linux, I am 95% better off. Everything is great except I have to rediscover a music workflow.

It's quite painful because I had licenses to some very expensive software synth libraries (The Arturia V collection for example). I have done some reading and have found that while it is possible to get FL studio working in Linux, it still doesn't have the greatest of results.

As far as that goes, I am not terribly concerned - Reaper, Bitwig, and other Linux DAW's exist and I am fine using those instead even if it means purchasing a license for the paid ones.

But the real problem is the software centers/Licenses/installations for my software synths. It would be such a shame and a waste of money if I couldn't get these working, but I don't know much about dealing with this on Linux, so I am appealing to your collective knowledge.

I wanted to ask if anyone has successfully installed the Arturia V collection on Linux for use in a DAW, and if so, what you think I should know about it. I thought I read somewhere about some software these could be emulated/installed through (not wine), but I'm just really open to hearing about recommended options for something like this if anyone knows.

Otherwise, I wanted to ask my musical Linux friends here what they have for VST's and what their workflow is on Linux, because it's always fun to develop new work flows.

Thanks

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[–] Navigator@jlai.lu 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Welcome and congrats on your migration under GNU/Linux.

VST is a proprietary format therefore it is made to not work on linux. On linux synth or virtual instruments are LV2 plugins (like Helm, Surge or Vitalium) or SF2/SFZ soundbank (played with Sfizz or Fluid Synth).

Now Ardour, Bitwig and Reaper can load VST plugins, but :

Some won't just work,
Some will work pretty much the same (Kontakt seems to be working for some person, but it depends on the version I think), BUT if the VSTs needs to be installed before hand (like Kontakt, Spitfire, SINE and I think Arturia V falls into that), you will have to install them first using Wine (or with a wine front-end, like Bottles, Heroic, Lutris). Then load them in your DAW, if they don't work there after being properly download and installed, I don't think there is anything much to do... ... Apart from try using a bridge (like Lin-VST or Yabridge), but here against results are still very unpredictable. I got some pretty god results with both on the past, but on my new setup none would work for my plugins (Spitfires mostly).

These companies won't make their plugins available under Linux cause 'there isn't enough people using it on linux' (words of someone at Spitfire who I was asking the question).

My workflow for production in a few words :

One PC (recording, mixing, mastering) with a midi keyboard,
One PC virtual instruments only, I use it when project requires lot of instrument tracks.

Edit : Yeah Carla can be used as well, it can load VST plugins and act like a plugin library (pretty much like Kontakt).