linux?

[lefolk]

As most of you are I'm an apple guy all around, yet I recently installed the Ubuntu linux distro on my computer at work, and wow. Incredibly sexy and stable!

I'm all for open source and now thinking about putting together a linux based rig and/or dual booting on one of my macs. I've noticed the Ubuntu Studio package which collects a bunch of open source multimedia software. Ardour seems to be the big DAW out there and PD is the only option as Max isn't available for linux. I'm sure as the software is free it may be lacking in the features department, and don't plan on completely giving up my main production suite.

So the question is, any of you doing this? Is it more pain than its worth? I'm just starting to wrap my head around using the command line interface, but I think utilizing a completely open source platform and software is what the most appealing thing is to me.

[moodchannel]

personally... I've never seen anything on linux that I feel like I'm missing in my mac life. 

is there any software you're considering in particular that has something special?

[lefolk]

again- I don't intend on giving up my mac. I'm simply throwing the idea around of putting together a linux based rig to explore it. As with most things on linux there is an equivalent of most popular software packages available elsewhere, and I don't see one particular application striking my fancy per se, or doing things I can't already do. I suppose there is just something attractive to me about it being all open source and free from any corporate influence, and I am interested in seeing if switching to the alternative would be possible. So really I am just curious to see if anyone out there uses linux and achieves quality output with it.

[billygomberg]

as you said above "explore it" - everyone I know who has a linux system running is very exploratory about it.  there are few standards and I think that's the point.

the folks I know using linux are making noise music.  Mattin, Julien Ottavi, Shawn Greenlee.  if you are willing to put up w/PD I'm sure you can find something very interesting in the world of linux - there's a whole mess of apps, really. 

something that has always appealed to me about a linux system is it's ability to get serious performance out of older/less powerful computers.

otherwise, yeah.  have fun in there.

[moodchannel]

I suppose there is just something attractive to me about it being all open source and free from any corporate influence, and I am interested in seeing if switching to the alternative would be possible.

I hear you on that in principle... but my experience has taught me that commerce drives innovation... especially in software.

to billy's point you can get good performance with the lightweight OS.  plus the lack of license costs could be helpful in the world of art installations or if one is planning on building a product based on a miniITX or the like.

I would look into chuck (though it runs on mac as well)... and also check the electro-music forum as they have a linux sub-forum which may be a good place to get better answers.

[pascal savy]

There is an interesting article written by Kim Cascone about a year ago in CDM (http://bit.ly/dC1my9) where he talks about why he's moved from an apple to a linux rig and how he's managing it.