Linux system set up

[XaviP]

Hi all, my first message :)

I would like to know if somebody around here is trying to score in linux system. I'm currently trying it with UbuntuStudio 19.10, Jack2, Carla 2.0 and Qtractor 0.9.11. I'm able to open Virtual Playing Orchestra (Performance sfz scripts) in Carla (with Sforzando plugin) and use the modwheel to give expression. It hasn't been easy; that's why I would like to connect with other users like me, to exchange experiences.

Thanks for this beatiful forum!

[Mattias Westlund]

Welcome to the forum XaviP!

Yes, I do believe there are a few Linux users here on the forum, though I am not one of them. I'm sure they'll be happy to chime in

[Michael Willis]

(12-21-2019, 12:43 PM)XaviP Wrote: Hi all, my first message

I would like to know if somebody around here is trying to score in linux system. I'm currently trying it with UbuntuStudio 19.10, Jack2, Carla 2.0 and Qtractor 0.9.11. I'm able to open Virtual Playing Orchestra (Performance sfz scripts) in Carla (with Sforzando plugin) and use the modwheel to give expression. It hasn't been easy; that's why I would like to connect with other users like me, to exchange experiences.

Thanks for this beatiful forum!

Hi XaviP! I have to warn you, it takes a certain kind of crazy to make music on Linux, but I'm here to help if you are that kind of crazy.

You should probably join the Linux Musicians Forum. It has people with a wide variety of experience, so you'll likely find better answers for your specific questions there.

Using SFZ files in Linux is admitted kind of a pain, but there is a new project called SFizz that will hopefully make it easier. I haven't tried it yet, and I'm not sure how stable it is at the moment since it is still under heavy development, but you should at least be aware of it for the future.

I use Ardour. A while ago I made an Ardour template composing orchestral music. I keep thinking that I should give it an overhaul, in particular the busses and signal routing are way too complicated, but it at least will give you an idea of my workflow.

A couple of years back I was dissatisfied with the Linux-native reverb options, so I started a project called Dragonfly Reverb, based on Hibiki and ProG from Freeverb3.

Here are a couple of orchestral pieces that I have worked on. Consider them drafts, and I'm just a hobbyist still trying to find my sound, so feedback is welcome:

Pumpernickel and Periwinkle
Towering Granite

[Paul Battersby]

(12-21-2019, 05:52 PM)Michael Willis Wrote: Here are a couple of orchestral pieces that I have worked on. Consider them drafts, and I'm just a hobbyist still trying to find my sound, so feedback is welcome:
Pumpernickel and Periwinkle
Towering Granite

For Pumpernickel and Perriwinkle, I left a positive comment on soundcloud (cause I don't want to get too off topic here ). As for Towering Granite, have you considered splitting it into 2 separate compositions? There seems to be a clear first half and second half where each could stand on it's own as part of a different  composition. Other than that small observation, your rough draft is off to a good start.

[peastman]

How are you running Sforzando on Linux? They only have downloads for Windows and Mac.

I'll be very interested to hear how you get on. I've been a Mac user for many years, but I'm getting frustrated with Apple's ever increasing restrictions on the platform, so there's a good chance my next computer will run Linux instead. Almost all the software I use is available for Linux or has reasonable equivalents (like LinuxSampler for Sforzando), but Logic Pro is one of the big exceptions.

[Michael Willis]

(12-22-2019, 07:39 PM)peastman Wrote: How are you running Sforzando on Linux?  They only have downloads for Windows and Mac.

There are a few options for using SFZ files on Linux. The most common is probably ye olde LinuxSampler. Then there's Carla, which is a popular open source plugin host that is capable of directly loading SFZ files using a sample player called SFZero. SFZero also has a plugin version, and as I mentioned before there's a new up and coming option called SFizz.

It's also possible to run Windows VSTs using Wine. Carla has a facility for doing this fairly easily. Some people report great results, but I don't have much experience doing so.