Description

I'm currently in the process of deciding which linux distribution I will use as the basis for the loop network. In order to do this, I need to have a single computer setup for multibooting between various distros to compare and contrast. I have used Fedora Core [1] since FC1, and prior to that learned what little I know about linux from a Red Hat 7.2 book with included CD that was being sold for blowout price. I have my main internet machine which hosts my tasks database setup with FC5 and the Planet CCRMA [2] low-latency enabled preemptive kernel, which has some really great performance. The problem is, the CCRMA application choice is a little slow at keeping up with newer packages, and many of the packages that I am interested in just aren't there (such as Ingen, Patchage, CLAM, midingsolo, and any kind of VST support). openSUSE [3] and the Jacklab [4] metadistribution on the otherhand have quite a large package selection of almost everything I want, but the kernel just doesn't quite seem up to scratch yet. Then there is Studio to Go [5], which currently has a beta release for version 2.0 out. It's based on Debian [6], which also has a broad application and community support. in part because of the once EU funded AGNULA [7]. Problem is the debian support is currently broken so there is no real way to test it out. Nonetheless, STG offers a great approach in that the system is configured to be very usable out of the box and has JACKDMP support up and running. Anyway, these are some of the issues. As I work through them I'll be making notes with the intent of settling on one distro across all systems, as well as producing a single article type publication evaluating current state of linux audio distributions as per my particular requirements at least. Hopefully this will be of some use for others faced with similar decisions.