Jason Knight I don't think that Linux distros are the problem here, though. It's more a problem of the configuration, how the packages were compiled. I use Gentoo, so i decide what I want in them, but often, certain flags are omitted, because of patents and licenses and unfree code. A sad reality! It's the same for most other stuff. video quality is really good, if you select the right software with the right config. Audio latency is extremely low with JACK, however you usually get PulseAudio, which was not made for studio-quality audio processing. I can see why you have a lot of trouble, and I can see why the Linux folks want to have a tinker-y system. It all has its pros and cons. Imho, a Linux Distro can be a damn fine desktop OS, but usually it is not, because the Distro you selected has a different audience or maintainers with different ideas of how things should work.

Here are some positive examples of how well a Linux can work: Android is Linux. It powers most mobile devices and does a damn fine job, even with the energy consumption. Clear Linux (by Intel) is a power horse. If you ever need performance and nothing else matters, that's the way to go. KaOS is a quite unknown, Neon-like distro, which is user-oriented, pleasant and out-of-the-way, keeping your weak 2010 laptop kicking.

Yeah, I know, I try to defend something which I don't really have to. A Linux distro might not be the right OS for you, if you do not like to tinker and prefer to use Wine anyway. Anything Linux is always a mixed bag and might present problems, which stem from some small package you wouldn't even think is involved with your software. It can be very tedious. I like how solveing a problem is rewarding, though, so for me, a Linux distro usually is a rather positive experience.

... and apologies for the drift -- don't know how people feel 'bout that round her

well, why not? It's always nice to talk about stuff, and we still don't really have a chat system or OT corner. Also, we are not annoying anyone with our replies :D Well, we might need something like that. I will talk to the Hashnode Team and see what we can get.

Marco Alka Jack does fix some issues, but it still comes in at around 65ns latency, which for a professional musician is still DOUBLE the acceptable limit. Said latency also has a minimum packet size of 1k, where most musicians want a quarter of that. End effect being the equivalent of 240-260ms latency against an ASIO ready OS like OSX.

Like there's no way I could stomach playing sample modeling's VST's through linux even with jack -- it would be like trying to use directX for the same task, it just can't deliver.

NOT that Windows is any better on that front with the shitstorm that is a LACK of ASIO and the bigger shitstorm of workarounds like ASIO4ALL, but at least I can get it working with latencies down where I 'need' them in terms of 1) responsiveness for playing MIDI controllers like the EWI or external keyboards, and 2) syncing realtime play to playback.

Though in this case despite my distaste for it, the prize on this one subject goes to OSX. working multi-channel ASIO 'out of box' with zero configuration nightmares. EVEN THOUGH Creative cards and some specialty cards like Asus Xonar CLAIM ASIO support on windows, it's still quite iffy. As evidenced by the five to ten seconds of "is this even working?!?" when you try to open the configuration/setup screens for them or when an application using them starts.

But again it's just one after another after another of issues like that with ZERO practical fixes that make me look at the Linux desktop as crippleware. No one of them would be a deal-breaker on its own, but there's just too many of them to even list.

You called it a 'mixed bag' -- that's being polite about it.

Jason Knight well, I am not too versed with ASIO, so it's hard for me to judge. I got a Xonar card myself, and I at least know about a few itches which took quite a few months to fix on Linux.

It's a shame, really. I would love to see a lot more FLOSS software being used everywhere, without walled gardens. Companies working together on open standards and quality products. Not only software, but hardware, too. But pay-for-support does not seem to rake in enough money on the consumer market, and the best alternative, selling ads, would 1) not work anymore and 2) be completely against my wishes for privacy. The world today is a bad place for hoping that such dreams become a reality~

Seems like we have to keep watching out for the jewels

Marco answered that question in his answer, thanks anyway!