4 Best Linux Distros for Music Production to use in 2022 (2023)

Linux is always viewed as a developer-centric platform due to its immense advantageous features for development. Still, many people don’t know that it is a great operating system when it comes to exploring your creativity. If you are a music producer and want to use Linux, you are in the right place. In this article, we will explain everything about the best Linux distros for music production.

Why Do We Choose Linux Distros?

Linux distro is considered a good choice for any user because it offers many more benefits, DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), manipulation tools, countless image editors, etc. Users can use these distros in detail by crossing their creative limits while sitting comfortably.

• Linux distro provides a complete JACK setup right out of the box.
• Optimized swap settings to protect RAM from resource-hungry activities such as 3D rendering.
• The lightweight desktop environment.
• Inbuilt tools to support multiple devices like microphones, MIDI keyboards, scanners, and monitor calibration.

Best Linux Distros for Audio Production Professionals – 2022

We will describe some Linux distros that provide creators with the best expertise in multimedia for graphic designs, music production, video editing, etc. However, these Linux systems are no different from the popular ones they are based on, the key difference is the developer of Multimedia Linux distros offers all necessary open-source tools for editing audio, video, or graphics out of the box. Which saves users time from installing them one by one. However, if you are an experienced user then you can convert your existing Ubuntu, Debian, MX Linux, Manjaro, or other Linux systems into a professional Audio editing one by installing the popular tools. Well, still those who want to save their time or beginners, can go for the popular Audio and Video editing tools armed Linux operating system given below.

1. AV Linux MX Edition

AV Linux is the best option for users who want to make or edit their music files on Linux. The latest version is based on popular MX Linux, hence you will have compatibility with all Debian packages. However, advantages for multimedia enthusiasts result from its focus on particularly high stability and performance in combination with visually appealing and efficient desktops. It is well known that audio enthusiasts in particular struggle with latency in computing, for example in the context of live recordings.

AV Linux is fast and easy to install because available in regular ISO file format. Further, the relationship with MX Linux also ensures that AV Linux has all the tuning tools associated with MX Linux on board. Less experienced users run the risk of getting lost in the depths of the AV Linux menu because there is a corresponding tool for editing almost every adjustment screw in the system. Experienced users, on the other hand, are likely to find the many customization options an advantage.

This Linux distro also comes with a pre-configured, turnkey AV content creation system. According to music production or sound editing preference, AV Linux provides a complete package compared with other distros.

It consists of an extensive collection of video and audio production software. In addition, it includes a custom kernel as well as capable IRQ threading for low-latency audio performance. AV Linux can be used for everyday tasks and installed on a hard disk as a general-purpose operating system. Users can run AV Linux directly via Live USB storage or Live DVD device.

Features of AV Linux

• AV Linux has some of the best MX-Tools, packages, and utilities.
• In AV Linux, Preemptive Realtime Kernel is optimized for low-latency audio.
• It includes real-time configuration quick scans.
• There are dependency libraries that allow self-compilation of their standard programs.
• AV Linux has the fastest and lightest XFCE4 desktop environment.
• It also includes admin-friendly custom actions and extensive audio/video features.

2. Ubuntu Studio for Audio & Video Editing

Ubuntu Studio is one of the most popular Linux distros for musicians and filmmakers. On the one hand, the regular Ubuntu si built to use by all general users, Ubuntu studio has been specially crafted to offer pre-installed applications to perform video or graphics editing. Belonging to the Linux family, the Ubuntu Studio distro installs many stylish fonts by default and provides a rich list of software. Hence, this distro is in great demand among the users. Features such as helpful JACK tweaks and a low-latency kernel provide it to creative users. Ubuntu studio enables users to use Jack and Pulse audio simultaneously.

It has Xfce as a desktop interface which is as easy to use as other Ubuntu variants. Apart from this, if users need more apps, then they can download from PPAs and repositories. Ubuntu Studio’s synaptic package manager, update manager, is a critical advantage over other Linux distributions that make use of the real-time kernel. The same holds are available through the add/remove application to prompt for the principal Ubuntu distributions. It provides access to a broader range of software by allowing for much more frequent operating system updates.

Features of Ubuntu Studio

• There are many tools available in Ubuntu Studio, from live processing, mixing, mastering, recording, etc., to coding.
• Many audio programs are available for Ubuntu Studio like Chuck, CSound, SuperCollider, and Preinstalled PureData, making the environment easy for the users.
• Ubuntu Studio is installed along with many other notable applications like Yoshimi, Hydrogen, qtractor, audacity.
• Ardor (digital audio Workstation) is also present in Ubuntu studio, suitable for mixing, mastering, and recording.

3. io GNU/Linux

The GNU/Linux operating system is dedicated to multimedia enthusiasts. This powerful operating system transforms any computer into an advanced multimedia workstation. io GNU/Linux is based on Debian and uses the Enlightenment desktop environment. This distro offers a collage of developer and apps options along with some KDE apps.

It allows users to choose between a real-time and regular kernel with an extensive collection of software. A wide range of open-source applications is included in this distribution, including video, graphics, audio, and many others.

Features of io GNU/Linux

• io GNU/Linux supports multimedia applications in large numbers.
• It has several preinstalled Pro-Audio capabilities that give an amazing sound experience.
• Enlightenment powering a futuristic desktop environment.
• The Live DVDs are available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

4. Fedora JAM, RPM-based Linux for Music

Fedora’s team has developed the “Fedora JAM” related to Music Production. This famous Linux distro offers a collection of accurate and tried-and-tested apps. You can install and download Fedora apps for free. Fedora JAM inherits many of the features from the Fedora release. In addition, the Gnome desktop environment is also included. Fedora Jam out of the box offers JACK, ALSA, PulseAudio another Program to make its JAM edition more oriented towards the audio professionals. Plus full support for JACK and JACK to PulseAudio bridging, the newest release of Ardour, and a full set of LV2 plugins. To know more about its tools, see the official blog.

Features of Fedora Design Suite

• Fedora Jam Suite offers a huge variety of tools like Ardour, Qtractor, Hydrogen, MuseScore, and more
• It supports the low latency kernels
• Professional state-of-the-art audio plugins for musicians and multitrack software.
• Support for latest packages

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One more to look at:

Apodio

GNU/Linux’s operating system Apodio includes tools like video, graphics, text-friendly audio. It is based on Ubuntu. Not much popular like Ubuntu Studio but yer can be used for Audio production because of pre-installed tools. Users can use it on a hard disk partition or as a live USB/CD.

Linux distro’s punch, Apodio, can look old or old-fashioned. Even though Apodio’s documentation is limited, it is still part of the well-organized project based on Mandriva. Despite its Ubuntu backing, it provides an easy-to-use Xfce desktop. The default user is “Apodio” and password is “linux”

Features of Apodio

• Apodio supports different types of tools for audio effects, 3D modeling, digital painting, and graphic editing.
• It has a strong software synthesizer.
• It also includes options for multitrack audio recording, mixing, and editing.
• It has audio and video production workflow features.
• Apodio also supports coding suite tools.

Conclusion

In this article, we saw which are the best Linux distros for music production. This article can greatly assist users in selecting the best Linux distros according to their needs. We hope that with the help of this article, you will get all the information that you need. Apart from this, if you want any more information, you can contact us freely without hesitation.