Best Linux Distros for Music Production (2023)

When someone talks about the Linux operating system, the first thing is a software development and system administration. It is a great platform for developers and system admins, thanks to its features.

Only a few people are aware of how creator-friendly Linux and its various distributions are. When it comes to video editing or audio music production, we’ve some really great Linux distros that offer amazing tools to perform these tasks.

So, if you’re into music production and constantly on the hunt for a tool to match your needs, then you’re at the right place. I’m going to introduce you to some of the best Linux distros especially developed for a creator with an expertise in multimedia.

1. Ubuntu Studio

Ubuntu is a very popular Linux distro and my favorite too. Ubuntu studio is the flavor of Ubuntu Linux distribution; it is especially developed for people in creative field. It is an ideal distribution for music production, video production, photography and graphic design.

It is a great distro with lots of pro tools when it comes to audio editing and production. It comes with the latest audio software like Jack, a low latency capable audio and midi server, Ardour, a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) suitable for recording, mixing and mastering, and Carla, a virtual plugin host.

(Video) AV Linux vs Ubuntu Studio | DistroWars

Best Linux Distros for Music Production (1)

Ubuntu studio ship-in with other useful audio applications pre-installed such as Audacity, Qtractor, Hydrogen and Yoshimi. It also comes pre-installed with Rekarrack, which is a popular guitar amp simulator.

Some very popular audio programming environments are also available for Ubuntu studio, puredata ships-in with Ubuntu studio out-of-the-box.

Download Ubuntu Studio from Here

2. AV Linux

AV Linux is a Linux distribution based on Debian and MX Linux. It is an ideal distribution for audio and video production as it ship-in with various and audio and video productions tools pre-installed out-of-the-box.

On top of that, it includes a custom kernel with IRQ threading especially enabled for low-latency audio performance. It also offers seamless integration with Jack Audio / MIDI environment with PulseAudio.

(Video) Music production with open-source software and Linux?

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As it is a MX edition, it includes all the MX tools and utilities. AV Linux is a fast and reliable distribution, it is also very easy to install, or it can also be run directly from a live DVD or live USB storage device.

Download AV Linux from Here

3. Apodio

Apodio is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. It is one of the oldest Linux distro dedicated to music production and editing, but still, it is one of the best. It ships in with useful audio, video, graphic and text-friendly tools.

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It offers a simple Xfce desktop environment that is very easy to use. It offers a strong and reliable software synthesizer and multitrack audio recording, mixing, and editing options.

(Video) Pro Audio on Linux in 2022

Download Apodio from Here

4. io GNU/Linux

io GNU/Linux is a powerful Linux distribution, especially for dedicated multimedia enthusiasts. It is based on the Debian distribution and built around the Enlightenment desktop environment.

This Linux distribution ships in with a large collection of free and open-source multimedia applications which can be used for music production. It comes with Audacity, Ardour, Blender, GIMP, and Avidemux pre-installed applications.

Best Linux Distros for Music Production (4)

The real-time Linux kernel included out of the box lets you get low-latency <5ms. Apart from all this, it is a great Linux distro with a really clean and fast user interface.

Download io GNU/Linux from Here

(Video) Why I switched to Linux for Audio/Music Production

5. Fedora Jam

Fedora Jam is a dedicated Linux distribution for audio enthusiasts and musicians who want to create, edit and produce music. It comes with JACK, ALSA and PulseAudio out of the box with other suite of useful apps for video production.

Best Linux Distros for Music Production (5)

Other applications that come pre-installed with Fedora Jam are Ardour, Qtractor, Hydrogen, Yoshimi, Musescore, TuxGuitar, Guitarix, SooperLooper, and Calf. It also supports the low latency kernels and professional audio plugins for music production.

Download Fedora Jam from Here

So, these are the best Linux distribution for music production in 2022. Why spend extra money on Apple or Windows computers for music production when you can have it all in Linux and its distribution with great reliability.

Videos

1. Why I Use LINUX For Music Production (It's very simple)
(Arkforest)
2. Top 5: Which Linux distro do you use?, Linux for music, and more
(Opensource.com)
3. Check Out Ubuntu Studio 22.04 LTS!!! It's Glorious!!!!
(Jeremy's Tech Channel)
4. Linux music production
(Lismore Music)
5. Pro Audio with Bitwig, Reaper and Windows VST plugins on Linux
(Air Audio)
6. Linux MODICIA O.S. Sound - distro for music production / distro Linux per la produzione musicale.
(Linux MODICIA O.S.)
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