Just Got Back From NAMM. Why so little Linux?

On Mon, 8 Feb 2010 07:49:36 +0000 (UTC), Sylvain Robitaille wrote:

> M0she_ wrote:
>
>> Agreed, but I'm talking about what happens when average Jane discovers
>> Linux, in general. The tech types assume an awful lot.
>
> If "average Jane" is a professional in the audio industry, then I
> imagine it's fair to presume a strong technical foundation. Would you
> disagree?

Some more than others.
In terms of working with their gear, definitely yes,
In terms of knowing the innards of an operating system, probably
no.
That goes even more so for musicians.
They just want to use the thing, not program it.

My neighbor is a neurosurgeon and he doesn't know one end of a
CAT5 cable from the other.




>> Windows and Mac are the standards ...
>
> You have an odd definition of "standard", but yes, Windows and Mac are
> more widely deployed.
>
> An SM58 is a "standard", at least in live audio, but I've used much
> better mics than that. Being "standard" from that point of view
> certainly doesn't mean it's "better". I personally don't like SM58s,
> but if I'm given a choice between SM58s and mics I've never used, I'll
> go with the 58s. I know what to expect from them at least.

Defacto standard if you like.


>> If I gave Mike a Protools HD system (I don't believe he runs ProTools)
>> I guarantee you he could have it up and running in an hour and most of
>> that time would be spent installing the hardware and cables.
>
> Wait: you're suggesting giving him the hardware to go with the software.
> Make the comparison fair: give him the RME interface to go with Ardour
> as well, and give him the Mac with no pre-installed OS. I don't doubt
> he could get both working. I'm even willing to accept that he might
> still get the Mac with ProTools working sooner. At least there he'd
> have a fair comparison to make, though.

HD system comes with hardware. It's a more complex install.

The thing is he doesn't have to install OSX.
It comes pre-installed, but even still it's a matter of clicking a
couple times and it's done.
Much like Linux when done as the only OS on the system.

The fun with Linux starts when JACK, ALSA and then Ardour enters
the picture.
He doesn't have to deal with that with OSX or Windows.

For Windows he clicks Asio or wdm and is done with it.

With Linux he starts Jack and gets some message about it having to
run high priority or as root etc and he is now lost.



>> Give him a copy of Ubuntu and see how far this same person gets.
>
> I've not actually installed Ubuntu (of any variety), as I'm a Slackware
> user (and though I've tried other distributions, I never found any that
> compelled me to switch; kind of like Mike's experiment to see if Ardour
> could compell a commercial DAW user to switch ...) My understanding,
> though, is that it *is* simple enough for even technophobes to be able
> to use. Can we presume at least that professionals in the audio
> industry are some steps above technophobes?

Some are and some aren't.
It runs the gamut from people building their own custom gear to
people who are golden eared and only want to run the gear.
When it breaks they pay someone to fix it.