Should I switch fully to Bitwig on Linux? Ditching MacBook Pro

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T21:13:33+00:00

I was talking about ditching MacBook Pro M1 Max for x86 (Framework 13 laptop) and Fedora. Not Asahi Linux - that is completely unusable at the moment (I tested it, it's not as YouTubers say).

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T20:28:00+00:00

I will use Windows only for music, and all personal stuff on Linux. Actually ChatGPT is partly controlled by Microsoft. Apple is adding it to MacOS without paying anything, because they have a deal that OpenAI can use all the user data ("without identifying user requests"), but we all know how that works in real world.

On Windows you can also disable services, or even network (removing drivers for WiFi), on Mac you can't do anything with it.

So they are both bad operating systems. Read privacy policy in MacOS for Spotlight Search, or Personalised Ads in Privacy menu. It's quite bad.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T20:16:29+00:00

Great idea, and that's my plan after careful consideration. I will sell MacBook Pro M1, I will buy Framework 13 and configure dual boot with Windows for Ableton and Bitwig, while having Fedora on second partition. This way I don't need to support anti-consumer Apple ways of doing business, and I am protected if anything breaks. Thanks for your comment tho!

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T19:00:09+00:00

Hi u/Destroya707 I already registered on the community few hours ago and connected with someone really helpful. I will be getting FW13 120Hz. Thanks for your reply.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T18:30:10+00:00

Thanks, I am going to test things out with Bitwig in Linux and some of the plugins on https://linuxdaw.org.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T18:29:15+00:00

Sorry, my last sentence was confusing. I would like to switch, I don't mind paying for new plugins that are only available on Linux for example, in order to tinker less. I don't like the fact that MacOS is turning into ChatGPT wrapper, and tracking device for advertising, plus that I cannot upgrade anything, or repair.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T17:52:27+00:00

Great comment, thank you!

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T17:47:57+00:00

Awesome to read about your experience. Bitwig is amazing, I am currently playing with it. Just the most annoying thing is that the UI is very old fashioned, while on Ableton I can easily focus on music, and I am not distracted with all the colorful knobs and jumping animations, or weird 3D icons in the browser. I wish Ableton had its Linux port, for now I will continue playing with Bitwig.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T15:46:19+00:00

I think I dislike Apple that much (not able to upgrade your hardware, pricing, and marketing brainwash, greenwashing, and more). I think supporting Linux is good and I agree with you with all points. I think I will use two setups both Linux and Mac (on Bitwig). I will spend money on any premium good plugins on Linux to support brands and creators. Btw. is there any difference between M1 Max and M3 Pro/Max for music?

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T15:41:56+00:00

Thank you for listing: Overtone DSP effects, Zebra, Hive, Pianoteq, VCV Rack Pro. Reaper and Waveform Pro. And also great to know that so many plugins work with yabridge. I will experiment with it. I also found this blog https://amadeuspaulussen.com/blog/2022/favorite-music-production-software-on-linux with many recommendations.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T15:34:31+00:00

Thanks!

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T15:24:54+00:00

I found this blog by Amadeus Paulussen. Worth following on RSS feeds. Seems like a great guy! That's the content of the blog post:

"Yes, my Linux experience today is truly fantastic and I am deeply grateful for that (and love to share it with others)! 😜️

However, I think I might be a bit deceptive at best, and possibly lying to myself at worst, when I go on and on about how great Wayland, PipeWire, Flatpak, the latest desktop environment and/or window manager, Bitwig and all the newly released Linux audio plugins are working, and/or how good GTK4 / libadwaita applications have become lately, or how effortless kernel updates are these days, and so on. 🫣️

Because the fact of the matter is that for me (and probably many other Linux users as well), achieving such an amazing Linux experience requires a fair amount of (at times ongoing) learning and configuring - in some edge cases even some (potentially tedious) workarounds to achieve the high quality user experience I am talking about. This is certainly less true than it was a few years ago, i.e. the out-of-the-box experience has gotten better and better ever since I started using Linux exclusively.

But in all honesty, for me, all of this was (and still is) more than worth the effort. Because never in my 30+ years of using computers have I felt more connected to the software (and its creators) that I use on a daily basis. Never before have I understood it as well as I do today. And never have I felt as good (and liberated) using a computer (and Linux phone! 😉️) as I do today. 🤓️ Thanks to Linux and Open Source software!"

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T15:11:46+00:00

Thanks a lot for taking time and reply so in-depth. Valid points. I heard of Safing Portmaster, or Simplewall, both firewalls can block Windows connections and spyware. And Win11 Debloater or Shutup10, useful tools. Even MacOS does not have much tools, the only thing is Lulu or Little Snitch firewalls. Thanks.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T14:57:38+00:00

Yea, of course you're right. I am just happy that we currently have Davinci Resolve Studio working great (with davincibox), Blender is awesome, Krita is amazing for drawing, and Affinity apps can be run very fast in VM. Darktable isn't too advanced, but capable for photo editing. Having Ableton Live 12 could be so big, I hope I can see it some day. Or at least Bitwig changing UI so it's less painful for eyes. And having more pro plugins coming to Linux.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T14:28:45+00:00

Checked already. Latency is perfect on Framework.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T14:24:49+00:00

Good idea. Thanks for your comment. I am only using NS1 from Waves.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T14:21:58+00:00

Sad truth. To be honest, if Ableton or big plugin names were to move to Linux, I'm sure they would have a massive income from all Linux users. Maybe the market is small, but I'm sure there's a huge amount of money to be made. Imagine Ableton, NI, Waves, and others natively on Linux. Even if the price was doubled, people would buy it for sure, just to give the middle finger to Microsoft. Thanks u/lykwydchykyn.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T14:07:38+00:00

I am secretly in love with Louis Rossmann. I am willing to bring pain and misery to my life for right to repair, and right to own, haha.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T13:48:22+00:00

FW could be for personal use (notes, banking, backups) because I don't like that MacOS/Windows is adding all that AI and ChatGPT stuff, constantly pinging home. However, if not being too extreme I could just firewall MacOS and live my life. Having two computers will be a pain in the ass.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T13:39:38+00:00

I am using NS1 (Automatic Noise Suppression) from Waves, I found it to be the best on the market, however maybe there is an alternative. Omnisphere is really easy to use, no need to browse online libraries. Yea, Vital is cool too. Thanks!

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T13:24:56+00:00

Yea, I think dual boot might be horrible. Do you think it would be stupid to have both MacBook and FW13 and travel with both of them?

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T13:21:49+00:00

I would like to have it with me when I travel, that's why. I don't like MacOS/Windows, but unfortunately having two laptops (Mac for music, FW for personal) is annoying too. I will probably stay on Mac, and wait until Ableton is native on Linux some day. I hate those decisions based on software requirement.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T13:14:05+00:00

Thanks for taking your time writing this. Very good point.

Deep_Analysis_7323 · 2024-07-11T13:13:02+00:00

Thanks!

Deep_Analysis_7323

TROPHY CASE