A musician-led initiative is aiming to bring more plug-ins to Linux. That includes promoting developers (both proprietary and libre/open source), featuring software for users, and answering developer questions. Linux Audio Plugin Development (LAPD) is already worth a look; you’re likely to discover some plug-in or information you hadn’t before.
Okay, okay, “LAPD” might not have been my first choice of acronym. Here, just imagine Dan Akroyd narrating, and each time he refers to the city, replace it with “Linux.” (“I work here, and I carry a bootloader.”)
LAPD has a worthy mission: convincing more developers to make native versions of their software for the free and open source OS. The state of global geopolitics (cough, ahem, uh bring Dan Akroyd back) does seem to suggest we want some ability to avoid total dependence on private OS vendors.
Here’s what they say:
We want to showcase the advantages of Linux as an operating system for modern music production, help developers make or port and release their plugins for Linux, and, if possible, provide a platform for them to reach out for help. Ultimately, our initiative aims to lead to a larger selection of high-quality audio plugins for Linux.
And that means native as in built for the OS. Yes, libraries like yabridge are cool, but no, they don’t always translate to reliable and complete support for Linux users. In contrast, see developers like Audio Damage or Sinevibes – the latter I’ll be joining at Superbooth this week.
Developers can find answers to their questions (“copy protection?”); users can find more software. The interviews and software showcase already hooked me, even with a pile of Superbooth news to get through. It means a combination of high-quality proprietary software, which is often what’s needed to support developers’ labor, and free and open source software, which supports its own ecosystem – see Helm, pictured below. And they took this pretty screenshot featured at top for more examples.
So while we’re mentioning Bitwig Studio as a DAW, it’s great to see what’s happening on the OS. Don’t CDM’s the recent discussion of Ardour, as well, including some new upcoming features.
Check it out:
Thanks to Amadeus for reminding me of this. The contributors:
Linux Audio Plugin Deelopment is an initiative by Amadeus Paulussen with the greatly appreciated help of fellow Linux musician friends alf, Christoph Strauss and G M Slater as well as the inspiring Linux Audio community all around the world.