[ubuntu-studio-users] 13.o4

[Gord L Williams]

Okay dudes, I have a perfect install of 13.o4 with everything working. Do you want me to try the upgrade, or just wipe it and install clean?
?--?
?Alex Armani - IT Consultant / Digital Musician?
+447972641526?- MYspace.com/Alex.Armani
?www.newmatrixism.com

Alex,  I use LTS versions only,  which are supported for a longer cycle.   https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LTS   Although they lack the latest software,  as in bleeding edge,  they are stable as they get.  I would suggest 12.04 LTS if you want to rock out for a while. 13.04 and anything non LTS has a shorter support cycle,  and usually when they fix it another version catches the attention of everyone and off they go,  to an extent.

If your purpose is recording like mine is,  you can add the latest Ardour or Mixbus fairly easily to this stable base.   All other software is also subject to update,  as well.  In this way your wanting for little.  Sometimes a software requires the latest version of the libraries (linux programs rely on them and often aren't compiled in the same way windows programs are,  and can be a bit more painful,  Windows programs will update the libraries at install - .net is one of them for instance.)

The point is there is a decision to be made in most cases between bleeding edge and stable.  I opt for stable obviously and upgrade only what I absolutely need.   The alternative is to look for distributions that have done it for you.  Ubuntustudio is one, KXStudio is another and Dreamstudio is probably the most augmented in terms of software. Dreamstudio comes with the latest Ardour,  no need to install it.  But going the route of installing a distribution can be rather uneven in that respect.  Distributions pick the software,  and for instance I have no idea what to do with Cinelerra or if I will do something with it.  Maybe if I do some local stuff on video.  Mostly I am voiceover by remote.  Not my precise purpose, see what I mean?

For digital music,  your probably fine with Ubuntustudio.  Me I am a voice over artist and tend to tear down or erase a lot of the synth stuff as it does not apply.   I do a little photography,  so I keep that.

I suppose I just can't find an ideal distribution without what many call 'bloat'.   I tried at one point to go with a plain ubuntu distribution and customize it,  but that got off the rails rather quickly.  From what I see you might be able to manage it,  and that may be the ultimate route for you.

Good luck.