KimJungI would like to return to the vexed issue of Linux. I currently still use EZDrummer on Windows, but I have now switched my entire company and my private life to Linux. The reason for this is the US government, which is effectively making it impossible for European companies (and private individuals) to use American systems. I would like to remind you that Microsoft temporarily blocked some accounts of the International Court of Justice for political reasons. This violates the independence of users in a way that makes switching to Linux the only real option for Europeans. It is therefore to be expected that many users will switch to Linux in the coming years. All those who switch will then be lost to Toontracks.
I will also switch my music production to Linux in the medium term. This means that I will try to get EZDrummer to run via Wine or Bottles, which is definitely worth it to me (it’s an excellent tool that I’m reluctant to give up). If that doesn’t work properly, I’m afraid I’ll have to move on and use another Linux-compatible system. I think many users will do the same in the coming years.
confundidoI think there are still insurmountable issues delivering a product to Linux. I use Linux extensively for my web sites but I’m not a Linux guru by any shot so folks correct me if I’m wrong.
Maybe a Linux guru can talk about how to skin these cats but Linux has been claiming “this is the year of the Linux desktop” for probably 20 years now and I still don’t think we’re there.
Again, like many others I use Linux on the server and don’t have personal experience with it on a desktop, but even server use requires you to still be pretty techy.
confundido aka Dennis
confundidoI re-read the bottom of your post. You’re already set up using WINE but does that work for a program as complex as a DAW? DAWs typically really need to use every ounce of the OS’s hardware device access APIs. I do see a number of DAWs listed for Linux and I’ll be darned there’s a bunch of stuff about VST for Linux. I’ll still go back to the fact that Linux is a teeny fraction of the desktop market and it’s financially unattractive to develop for for that reason. Maybe the US government will change that and finally make Linux desktop a reality!
confudido aka Dennis
KimJungI use the Linux version of the DAW, in my case Reaper. All the plug-ins I use have a Linux-compatible plug-in, except for EZDrummer… which unfortunately does not. That’s why I run Reaper and all other plug-ins directly on Linux. I try to load EZDrummer into Reaper as a PlugIn using Bottles (Wine can also be used) via yabridge. This is unstable; some have managed to do it, but most have problems. I’ll give it a try and set myself a limit of three hours. If I haven’t got it working by then, I’ll look for another Linux-compatible plug-in for my drums.
And: Linux Desktop is already existing since years now. My recommendation: Take a look at Linux Mint.
confundidoWell you’re a braver man than I. I spent a huge amount of time just getting my DAW to behave on straight up Windows. Once I did that, EZD just worked.
Maybe some of that other plugs just happen to work without the companies having to devote resources and testing to it. EZD seems to be a pretty complex plug though and then they’ve also got a raw .exe of it as well. I doubt it makes financial sense for them to devote limited dev/test resources to vetting their product on a single digit market segment.
As a software developer myself I’ve always got people passionately asking me for a particular feature that would only be used by a small number of people. And I have to weigh importance against a feature that will benefit lots of folks.
My son works without a drum plug, just gets free drum packs from the Internet. Lemme ask him how he does things.
confundido aka Dennis
confundidoOK my son uses FL and admittedly he’s more about “making beats” which I’d say is not the focus of EZD. He says he just searches for “future drum kit Reddit download” and Future is a rap artist so he’s looking for similar sounds. And then he says “I can use all my downloaded sounds in FL”. I’m not familiar with FL so I don’t know what FL uses to “play” the sounds but maybe Reaper has some facility. So I’m not affiliated in any way with EZD but as a software developer I’d guess their pushing the platform pretty hard and have a pretty big API “surface area” to give all the EDZ functionality and it might be a bit tricky to port that to Linux. Well not “port it do Linux” but verify that it all works under WINE.
I’m going to try to attach 2 videos he made explaining how he does things in FL. Totally foreign to me. And apologies to toontracks, don’t mean to be promoting a free way to do things, just trying help this guy. Feel free to delete if I’m crossing a line.
confundido aka Dennis
P.S. Oops, no attachments. It says “too big” even tho they’re not a whole lot bigger than a modern hires JPG.
confundidoOK here’s a bit more from my son. Can you tell he’s 19?
Yeah but I think this way of doing drums is really good because there’s sm free downloads out there on the internet. If u wanna be rly picky tho the sounds aren’t always the highest possible quality but they’re good enough that I don’t rly notice
So he did two 1 minute videos showing how he imports these downloaded drums into FL and if you’re interested I’ll find some way to share those (if’n it’s OK with toontrack)
confundido aka Dennis
Ketil ErvikUnfortunately, there are still many strange stories and prejudices about Linux. The fact that Linux is very widespread in the world today and is used by millions of people is proven by this link:
I would therefore like to share some of my experiences with Toontrack software and Linux via Wine.
I use Linux Mint Cinnamon on a daily basis. But I also use Windows11 for music production. Well, I live in Europe but I am the one who disconnected Microsoft, not the other way around. I only have a local account, Onedrive is deleted on the machine and Yandex disk is installed. I receive updates but that’s all.
My experience with Linux and Toontrack software so far is that Manjaro Linux worked best with Wine with Toontrack software. The only program that was not compatible was ezbass.
But it should be said, I have not tested ezdrummer3 and ezkeys 2 which I recently upgraded to. But it would be an idea if the Toontrack developers contacted the Wine developers to see what could be done! Because without a doubt, Linux today is significantly simpler and more stable than Windows11, and above all significantly faster.
But I will test the latest version of Manjaro Linux today with Wine, and try to reinstall the music programs.
I may be able to report back on this thread about how it went! But if people want the most freedom in this area, Manjaro Linux is probably the easiest Linux arch distribution for more advanced options for Wine and Windows programs. There is also considerable help and information on the Manjaro forum about all this.
Here its another example for Ubuntu based distros:
Installing EZDrummer, EZmix, etc on Linux Mint, using Bottles!
https://youtu.be/j41ZKJA4qmU?si=AMkekF-NkMzwi0Z3
Ketil Ervik
Ketil ErvikMy conclusion after testing the Toontrack programs via wine and Botle in Linux is that these programs are not fully compatible in Linux no matter what Linux to Windows programs you use in Linux. The menus don’t open, they don’t work well as plugins in DAW etc. It initially looks like it works, but it’s just an optical illusion.
Unfortunately, but for those of you who like Linux like me!
Use Windows for music production, if you’ve bought a few Windows programs like I have. And use Linux for everything else like I do.
Ketil Ervik
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