Linux support for Toontrack products

[joabogers]

DAWs like Reaper and Ardour work on Linux just fine,...

DAWs like Reaper and Ardour work on Linux just fine, but the Toontrack stack not supporting it fully breaks the experience. Using Wine I can get quite a long way with using EZ Drummer on Linux, but it’s less than ideal. Even though VST should be OS agnostic, it’s clear Toontrack products weren’t developed with Linux in mind. And that’s a shame, because nobody I know who’s into audio engineering willingly chooses Windows.

Please support Linux.

DAWs like Reaper and Ardour work on Linux just fine, but the Toontrack stack not supporting it fully breaks the experience. Using Wine I can get quite a long way with using EZ Drummer on Linux, but it’s less than ideal. Even though VST should be OS agnostic, it’s clear Toontrack products weren’t developed with Linux in mind. And that’s a shame, because nobody I know who’s into audio engineering willingly chooses Windows.

Please support Linux.

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Thanked by: ervelae, GoonTrack, DrumPhil1 and 10 others.

Topic

[DrumPhil1]

+1 for Linux support. EZDrummer is the only thing keeping me on Windows, and I will most likely move away from it within the next year if it doesn’t support it. At the very least, it would be nice to have a dedicated guide for running under Wine (or Bottles), and fix any bugs that are low-hanging-fruit when running in Wine.

[JF613]

Please consider Linux support…I only run Windows on that particular computer for SD3 and I don’t want Windows 11.

[Robin Bell]

I’ll add my voice to the requests for Linux versions. I have EZKeys/EZKeys2 (with many expansion packs which together add up to a considerable investment) as well as EZDrummer and EZMix. Previously used all on my Windows 10 PC but recent changes by Microsoft have convinced me to make the swap to Linux (now on Ubuntu Studio) and happily using the Linux version of Reaper. I have managed to get EZDrummer to work through Wine and Yabridge but so far even EZKeys1 has me baffled….

Toontrack seem to have turned a deaf ear to all requests for Linux versions of their products – even a response to say that it’s not going to happen would be a step in keeping customers informed….

Please Toontrack, at least respond in some way so we know where we stand

[Broccoleader]

I will also speak out for a native Linux version.

 

That being said, using Reaper and Yabridge, it’s been quite manageable on EndeavourOS.
The Toontrack Product Manager didn’t require any fixes and running EZDrummer both in Reaper and as Standalone has been really solid.
One point of annoyance is that a dropdown list such as File in the upperleft hand corner can only be used if the window is moved a bit off the edge of the left screen edge; too close to the edge and the menu will rapidly close again. I think this may be Wayland specific but I’m not sure. Anyway, minor annoyance, it works pretty well for the most part but a native version would definitely be preferred.

[Franiac]

I also think the time is right. Nearly every Linux distro switched to Pipewire and that audio system is absolutely insane. The times of Pulse Audio and JACK are finally over. With the right configuration and realtime-scheduling I run my Arturia Minifuse 1 at 32 samples buffer and 32 samples ALSA headroom in Reaper on CachyOS, 1ms output latency, no crackles, no buffer underruns, just stable as a rock, 50 tracks, 100 plugins. Those are numbers Windows is still dreaming about to this day.

There are a lot of extremely good native plugins for Linux either as LV2 or VST3. ToneBoosters and Kazrog are two companies that understood there is a demand. I download the packages, copy the .vst3 files into the correct folder and they just run like butter. No fiddling with Yabridge.

The last thing that i really need to completely switch my entire studio to Linux is Superior Drummer 3. I really really really hope that the shift towards gaming on Linux finally has an impact on audio and video, too. Valve did a phenomenal job with the Steam Deck and proved it can be done. The numbers of Linux users go up and up and up. The good thing is, Microsoft is helping wherever they can by turning Windows into an absolute AI shitshow. I quite like it how they are unintentionally the best advertisement for Linux right now.

So… here is my “PRETTY PLEASE!!!????” towards the Toontrack family 😀

• This post was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by Franiac.

[Charlie Andersson]

My way of getting around this problem is to have a seperate Studio-Laptop with win7 running and all my Toontrack products installed. This laptop nerver connects to the internet, so security is not a problem. I use an older version of Cubase Elements that I am used to and it just works. I have tried newer versions like Cubase Elements 14, that reqiures Win 11, but all the “new” stuff was gadgets that I don´t need.

I am also leaving Microsoft for Linux Mint, and having the option to use EzDrummer in Reper would be fun. But not necessary.

[Jerryteacup]

aa few days go I finally installed Yabridge and EZ Drummer 2. It’s fine and dandy although for some bridged VST I have to have the virtual desktop open but the Windows-based menus appear there.

I haven’t installed EZ Drummer 3 because it’s so damn huge, it appears, even the base plugin. I haven’t taken a look at it since acquiring it.

Still, yes, native Linux support, please.

[GoonTrack]

Here to give my voice as well. I would absolutely be onboard with Linux Native EzDrummer 3!

 

 

[fyretyne]

Asking for Linux support here as well – purchased a ton of libraries while running on Win 10 and moved over the Linux just recently, I do not wish to sell it and look for alternatives. As long as the vst3 can be bridged or better yet have a natively supported plugin, that would be just great.

• The post has been modified 3 times, last modified 3 weeks ago by fyretyne.

[fyretyne]

Hello John,

Did this topic reach critical mass yet for ToonTrack to be interested in adopting the products to Linux? I’d like to get an answer soon or I’ll have to think about selling my libraries.

[Joey]

No, unfortunately not. A TT person (a developer I assume) said a while back they had read this thread but said they couldn’t comment on whether or not there were plans. I finally got EZ mix 3, EZ drummer, and the product manager all running under wine and working within Reaper on Ubuntu 24 using the Yaw bridge VST wrapper. I never had to fool with it again after getting it setup and the products have continued to worked after getting updates so it’s not too bad. However it would be nice to not feel like a second class citizen… I guess it’s not as bad as Native Instruments though; they’re stuff won’t work in wine as at all, and their developers were very crude and nasty in their response about supporting it. We just sold all of our NI stuff and started turning down clients that just “have” to use NI.

 

Having used Windows and Mac for close to 20 years, I just absolutely love the performance boost on Linux and the audio routing capabilities of pipewire! We’re never going back.

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Thanked by: fyretyne

[fyretyne]

I feel the same way about PW, it’s incredible. I also just managed to run SDX since my post, so I guess I’m also “happy” for the time being…

[Brandonrtaylor]

Please offer support for Linux users. It would encourage so many more people to buy your products!

[Brandonrtaylor]

Hey everyone, I found this video that might help some of you with a workaround for using Toontrack products on Linux. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j41ZKJA4qmU I Hope it helps!

[joabogers]

That video explains how to run the products separately. One of the main challenges however is using the EZ* tools as VST in a DAW on Linux. For example: dragging a midi fragment from EZDrummer into a track in your Reaper or Ardour project. Afaik using Bottles as suggested in the video actually makes that harder, because it enforces application isolation that frustrates the drag & drop ability. Correct me if I’m wrong.

[Author]

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