[leighelse]

I want to add that I’ve today downloaded the EZMix2 demo and installed it in Linux using the above steps and, like EZDrummer2, it just works. I tested a lot of the demo options, put half a dozen instances on a song which has thirty tracks and a lot of existing plugins in the native Linux build of REAPER. I had no buffering issues or CPU performance problems, or skips, or indeed any negatives at all. As a result I’ll be buying EZMix2 and some expansion packs.

Based on my experience with EZDrummer2 and now EZMix2, Toontrack products are already Linux compatible. The four steps I noted above should work for anyone, at least in Linux Mint and I guess the various Ubuntu flavours (I can’t speak for distros based on anything other than Debian,or using different window managers etc).

Personally, the only thing I’d ask of Toontrack now is that they publish this information somewhere, so other potential customers – those looking for good tools to support music production in Linux – know how to make them usable. Perhaps a blog post or a FAQ entry?

Well done Toontrack. You have great products, and I’m delighted they are so effortlessly compatible with native Linux music production.

[leighelse]

My experience is that EZDrummer2 works close to 100% in Linux (certainly in Mint 19).

1. Install the latest version of Wine.
2. Download the Toontracks Product Manager and run the installer using Wine.
3. Run the Product Manager in Wine and install all your EZDrummer libraries.
4. Download and install LinVST, then have it create .so libraries from the EZDrummer .dll files.

There are more detailed instructions available on the web. Having repeated the above steps recently I’ve had EZDrummer2 working 100%. The only issue I’ve had was when I attempted to change the drum kit while a track was actually playing; the EZDrummer GUI crashed. But when I clicked Play it started playing with the new kit immediately.

Best of luck.

[leighelse]

Toontrack Product Manager worked fine in Wine from the outset. The only issue was that I was using an older version, and it tied itself in knots trying to download and update to the newer version. The only other required step was to run the VSTs through a conversion utility whose name I can’t remember. I think it’s commonly used when moving plugins to Linux.

Certainly the drums work fine; I’ve used them on a couple of tracks now.

At some point I will download and attempt to install the latest Toontrack Product Manager and go through the process again, as I get warnings when opening a new project that “not all EZDrummer features are available” and suggesting I run Toontrack Product Manager, which then tries to download and install a newer version of itself, taking me back to the same initial pain point.

I would suggest first setting up a dual boot environment to test Superior Drummer 3 on your preferred Linux distro (I’m using Mint). That way you’ll have confidence when you pull the plug on Windows.

Best wishes,

::Leigh

• This post was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by leighelse.

[leighelse]

To update my situation. I’ve moved all my tracking to Linux using the “experimental” Linux build of Reaper, which so far has worked 100%, and with less CPU than Windows. All my USB-connected outboard gear (DAC, MIDI) works without a hitch under Linux too.

I’ve installed EZDrummer 2 in Wine. This didn’t go entirely smoothly as I used an older product manager and its attempts to upgrade itself failed. I occasionally get error messages in the EZDrummer plugin saying some features are unavailable. But it works!

I’m finding tracking in Linux much more productive than Windows, paradoxically because I don’t have most of my commercial plugins. I’ve discovered that as long as I have EZDrummer I have all I really need. I either mix down in Windows or get someone else to mix my tracks for me – it’s not a bad idea to get a fresh pair of ears at that point anyway.

It would be nice to have a Linux version of the product manager and not have to use Wine. Even a command-line tool to handle licensing would be fine, and arguably a better investment as it would work with all flavours of Linux.

So thank you for a great product, Toontrack. I’m hoping you can make it even greater by making Linux installation and licensing smoother.

1

Thanked by: Beek

[leighelse]

I have EZDrummer2 and find it most useful. I have a dual boot computer and work in Linux 90% of the time.

There are only two reasons I boot into Windows; one is a heritage software application I support and very occasionally need to tweak and rebuild. The other is making music in Reaper.

Windows 10 is not my friend. Every time I boot up it insists on installing updates, and then hogs internet bandwidth and CPU until it thinks it’s finished. Two days ago a ten minute remix took more than half an hour because when I logged in I had to wait for Windows to install a previous download, wait until it had finished downloading the next update before I could start work, then wait again when I logged out while it did the first stage of installing that new update. That update cycle and the unexpected consequences to drivers and file permissions is the reason I’m now keen to move music production away from Windows as soon as possible. The pain wasn’t so bad with previous versions of Windows.

I’ve decided I’ll bite a few bullets and move music production to Reaper on Linux. If, as posts in this forum topic suggest, it’s possible to use commercial VST plugins under Wine I’ll go down that route, but the pain of using Windows is now such that if a licensed plugin won’t work for me in Linux I’ll replace it with the next best option. It’s not ideal, and I have a considerable investment in plugin licenses, but I can’t go on the way things are. I do hope I’ll still be able to use EZDrummer2!

I’d like to be able to offer to help port plugins to Linux, but I’m too busy (hence less than 10% of my time making music). When I retire in a couple of years I’d definitely be willing to help. In between making music, of course!

[Author]

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