LibraZiK 4 Released!

New version of LibraZiK (based on Debian Bullseye) is available :
https://librazik.tuxfamily.org/dotclear/blog/?post/LibraZiK-4-release&lang=en.
Enjoy :wink:.

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It would be nice if you could write what this LibraZik is. Just a few words …

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Fair. LibraZiK is a GNU/Linux audio-oriented distribution (as AV-Linux, UbuntuStudio, etc…). It is based on Debian Stable (Debian 11 Bullseye a.t.m). More information at LibraZiK’s website (English side of the documentation is not fully updated, W.I.P).

Hi,

I’d be interested in general and in a completely non-competitive way how LibraZik and AV Linux differ? Is LibraZik completely GNU?

Yes! I’m also curious what it adds on top of debian.

I’ve translated a part of the documentation :

Why didn’t you make a simple meta-package for Debian?

  • this is partly the case
    the LibraZiK project packages some :
    • in a more recent version than the one provided by Debian
    • not being in Debian
  • the LibraZiK project provides optimizations :
    being too specific to be integrated in Debian
    being too biased to be integrated in Debian
    So, newer version for applications and optimizations packages (and kernels) for better audio/midi performances.

other point (translated), from the website :

LibraZiK participates in the upstream projects, either the Debian project or the software projects themselves.
This can take different forms such as, for example, participating in the packaging of the software in Debian, or sending patches for French translation …

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LibraZik AV Linux
Debian based Based on MX Linux, which in turn is Debian based
Dedicated package repositories No dedicated repositories
Custom RT kernel Liquorix kernel
No preinstalled Windows VST bridge Preinstalled Windows VST bridge
No preinstalled commercial software Preinstalled commercial software (Mixbus, Reaper)

And probably more differences I couldn’t spot that quickly. LibraZik is not completely GNU as far as I can tell. And LibraZik is more a community effort I think, it has its origins in LinuxMAO.org. But correct me if I’m wrong or if I missed something!

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Thanks @autostatic, it is fair except

LibraZiK is as GNU as Debian, so can provide non-free microcodes (if needed for some wifi chipsets, audio/MIDI cards or AMD/Intel cpu)

Thanks for the clarification!

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The strength of Linux is its versatility and fragmentation. On the other hand, it is also a weakness.

So I ask, why there isn’t just one big audio / media project that would bring together all the Linux audio expertise on earth. Maybe it would attract more hardware manufacturers, for example. Or even some kind of strong standardization to unify things. But I might be wrong again.

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How does this compare to the growing number of distributions?

That is exactly what is happening:) “Hey why doesn’t someone create a single distribution that does just this, or all this,… there are now X+1 Distributions”

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That seems an obvious solution but it doesn’t happen for about a hundred different reasons, some to do with ‘stupid human’ BS like egos etc… and some very pragmatic reasons as well…

A micro example…

Several years ago I got an email from the then developer(s) of Ubuntu Studio asking if I wanted to join their team, I was flattered to be asked and was quite surprised they were even aware of my existence. However I soon learned that they were bound by Ubuntu’s Packaging regulations and including stuff like software demos of commercial products and even Packaging the Ardour binaries from ardour.org was either not possible or would take so long to jump through the hoops to get copyrighted and all the license issues figured out to get into the Ubuntu repository system that it would literally undo much of what I was able to do as a ‘lone-wolf’. I’ve never sought to be the face of any ‘Linux Audio’ alternative movement… I simply learned a few things with Linux got it into an ISO and liked it so much I wanted to show and tell others. For Linux to effectively band together and created a unified front and Audio product would require a lot of very high level cooperation, credentials, corporate involvement (and investment) and skills that somebody like me doesn’t possess. Because of the freedom of choice the obstacles are daunting… What DE? what Package format? Modular or Monolithic? Commercial or GNU? Rolling Release or LTS?

There have always been a handful of Linux Audio Distributions and a few coexisting at the same time many have come and many have gone and I’ve almost hung it up a couple of times and I guess the err… uhm… ‘gift’ of ADHD has kept it going this long. It’s exactly as you said Mika, the freedom is a weird paradox that allows and fosters alternatives and also hobbles them from integrating as a united entity.

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That’s because the beauty of freedom is in variety and also there is not one target :dart: but many. And the open source and free distros business model saved it from the apple :apple: and m$. But BEOS competed in the same arena and got taken out.

I switched from AVL to LZK about a year ago. Two things were important for me:

  • First, you can upgrade LibraZik. [Edit: There was a time when AVL needed reinstalling with every new release. Apparantly that has changed.]
  • Second, you can chose the filesystem you like. Eg, btrfs provides features like Copy on Write and Incremental Backups. Wouldn’t want to miss them any more.

In using it, I really learned to appreciate the preinstalled Ray Session and it’s great patchbay. The Yabridge Setup is a bit fiddly, though.

I never regretted the switch, but I would say it’s a matter of taste more than anything else.

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Hi,

Just to be clear… AV Linux up until 2015 was more focused on being an ‘appliance’ install and use ISO kind of thing but after moving to more modern Debian versions and especially since the move to MX Linux last year it is as upgradable as anything else based on Debian…

That is not a reason to pick one or the other and people should use and enjoy what works for them, I just wanted to clarify your comment for future readers

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