├── license.md
└── README.md
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1 | This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.
2 |
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/README.md:
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1 | # A Pro Audio Tuning Guide for Arch (and other Arch-based distros)
2 |
3 | 
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 | Following this guide will allow you to get the best possible performance on Linux for professional audio needs. Even though these steps are well-tested, it is wise to research what each step accomplishes and why (the search engine is your friend :P ). See also https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Professional_audio.
8 |
9 | _**Note for users of other distros**: Much of this guide can be adapted for other distros by simply switching out the package manager commands. For manually adding realtime privileges in other distros see [jackaudio.org](https://jackaudio.org/faq/linux_rt_config.html). In terms of kernels, Arch-based distros add the full preempt patch as part of the kernel config at build time whereas for others you might need to add `preempt=full` as a kernel parameter as part of step 4. From the yabridge documentation:_
10 |
11 | > If the `uname -a` output contains `PREEMPT_DYNAMIC`, then run either `zgrep PREEMPT /proc/config.gz` or `grep PREEMPT "/boot/config-$(uname -r)"` depending on your distro. If `CONFIG_PREEMPT` is not set, then either add the `preempt=full` kernel parameter or better yet, switch to a kernel that's optimized for low latencies.
12 |
13 | However, for Debian, Ubuntu or Arch, the low-latency [Liquorix kernel](https://liquorix.net/) might be an even better option and is what I use myself. Install via:
14 |
15 | ```shell
16 | curl -s 'https://liquorix.net/install-liquorix.sh' | sudo bash
17 | ```
18 |
19 | With all other tweaks set identically, the Liquorix kernel performs noticeably better than the Debian kernel on my system. With Liquorix, there is no need to set `preempt=full` but the `threadirqs` parameter is still of great benefit.
20 |
21 | ## Fundamentals
22 |
23 | To get started after installing Arch, you could try just steps 3, 4 and 5 below. If you need to use windows plugins on Linux also follow step 11 (easy: wine-staging, more advanced but potentially more performance: wine-tkg). Based on your individual pro audio needs, workflows, hardware specifications and more, your mileage may vary. If you are still having audio performance issues, try following the full guide...
24 |
25 | ### Pipewire?
26 |
27 | **July 2025 update:** Now we are up to pipewire v1.4.6 and I feel very confident recommending pipewire. Indeed, I'm now running it myself for pro audio work. From a default install it will be part of your regular updates so should be very easy. Here's how to install pipewire if you are still running pulseaudio and jack:
28 |
29 | ```shell
30 | yay -Rdd pulseaudio pulseaudio-alsa pulseaudio-jack jack2
31 | yay -S pipewire-alsa pipewire-pulse pipewire-jack
32 | ```
33 | Reboot then check whether pipewire and associated plugins are operational via
34 | ```shell
35 | inxi -Aa
36 | ```
37 | For IRQ-based scheduling benefits when using ALSA, be sure to use the "Pro Audio" profile for your interface via your sound management tool.
38 |
39 | ## Full In-depth Guide
40 |
41 | ### 1. Install Arch (or other favorite Arch-based distro)
42 |
43 | _Optional:_
44 | Install `yay`:
45 |
46 | ```shell
47 | sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
48 | git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
49 | cd yay
50 | makepkg -si
51 | ```
52 | In other Arch-derived distros, `yay` might already be installed or available via `sudo pacman -S yay`.
53 |
54 | ### 2. rtcqs (formerly known as realtimeconfigquickscan)
55 |
56 | ```shell
57 | git clone https://codeberg.org/rtcqs/rtcqs.git
58 | cd rtcqs
59 | ./src/rtcqs/rtcqs.py
60 | ```
61 |
62 | ### 3. Install realtime-privileges
63 |
64 | ```shell
65 | yay -S realtime-privileges
66 | ```
67 |
68 | Add user to "realtime" group and "audio" group (to satisfy `rtcqs`)
69 |
70 | ```shell
71 | sudo usermod -a -G realtime,audio $USER
72 | ```
73 |
74 | Log out/in or reboot...
75 |
76 | ### 4. Kernel tweak
77 |
78 | ```shell
79 | sudo nano /etc/default/grub
80 | ```
81 |
82 | change
83 | `GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""` to `GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="threadirqs"`
84 |
85 | ```shell
86 | sudo update-grub
87 | ```
88 |
89 | or if you don't have update-grub installed
90 | ```shell
91 | sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
92 | ```
93 | Alternatively, if you are using systemd-boot:
94 | ```shell
95 | sudo nano /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf (or whatever the .conf file is called on your system)
96 | ```
97 | and add *threadirqs* to the end of the options line.
98 |
99 | ### 5. CPU Governor and Sleep/Screeen Lock blocking
100 | You can use your deskop environment to set CPU governor to "performance" and disable sleep and screen locking. E.g on KDE Plasma:
101 |
102 | 
103 |
104 | Alternatively, set in the terminal via `sudo cpupower frequency-set -g performance` or add `cpufreq.default_governor=performance` as a kernel parameter (but note that this can be overridden by other power profile tools in your distribution such as Powerdevil).
105 |
106 | ### 6. Swappiness
107 |
108 | ```shell
109 | sudo nano /etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl.conf
110 | ```
111 |
112 | add "vm.swappiness=10"
113 |
114 | ### 7. Spectre/Meltdown Mitigations
115 |
116 | If you run `rtcqs.py` and it gives you a warning about Spectre/Meltdown Mitigations, you could add `mitigations=off` to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX. Warning: disabling these mitigations will make your machine less secure! https://wiki.linuxaudio.org/wiki/system_configuration#disabling_spectre_and_meltdown_mitigations
117 |
118 | ### base-devel (as necessary)
119 |
120 | ```shell
121 | yay -S base-devel
122 | ```
123 |
124 | ### 8. Install udev-rtirq (ignore if using pipewire "pro audio" profile?)
125 |
126 | ```shell
127 | git clone https://github.com/jhernberg/udev-rtirq.git
128 | cd udev-rtirq
129 | sudo make install
130 | reboot
131 | ```
132 |
133 | ### 9. DAW & Plugins
134 |
135 | For regular work in a DAW, it is recommended to set its audio system to ALSA. If you need to listen to other external sources during a session, in REAPER you can change the ALSA input and output devices to "default" (you need to type this):
136 |
137 | 
138 |
139 | Set your desired audio device using your desktop environment.
140 |
141 | DAW Install Examples:
142 |
143 | REAPER:
144 | http://reaper.fm/download.php or,
145 |
146 | ```shell
147 | yay -S reaper
148 | ```
149 | Consider changing the RT priority value to 80 on audio device page. While RT priority numbers are all relative, this value matches the sane default used by Ardour and Mixbus.
150 |
151 | Ardour:
152 | https://community.ardour.org/download or,
153 |
154 | ```shell
155 | yay -S ardour
156 | ```
157 |
158 | Bitwig Studio:
159 | https://www.bitwig.com/download/ (flatpak not compatible with yabridge) or,
160 |
161 | ```shell
162 | yay -S bitwig-studio
163 | ```
164 |
165 | Also be sure to check out Qtractor, Tracktion Waveform, Mixbus, LMMS, Rosegarden, Zrythm etc...
166 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_audio_software#Digital_audio_workstations_(DAWs)
167 |
168 | #### Native plugins (`yay -S [pkgname]` where appropriate)
169 |
170 | - My JSFX plugin collection (https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=275301)
171 | - airwindows-git (http://www.airwindows.com/)
172 | - x42-plugins (http://x42-plugins.com/x42/)
173 | - lsp-plugins (https://lsp-plug.in/)
174 | - zam-plugins (http://www.zamaudio.com/?p=976)
175 | - distrho-ports (https://distrho.sourceforge.io/ports.php)
176 | - dpf-plugins (https://distrho.sourceforge.io/plugins.php)
177 | - elephantdsp-roomreverb (https://www.elephantdsp.com/)
178 | - dragonfly-reverb (https://michaelwillis.github.io/dragonfly-reverb/)
179 | - aether.lv2 (https://dougal-s.github.io/Aether/)
180 | - Bertom Denoiser (https://www.bertomaudio.com/denoiser.html) (not in the Arch repos or AUR)
181 | - sfizz / sfizz-git (https://sfz.tools/sfizz/)
182 | - Chowdhury DSP (https://chowdsp.com/products.html) (available via AUR: `yay chow`)
183 | - Auburn Sounds (https://www.auburnsounds.com/)
184 | - TAL Software (https://tal-software.com/)
185 | - Pianoteq (https://www.modartt.com/pianoteq)
186 | - AudioThing (https://www.audiothing.net/)
187 |
188 | ### 10. Wine-staging or Wine-tkg
189 |
190 | **Gentle Warning**: Recent WINE development has made running Windows applications and plugins on Linux problematic. In order to things to work as expected, stick with wine-staging or wine-tkg v9.21. A better approach would be to move entirely to Linux-native applications and plugins. Unless you live by AI-powered mixing plugins, the only area that is currently lacking on Linux is spectral editing (missing equivalents to iZotope RX and Acon Digital Acoustica).
191 |
192 | Perhaps start with vanilla wine-staging and see how you fare in terms of performance. If your workflows rely heavily on VSTi like Kontakt, you may find better performance with wine-tkg (fsync enabled).
193 |
194 | #### Wine-staging
195 |
196 | ```shell
197 | yay -S wine-staging
198 | ```
199 |
200 | Or, install a particular version that you know is compatible:
201 |
202 | ```shell
203 | yay -S downgrade
204 | sudo DOWNGRADE_FROM_ALA=1 downgrade wine-staging
205 | ```
206 | followed by adding an IgnorePkg line to /etc/pacman.conf:
207 |
208 | ```shell
209 | IgnorePkg = wine-staging
210 | ```
211 | Check https://github.com/robbert-vdh/yabridge#tested-with for up-to-date info.
212 |
213 | OR...for the more adventurous:
214 |
215 | #### Wine-tkg
216 |
217 | Follow the instructions to git clone and install latest version: https://github.com/Frogging-Family/wine-tkg-git/tree/master/wine-tkg-git#quick-how-to-
218 |
219 | If using wine-tkg, set the WINEFSYNC environment variable to 1 according to https://github.com/robbert-vdh/yabridge#environment-configuration (depends on your display manager and login shell)
220 |
221 | ### 11. Install yabridge
222 |
223 | ```shell
224 | yay -S yabridge yabridgectl
225 | ```
226 |
227 | or for latest git:
228 |
229 | ```shell
230 | yay -S yabridge-git yabridgectl-git
231 | ```
232 |
233 | Note: Depending on your distro, you might have to enable the multilib repo first:
234 |
235 | ```shell
236 | sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf
237 | ```
238 |
239 | and, uncomment these lines
240 |
241 | ```shell
242 | [multilib]
243 | Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
244 | ```
245 |
246 | Configure yabridge according to https://github.com/robbert-vdh/yabridge#readme
247 |
248 | then, install Windows VST2, VST3 or CLAP plugins!
249 |
250 | ### 12. Check volume levels!
251 |
252 | Once everything is set up, don't forget to check that volume levels are set correctly. Run
253 | ```
254 | alsamixer
255 | ```
256 | to check that output is set to 100 (vertical bars) or gain of 0dB (top left of alsamixer). Use F6 to select the correct soundcard. You can also use your desktop environment's volume controls if you have your interface enabled there but note that numbers don't seem to match alsamixer.
257 |
258 | 
259 |
260 | ### 13. Other useful tools (all available via the package manager)
261 |
262 | **Music Player**: strawberry (can produce bit-perfect playback)
263 | 
264 | **Tagger**: kid3, picard
265 | **DDP creation/verification/etc**: ddptools
266 | **Audio Converter**: fre:ac or soundconverter
267 | **CD Ripper**: asunder or cdrdao
268 | **CD Burner**: cdrdao, k3b or nerolinux4
269 |
270 |
271 |
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