Hi all !
I'm new to Linux, I used Debian for a while and I'll try Gentoo now . My main goal is to buy second hand Linux compatible hardware to build a nice working music computer . I also want to learn bash and whatever is needed to build my own musical effects or software ..
I've got an M-audio midisport2x2 usb Midi port that I would like to use . And I also have a Pentium III Dell optiplex 110 but maybe I could buy a faster processor .

I'm thinking of buying an M-audio delta 66 or delta 44 soundcard , another motherboard , a scsi harddrive and another videocard . Any tips about how I could build the best and cheapest machine are very welcome !
Freakrush

i wont comment on hardware. but i will say that there are distros specific to audio/media development so i highly recommend searching for them and checking them out when you get your system put together! good luck

Debian's demudi is what i've tried , and I've heard of the agnula project. These are the multimedia - distro's I know , and I want to learn so I can tailor any distro to the needs of the programs I use.
So that's why I'm trying Gentoo .

Cool. You're from Belgium
Welcome to LQ

I'm running gentoo in my home studio with a M-audio delta 1010 running out to a rackmount input box. it works very well. jack, ardour and hydrogen make a good software combo.

Welcome to LQ!

DeMuDi is a part of the AGNULA project

Good luck building your Software DAW by hand
M-Audio makes some great soundcards. My cousin has a Delta 1010, it's very rad (though I've never seen it working in a Linux environment..).

mine works with this in the kernel config:
and I use envy24control to control the onboard mixer/patchbay and the hardware monitoring. it has 8 analog ins (running to the rackmount preamp) that work with 24bit@96Khz (ADAT quality) plus the 2 digital ins (and 8 analog 2 digital outs. it has midi in and out (I haven't used these yet as I don't work with midi.) plus a digital sync lets you combine 4 cards. for up to 32 analog & 8 digital in and out.

OK
Thanks for all the replies.

- M-audio Delta 1010 could be my next soundcard , I have an m-audio Dman 2044 now but it only works with windows 98 I will sell or keep it together with my old 400 euro official cubase vst 3.7 , damn such a waste of cash)

- My Midisport 2x2 is supported for linux but it needs the firmware loader ... could this mean that the midi drivers aren't as good as for hardware that doesn't need firmware loaders . Or is the result the same and are these firmware loaders just a different way of installing the hardware ?

- Because I want to build an excellent working machine , probably Gentoo is still the best choice , no ?
I'm a real Linux newbie so I'm not shure about that . A special multi-media tailored distro would give results faster probably . But , I'm more interested in building (compiling?)the fastest OS , that's why I'd choose Gentoo ...

- Would it be a good idea to buy a scsi harddisk ? And does it have special requirements for the motherboard ?

- Is the Matrox G450 graphics cards still a good choice or is it too old ?
I've seen them on e-bay for 20us$ (32 or 64 MB memory, two monitor outputs)

- And so on, I have questions about every piece , I'll make webpage to keep an overview . "Freakrush's new Software DAW"
Probably after me , the same questions will be asked over and over again .
If anyone knows a good site about building like this ? Yeah shure, linuxquestions.org ;-)

- I need at least 8 analog balanced inputs , 8 outputs or less and two midi in+outputs . Also I'd like to use the DAW for realtime effects and/or synths (like VST plugins) .

- I also have a modded xbox . I'm dreaming of using it as a realtime visual effects box , midi controlled . This would be spectacular for live shows , if i could write a miditrack for visual effects on the xbox . But that's a dream for the future ...

Cheers !

Note: mine is the 1010LT without the breakoutbox it was much cheaper then the 1010 with the box and I already had an 8 chan. rackmount preamp. A SCSI disk would be faster and this is good for audio work but I don't have one. I would very much recommend an NVIDIA card if at all possible. I like to use ecamegapedal for live realtime effects (uses ladspa effect plugins) and ardour (my main DAW program) supports Ladspa and (I believe) VST Plugins.

Ok ,
I'll make a new thread on the hardware forum about building a Linux DAW .
Thanks again for all the hopegiving replies .

the midisport 2x2 installation was easy...
some links ...
Firmwareloaders for midisport
MIDI-HOWTO
M-Audio Delta 1010 on Alsa soundcard matrix