There are many different use cases for computer audio. Linux provides solutions for almost all of them in some form. This page structures itself around different user stories and provides some starting points and guidance for each.

====== Universal Topics ======

Linux audio as of 2008 is still somewhat Balkanized in its approaches to solving basic needs. Within audio production most software has standardized on JACK/ALSA; however, several competing approaches towards general desktop audio still exist.

===== Audio Drivers =====

[[ALSA]] - the standard Linux audio interface today

[[OSS]] - an older audio interface which is emulated by ALSA

===== Higher-level Layers =====

[[JACK]] - conceptually similar to a mixing console, it pipes sound between different applications and is standard for most audio apps

[[PulseAudio]], [[ESD]], [[GStreamer]], [[aRts]] - these serve various desktop audio needs, and have lots of overlapping functionality, but are not specifically focused towards audio production like JACK

===== Plugin formats =====

Linux-native plugins are fairly well standardized. Unfortunately, most softsynths on the freeware or commercial market are in VST form and thus are harder to use or less compatible.

[[LADSPA]] - low level Linux audio plugin format

[[DSSI]] - a higher-level API that builds on LADSPA

[[VST]] - a commercial format that is supported through various wrappers

====== Audio Playback ======

====== Waveform Editing and Sampling ======

====== Multitrack Recording ======

====== Music Composition ======

===== MIDI sequencing =====

==== With external hardware tone generation ====

For most general composition needs a workstation keyboard combined with a MIDI sequencer such as [[Rosegarden]] will work fantastically. The keyboard can provide sounds through General MIDI; later, softsynths can be introduced to improve the production quality.

With USB MIDI, most devices will be recognized soon after they're plugged into a USB port and turned on. However, if they contain proprietary software(for patch editing or otherwise), and the software is only for Windows or OSX, that software may not work correctly.

==== Fully software ====

A software-only studio has two problems to solve: softsynth availability, and low latency audio. Without resolving both, production will not be feasible.

===== MOD and other tracker formats =====

===== Printing Sheet Music =====

====== Synthesis ======

===== Softsynth Plugins =====

===== Synthesis Languages =====