State of Hard Disk Recording in Linux?
Madfishmonger asks: "I'm putting together a live computer rig for a band to play back backing tracks as well as simultaneously transmit MIDI program and control changes to various synthesizers and digital mixers. Are there any Linux-based apps (especially Linux PPC ? , since we'll be running an older PowerBook) which can replace software like Logic, Cubase and ProTools for simpler tasks like managing MIDI ? program changes and audio playback simultaneously, or which are even capable of rudimentary hard disk recording tasks, and will also work with the more common multi-IO MIDI interfaces from makers like MOTU and Emagic? I haven't heard of anything comparable to the current Mac and Windows-based technologies like TDM ? , VST ? , RTAS and ASIO, but is there anything in the works which could give the music community a third platform to work on, or do I have to wait for the big name proggies to come out on OS X?"
As with nearly every question pertaining to audio, MIDI, and music on Linux, Dave Philips' site is pretty much the definitive resource. You'll probably want the section on HDR software.
From the discussion on the Linux Audio Developers' mailing list, Ardour seems to be the most powerful of your options, designed to beat even ProTools.
But my grandest creation, as history will tell,
Was Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.