Best native Linux DAWS if you want to try:

• Bitwig - Like Ableton but better (paid, proprietary)
• Renoise - Tracker focused (paid, proprietary)
• Reaper - Clunky but very capable (cheap, proprietary)
• LLMS - Very simple daw (free, libre)
• Ardour - Full featured but rough around the edges (free, libre)
• Bespoke - Modular workflow, supports VSTs (free, libre)
• VCV Rack - Modular workflow, VCV modules only (free, libre)

All the paid daws have free demos.

FWIW I also release all my plugins with native Linux builds: https://replicataudio.com/

Got some cool new stuff coming out soon. HMU on discord and I will give you free copies (applies to anyone reading this comment).

Bitwig is the best native software I could find for myself - it's similar to ableton in some ways, but different enough to be unique.

You can also use yabridge to run most windows plugins (including kontakt)

SunVox is a really cool piece of software. Tidalcycles and Strudel seem pretty goddam dope as well.

I've been running fl studio thru wine for the past couple years and it works pretty much the exact same. If you already own a copy i'd recommend trying it before buying some different software. Your biggest issue might be running vst's, I was using only stock plugins until last week when I got yabridge set up and am using vital a bit now.

Reaper is a popular one

Reaper is the DAW for audio-engineers that is well supported on GNU/Linux.

FL Studio can works well with Wine or VM but its plugins are another story.

A few WebApps worth knowing (might not suit heavy usage):

• https://drumha.us/
• https://composeyogi.com/compose

There is also LMMS but this is more for small hobbyst rather than serious work.

You might wanna try running in a VM or WinBoat and maybe it's worth asking on the CrossOver forum to see how well things run with CO.

I would suggest giving native DAWs a solid try, if you find something that clicks staying on the native Pipewire/JACK system is so much nicer than window's, on top of the inevitable emulation/translation jankiness. Bitwig and REAPER are the big ones, but depending on your workflow/focus you can find other alternatives. There's also a bunch of native "digital audio gear" that is pretty sweet - check out Cardinal!

Windows VSTs can be tricky, always check if there is a native Linux release, otherwise you will have to run it through some compatibility layer and pray your divinity of choice, although you should have a good number of guides available. I suggest checking out some of the native alternatives here too, for example I use LSP plugins for compressors, EQs, and adjacent things

I think Bitwig Studio and LMMS both support VST2 plugins. Don't know about VST3. I kinda like the LMMS interface.

Reaper works great on linux.

Stick with native apps, audio drivers and passthrough is a pita as is, why further complicate it?

Reaper is my go-to but I come from an Ableton background and it just clicked for me so ymmv.

The nice thing is you can choose, Reaper was not the first software I chose but it's the one I stuck with. I like to do lots of live recordings with some programmed drums, vst plugins, etc. It checks all those boxes really reliably.

I use a Focusrite Solo interface passthrough using AsioForAll (iirc) setup as the driver for it. I can connect my peripherals no problem, using the mic for Teams calls during the workday and headphone jack for daily use when docked. Guitar, other XLR jacks, 1/4" jacks, register fine. I also connect a couple Akai controllers and misc keyboards fine after setting them up.

Additionally, I'm running Arch (btw), Thinkpad lappy docked on a USB c type 110 watt dock. The whole architecture needs to be considered when setting up your machine for the studio. Good luck!!! Ask any questions you can think of if it's helpful.

The liste of what DAW you can try :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_digital_audio_editors

The one I tryed is LMMS, and it's compatible with nearly all vst plugins I used.

I've had some pretty serious issues with usb audio class compliant hardware and linux. I'm not sure if it's a pulse/pipe/alsa issue and i don't care. I shouldn't have to debug dmesg just to record audio.

Reaper and Bitwig work great, otherwise.

I've never used FL but I've seen people mention they're had success with it on Linux.

This guide looks legit.

https://linuxvox.com/blog/flstudio-linux/

When I first started with audio production it was with Audacity. When I realized it wasn't the best way to record an album I switched to Ardour. It was compared to Pro Tools a lot at the time and I don't know how similar they are but I loved using it. When I started working with some new people I switched to their preferred DAW, Reaper. Now I basically only use Reaper because it's easier for some of the people newer to production. Ardour is still amazing and I think you should try them both and see which you like more. Maybe you can get FL working well but I think it's better to use something that runs native so you can support the orgs that are producing software for Linux and so eliminate some headaches.

I use native plugins as much as possible but sometimes a collaborator will use something meant for Windows and Mac only. What I do is install the plugin with WINE, using default paths, de-selecting any bullshit I don't care for, and then run a command to sync the plugins, yabridgectl sync. Sometimes plugins don't work perfectly because of missing fonts or whatever but there's a lot of advice on the project page for individual plugins. I've had pretty good luck so far but currently there's a rendering issue I'm waiting for an update on. Mouse clicks are offset for some reason. It's probably fixed by now in the stable version. It's been a month or two since I've checked on it since there are plenty of native and built-in plugins within Reaper.

https://github.com/robbert-vdh/yabridge

FL studio runs well in wine. VSTs are hit-or-miss whether they work but you'll be fine with it on wine it runs great.

I've tried getting FL Studio to work multiple times but keep running into little issues. Tried Bitwig but can't get the workflow down since it's too different from FL. Unfortunately the best way for me is to dual boot since I don't want to spend time fixing broken settings when I want to produce. Sadly it's the only thing keeping Windows on my PC.

I'm weird that I use carla as my routing and vst host.

Orca as my sequencer Usb midi to hardware synths

Some good answers in this post from last year, though my vote goes to the classic Bosca Ceoil!

fl should run fine with wine, but theres also bitwig or reaper and windows plugins work well in carla