Matrix - I don’t know of a client that allows audio screenshares which is important when sites keep removing the watchparty features
If you use Element web with a chrome-based browser you can share a tab playing a video from the same browser. I use Helium to connect to matrix and my Jellyfin server to stream movies regularly. Within the last few months they’ve added the ability to adjust stream volume as well.
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.
Matrix is more like Skype/Zoom you create a call or session.
That’s true for Matrix with Jitsi. I’m selfhosting with Element Call enabled and we’re using video rooms that you can use as one does on Discord. It’s nice but needs a few more features before I’ll be completely happy with it. For a group to voice chat it’s great. If you’re sharing shows, movies, games, etc then I think it needs the following…
I’ve seen pull requests that address these things so I’m hoping that we see these features soon than later.
Sometimes I have to set audio to ALSA with protontricks in order for a game to launch or have sound. I think it has something to do with the number of audio channels I have. With other audio interfaces with only two channels it doesn’t seem to be an issue but I thought my ALSA/JACK combo was solid but I also only played native games back then so I’m not sure if it would have been an issue then. Pulse took me a while too be comfortable with but for the most part I’m happy with it now. I held out for so long and waited for other audio producers to give it a green light before I switched.
BTW, I’m not trying to fight you on this. Just sharing my experience with someone who understands the struggle.