linuxaudio.org

Greeting All,
This is my first posting, and I haven't been following the group very

long.  I actually discovered it during some research I was doing in

order to promote Linux adoption to a major producer of professional

audio equipment.  This post is about how I might do this most

effectively.  It could get a bit long, and I'm not 100% certain that

Linuxaudio.org is the right place for it; it might be more business than

a .org site can stomach.  If this doesn't sound interesting, read no

further, and try to show some mercy in your flames.
So, I've recently been in contact with the founder & chairman of a major

audio equipment company.  This company makes high-end

keyboard/synthesizer/mix/record/playback equipment that's used in

studios and concerts by many big names in the industry.
Their devices currently run Windows, and I have an opportunity to pitch

the adoption of Linux to them.  I got a nice introduction from a key

member of the AES, and then I wrote a 3-page report on the

opportunities, challenges, and strategies of Linux adoption.  This was

well-received and now I've been invited for a phone conference next week.
My report was an attempt to create an informative and

as-unbiased-as-possible analysis of:

 - the advantages & disadvantages of Linux adoption

 - a strategy for the most effective way to get there

 - a list of resources and references, of which linuxaudio.org is key
I might be willing to make the report available if anyone is interested,

but I have to remove any references to the company I'm working with.  I

don't want to undermine their confidence, especially when I'm trying

calm their nerves about stepping out of the world of proprietary

software into that of free/open/libra, and realize their competitive

advantages in other ways.
Goals
My key priority is to promote Linux for audio equipment and to sew the

seeds of a strong, professional relationship with some key players in

the audio electronics industry.  However, I'm also an independent

contractor, and if I can generate some paying work out of this, I will.

I expect that they'll need a few paid part-timers to grease the wheels;

do an initial port, setup & seed the forums, wikis, bug trackers, etc.,

and deal with any other important issues that volunteers don't step up to.
We're slowly getting to the point of my post.  I have some open

questions for the group:
  - is there really a business case Linux adoption?  ...or should this

be viewed as a domain for hobbyists?
  - are there any ways or indicators of determining the size of the

market they might reach if they adopt Linux?
  - any tips or suggestions about working with the community?
Feel free to respond either on- or off-list.  linuxaudio(at)bryanthansen.net
Bryant Hansen

Embedded Systems Engineer
Bryant is an engineer with nearly a decade of experience working in the

audio industry (at BridgeCo and Digital Harmony/Pavo).  His most recent

professional experience is with embedded audio devices running Linux.

He holds a certification from the Linux Professional Institute and has

memberships with the IEEE and the Free Software Foundation.
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