Group: GNU Multimedia

I am new to GNU. I have read pretty much the whole website. I do use free

software, but I have to use non-free software as well. Why? Because free software directory cannot offer the functionality.

I am a musician. I require sequencers and VST plugins in order to compose music. Unfortunately, all the free sequencers available are too simple and undeveloped - so much that to start using them is making a huge step behind - like 10 years back in time. VST are also not supported by the Free World as it is a proprietary format. But it is like saying that one cannot use piano, so common VST are.

What should one do in such a situation? I am not a coder. If I don't use a non-free sequencer, it may seem that I've chosen my freedom. But instead I will loose any possibility to write music which I can write now. So turning to my freedom will take away my freedom - freedom of self expression which will be restricted by lack of software. How many years will go into the writing of serious software? I am not a coder.

I think this is the real problem nowadays. GNU world is well equiped with text editing software but is very weak with multimedia. How can one willingly cut himself off from the multimedia advantages of non-free computing and step ten years back? And this is not a question of short-term convenience. In many aspects it is restricting one's freedom of self expression.

So each time any of my friends encourage me to install free OS, I have to say 'no' because I will not be able to perform a whole class of tasks which are very important to me - not from the point of convenience, but from the point of possibility.

Free software is extra important. But people have to get interested, not all will make it through the complex net of free world philosophy. I think

multimedia projects should be top priority.