64Studio is up and running and completely functional. I've
got my Firepod working after 'much ado' (phew, installing linux programs and drivers can be tough, even with synaptic).
The JACK interface is great, and infinitely easier to configure than Sonar PE was, in fact, I have a feeling Sonar makes things difficult on purpose to garner 'support and education' money. But then again, I feel that way about a lot of closed source software.
Here's yet another program for Linux where I can get extremely powerful granular control over the systems, as it lets me send signals wherever I choose, with the GUI interface that is JACK, it makes it easy after you know how to do it.
Then I come to Ardour2. It's more intuitive than anything else I've ever used. Why can't a $1000 program be this easy to use?
I'm very pleased with 64Studio, Freebob, JACK, and ardour2. Thanks for the link to ubuntustudio. I have another harddrive that I can try that on.