I compared audio latency when running Bitwig Studio in demo mode, playing the same song and the same section in Clear Linux and Cachy OS, and capturing the CPU load graph. So far, the CacyOS RT-BORE-LTO kernel was the best. Those spikes in the Clear Linux kernel cause audio pops and crackles. The second screen capture below uses a custom Clear Linux RT kernel.
P.S.
There is a new Cachymod linux-cachyos-gcc-lazy-rt kernel to try. I think it is even better than the linux-cachyos-rt-bore-lto because core usage appear even. I am assuming core usage predictability translates into consistent DSP performance. I could be wrong!
While playing around with DAWs on Windows and Mac, I became curious about Linux DAWs. Recent improvements in Pipewire and realising how easy it is to set up Bitwig Studio in Linux have made me use Linux for audio. 256 block size with a stable OS is great. Cachy OS with RT BORE LTO kernel is better than Ubuntu Studio.
LTO articles are very interesting. Thank for the links.
On CachyOS, the string “-rt-” in their kernel names does not mean the kernel is configured with PREEMPT_RT=y . I installed both CachyOS RT kernels and they were built with PREEMPT_AUTO , not PREEMPT_RT.
Does it make sense to compile the linux-cachyos-rt-bore-lto kernel with the PREEMPT_RT=y ?
I could be wrong!
I wish Peter serves some good German beer here! 
