Revolve or die
I use GrapheneOS and NextDNS. And NoScript. There’s some overkill there but I figure why not.
To your question, GrapheneOS has put a lot of thought into features like sandboxing Google Play services so you can choose to use none/some/all depending on your preference. I would think that’s probably a smoother experience than trying to block google services selectively via NextDNS. GrapeheneOS also makes it easier to manage per-app permissions and security features.
The Mirror website is cancer. I use NoScript and it won’t load without allowing about 50 fuckkng scripts. MSN too. I avoid both but occasionally click on a link from elsewhere
American companies have way more power over my life than the Chinese government
Ubuntu Studio!
Replied to OP above with some suggestions
I use Ubuntu Studio. First thing to do is configure it with the included Studio Controls app, which is easy.
I used Reaper on Windows so it was easy for me to just use the Linux version. I’ve also messed around with Renoise which works well on Linux. People rave about Bitwig and it’s more similar to Ableton I think, but like Ableton it’s expensive. IMO you want want one of these rather than the built in FOSS DAWs, although to be fair I haven’t tried those recently.
All these come with some built in FX to different degrees. Ubuntu Studio also includes a bunch. The free Airwindows plugins are also well worth getting.
I have a couple of U-He synths which are top notch and run native on Linux. They have some FX too which I haven’t tried.
If you want to use VSTs you’ve bought it’s doable with Yabridge apparently, I haven’t tried it.
I know this is a gaming sub, but I’ll just add that I had a similar experience with music production. Used to he a fiddly disappointimg nightmare, now it’s smooth and usable as a daily driver
Ah yes I remember this guy, they call him the Crystal Methodist
Also Renoise (also not FOSS,. but good)
This is what I do, no trackball but it’s like an air pointer thingy, w keyboard too… works well
Honestly I’m not technically knowledgeable enough to answer, you can have a read of their FAQs. But my understanding is that the sandbox allows some google services to be used, but without privileged access to the rest of the system. As opposed to blocking them entirely, which would mean you couldn’t use those services at all. https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play