What Is bandshed.net and What Does It Offer?

Updated

bandshed.net is the home site for AV Linux (a Linux distribution tuned for audio and video work) and Bandshed Records, and its blog is where new AV Linux and MX Moksha releases, ISO refreshes, and related audio projects are announced. It is most useful if you want to follow or download AV Linux builds, or keep up with the developer's audio software and drumkit releases. It is not a general news or tutorial site, and the page evidence does not indicate pricing, accounts, or download restrictions.

What the site covers

The site describes itself as "AV Linux, Bandshed Records and much more!" and organizes posts under Linux Audio and Linux Video tags. The blog is the main visible content channel.

AV Linux and MX Moksha releases

The most frequent posts are release announcements for two related distributions:

  • AV Linux (AVL) — the audio/video-focused edition.
  • MX Moksha (MXM) — released alongside AV Linux, described in the 25 release post as a second "flavor of Enlightenment for the E-curious."

Posts distinguish between full releases and lighter updates. For example, the 25.1 announcement states these "are not new OS versions, simply freshened up ISOs with updates and minor bugfixes," while 25.2 is framed as a point release following substantial work. Older entries show the same pattern under earlier names such as AVL-MXE and MXDE-EFL.

ISO updates and parallel releases

Some posts are explicitly ISO refreshes rather than new versions:

  • AV Linux MX Edition 23.2 ISO Update — fixes bugs from the 23.1 release.
  • AVL-MXE and MXDE-EFL 21.3 ISO Update — a fresh image aligned with the MX Linux 21.3 release.
  • AV Linux Base 23.5 "Greatest Hits" — a "parallel release" (not a full release update) offering a stripped-down Base version.

This matters if you are deciding what to download: a higher number does not always mean a new OS generation, and a "Base" build is intentionally reduced.

Audio tools and drumkits

Beyond the OS, the blog covers AVL Drumkits. The Blonde Bop kits were released six years after the Red Zeppelin and Black Pearl libraries and LV2 plugins, made in partnership with Robin of x42 Plugins. If you use Linux audio production, these are the site's non-OS offerings.

How to use the site

  1. Start at the blog to see the newest release post at the top.
  2. Read the post's framing to tell a full release from an ISO refresh or parallel release — the wording ("not new OS versions," "parallel release," "ISO update") is the signal.
  3. Check the version naming (AVL vs. MXM, and the edition number) so you pick the flavor and generation you intend.
  4. Use "Older posts" at the bottom of the blog to reach earlier releases and drumkit announcements.

Common sticking points

  • Version numbers can mislead. A 25.1 or 23.2 post may only be a refreshed ISO with fixes, not a new feature release.
  • Two distributions share announcements. AV Linux and MX Moksha are often released together; confirm which one a post refers to before downloading.
  • The site is announcement-oriented. The visible content is release notes and news, so expect to follow links or read the post body for download and setup details rather than finding a structured documentation section on the blog index.

Who it is for

bandshed.net is aimed at Linux users working with audio and video who want to track AV Linux builds, and at musicians interested in the AVL Drumkits. If you need a general-purpose Linux resource or commercial software store, this is not that site.