I'm considering moving from Windows 10 to Linux and want to keep recording, mixing, and mastering in Reaper for my small deathcore band. My computer is an older OptiPlex 7010 with a first-generation i7, about 16 GB of DDR3 RAM, a GT 1030, and limited SSD space. I'm unsure whether CachyOS, Fedora, MX Linux, Ubuntu Studio, or Linux Mint would be the best fit.
My biggest concerns are moving and backing up my WAV files and project folders, running Neural DSP and Kilohearts plugins properly, and avoiding noticeable latency. I know Windows plugins can sometimes work through Wine and yabridge, but I've never set that up myself. I'd prefer not to buy another SSD just for dual-booting, so I'm also wondering whether a Windows virtual machine or another approach would be practical. Has anyone made a similar move, and what would you recommend testing first?
5 Answers
Neural DSP plugins can work through yabridge for some users, and the bridge itself shouldn’t add much noticeable latency. The real question is whether each plugin works reliably under Wine. Test your specific amp sims and Kilohearts plugins before committing, and keep installers, license information, presets, and project files backed up. Don’t assume every plugin will transfer just because Reaper does.
A dual-boot or separate Windows installation is still the safest option if you need dependable access to particular commercial plugins. A Windows virtual machine could work for occasional tasks, but low-latency guitar monitoring and real-time effects are much less predictable in a VM. If buying another drive isn’t possible, test Linux from a spare USB drive first and make a full backup before changing anything.
For a first attempt, I’d choose Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu, or Linux Mint rather than an unusual Arch-based distribution. They have broad package support and lots of documentation, and Ubuntu Studio includes audio-oriented defaults. With PipeWire and a properly configured audio setup, low latency is possible, although your older CPU may limit how many heavy effects you can run at once.
Don’t overlook the first-generation i7. Modern Linux should run on it, but check CPU frequency scaling and temperatures after installation. Older hardware may need a little tuning, and heavy amp simulations can use a lot of CPU. Start with a conservative audio buffer, monitor for dropouts, and increase the buffer if you’re mixing rather than recording live.
Reaper itself is generally quite portable between operating systems. Keep each project in its own folder with all recorded media copied into that folder, preferably on a separate backup drive. Then your WAV files and project data are easy to move or restore. The difficult part is third-party plugins, not Reaper. Linux-native plugins are the least troublesome, while Windows plugins may need Wine and yabridge and can vary from excellent to unusable.
A VM is an interesting fallback, although I’d mainly use it for editing or projects that need a plugin I can’t get working natively. I’ll test the live system and plugin compatibility before making the switch.