I've been using Ubuntu Studio for about a year after moving from macOS and Windows, and I've really enjoyed Linux. I originally chose it because it included the creative applications I needed and offered audio-focused settings such as a low-latency kernel. I also like the KDE Plasma desktop, but the default installation takes up quite a bit of space because it includes many programs I never use.
I'm considering a fresh, more minimal installation of Debian with KDE Plasma, then installing only the software I actually need: GIMP, Inkscape, Kdenlive, Blender, and Bitwig Studio. Are these applications generally available through Debian's package repositories? Bitwig provides a native Ubuntu .deb package that works better for me than its Flatpak version—would that package usually work on Debian as well?
When reinstalling, is backing up my /home directory enough, or are there other files I should save? How difficult is it to configure a low-latency audio setup with ALSA and PipeWire? I'd also like to preserve Ubuntu Studio's fonts and install them on the new system.
I've tried using AI tools for Linux setup before, but I learned not to blindly trust commands involving sudo. The computer is an AMD-based mini PC with integrated Radeon 780M graphics; I believe the installer previously suggested a proprietary driver automatically.
2 Answers
A low-latency audio setup is doable on a normal Debian installation. ALSA is the underlying Linux audio layer, while PipeWire can provide the desktop audio and JACK-compatible routing that production software often needs. Debian provides relevant kernel and PipeWire packages, but the exact package names and configuration depend on the Debian release. Start with the distribution documentation and verify each command before using sudo rather than following a random setup script.
Also, modern AMD integrated graphics generally use the in-kernel Mesa and Radeon drivers, so a separate proprietary graphics driver is usually unnecessary. Test your GPU, audio interface, and Bitwig before deleting the old installation, and keep a bootable installer available in case you need to repair or reinstall anything.
Back up more than just /home if you want an easy recovery. Your personal files are usually there, but application settings are often stored in hidden directories such as ~/.config and ~/.local. Save a separate copy of important projects, browser data, SSH keys, custom scripts, and any license files. Don’t restore your entire old home directory blindly onto the new installation; bring back settings selectively so old configuration files don’t cause problems.
Fonts can usually be copied from ~/.local/share/fonts or ~/.fonts in your home directory. System-wide fonts may be under /usr/share/fonts. Copy the files to the corresponding location on the new system and refresh the font cache, or simply log out and back in if the desktop detects them automatically.
The low-latency behavior is not always about installing a special kernel anymore. Kernel configuration, process priorities, PipeWire settings, and the audio interface itself can all affect latency, so measure the result with your actual projects instead of assuming the package name tells the whole story.