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.
3 Answers
Debian with KDE is a perfectly reasonable choice, and KDE can be installed directly from the Debian installer or afterward. Just keep in mind that Debian generally favors stability over the newest software, so some creative applications may not be the latest versions. You can use Debian’s repositories where practical and install vendor-provided packages such as Bitwig’s .deb separately. An Ubuntu .deb will often install on Debian because both use the same packaging format, but compatibility depends on the libraries and supported distribution versions, so check Bitwig’s requirements before relying on it.
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.
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.
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 live environment working is a good sign, but it doesn’t guarantee that every audio or graphics configuration will be ideal after installation. It’s worth testing your interface, MIDI devices, suspend behavior, and graphics acceleration before wiping the existing system.