The most compatible linux distribution

[edrickblade]

Hi, group, does anyone know which is the Ubuntu version that's the most compatible with Traction Waveform 13?

Thanks,

[unholyeyebrows]

H. I guess the simple answer is to use Ubuntu 20.04 LTS as this is what is stated on Tracktion's web site. However this version of Ubuntu was retired from standard support in May 2025 (although you can pay for extended support to April 2030 if you want). If buying extended support is not an option, then go with the next supported version of Ubuntu LTS, which is 22.04. Meanwhile you could contact Tracktion support and ask them to start testing Waveform on the latest Ubuntu LTS which currently is 24.04 and will become 26.04 next April.

Details on Ubuntu's support cycles can be found here: https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle

[talby]

I didn't notice any Waveform specific differences when using various Ubuntu or Ubuntu Studio versions.

But, the Linux audio system itself was under strong development in the last year. PipeWire replaced PulseAudio. When this process started, there have been issues with the first pipewire versions to satisfy everybody. Newest versions are quite mature and stable, now. So, go for a most recent stable Linux version, which should ship with a recent and quite stable pipewire system.

Although Ubuntu is said to build to some extend on the shoulders of Debian, I witness issues on KDE@Debian which do not occur with KDE@Ubuntu, despite both KDE and Linux library versions nominal being the same. I investigated this to no success. My feeling is, that the same Linux kernel and library versions are in use, but may have been compiled with different compiler flags. I say so, because some Waveform functions (actually Waveform PRO functions, because it is some Tracktion synths delivered with the PRO version which cause the issue) let it crash on Debian but not on Ubuntu, and error messages point towards some Debian libraries being less forgiving to certain library calls than Ubuntu libraries with the same version number are. Debian complains about some attempted invalid access to some under the hood Linux function, which Ubuntu obviously proceeds without complain.

Therefore, not expecting problems being specific to Waveform but maybe to the Linux audio system under the hood, and to the Linux distro in use, my recommendation is to go with the most recent stable Ubuntu or Ubuntu Studio release.

Good luck!

[SMSomething]

Meanwhile you could contact Tracktion support and ask them to start testing Waveform on the latest Ubuntu LTS which currently is 24.04 and will become 26.04 next April.

Details on Ubuntu's support cycles can be found here: https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle

I just loaded LTS 24.04 on a 4 year old HP Omen, i5, 16 gig "gaming" laptop, replacing my Win 10 install entirely. Waveform is running perfectly on it and I can attest that so far (a couple days) it's running better than it did on Win 10. I tried out multiple tracks with Biotek 2, cpu intensive presets, which was always a resource hog in Win, and it's been great.

I haven't yet copied over all my non native Win VSTs to see what works and what doesn't. I do know that Decent Sampler and the extensive availability library works perfectly. My next move will be to start building as many sample libraries as possible from my existing instruments so I can build my favorites as needed in Decent since it's so easy to program.

Anyone have any luck using WinBoat on Ubuntu with Waveform? I'm a bit leery of the risk for a beta program that installs partially in/on zero.

G'bye M$ I wish I hardly ever knew ye.

[edrickblade]

I appreciate your advice!

[neverbeeninariot]

I strongly prefer not to use Ubuntu, I'd rather run and support the upstream distro (because reasons..), so this should be interesting when I build my new Debian / KDE based DAW machine soon

Question: The OP specifically mentioned Waveform compatibility on Ubuntu/Debian, so how is plugin compatibility? I can't imagine that they would care so much about the underlying OS ?

[uOpt]

Ubuntu has been going a bit crazy lately. And I mean more than they already did.

Mint is downstream and brings back some sanity.

[talby]

I strongly prefer not to use Ubuntu, I'd rather run and support the upstream distro (because reasons..), so this should be interesting when I build my new Debian / KDE based DAW machine soon

Better run Waveform on Ubuntu (or Kubuntu, or Ubuntu Studio (also KDE)) than Debian with KDE!
It seems that Ubuntu allows certain procedure calls to the OS without throwing certain access permission errors, where Debian blocks some calls with a permission error in the trace log and then does not render all graphical items always correctly. This also happens when using the exactly same versions of the system libraries. I imagine (but do not reliably know) that Debian compiles its library with more restrictive compiler flags.

I treat it like Debian being in a first instance a server OS, which is many times also used for the desktop, and you can tweak it a lot to perform there very well - until you run into issues like the one described above. Ubuntu Studio is in a first instance a desktop OS, optimized for interactive video and also audio works, but not locked down to run it free of headaches as a secure server platform.

By the way, I use Debian as my daily driver. But when having encountered issues with Waveform, then I crosscheck with Ubuntu Studio, before bothering the help desk of Tracktion with it. It happened several times that my issues do not appear when I then run Waveform on Ubuntu Studio.

[neverbeeninariot]

I strongly prefer not to use Ubuntu, I'd rather run and support the upstream distro (because reasons..), so this should be interesting when I build my new Debian / KDE based DAW machine soon

Better run Waveform on Ubuntu (or Kubuntu, or Ubuntu Studio (also KDE)) than Debian with KDE!
[...]

Sure, understood, but I don't use Waveform, and I have my reasons for not wanting to touch Ubuntu with a bargepole : ) I use Bitwig and Reaper, both of which run natively and without issues on Debian.

I know that the OP was asking about Waveform, but my question was about Tracktion plugins and if they have the same issues. I can't imagine that they do because plugins generally don't interact with the OS in the same way that a DAW does. Just looking for some clarification.