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Audio Tools

Audio Editors

  • Audacity - Simple, intuitive multi-track recorder and waveform editor. It has been around since 2000 and remains an exceptionally popular tool for audio recording and editing.
  • Tenacity - A fork of Audacity from an older version (3.0.2), now taking the project in a new direction.
  • Wavacity - Another fork of Audacity, but this time ported to the web browser!

Audio File Cleanup & Manipulation

  • SoX (Sound eXchange) - Sound file conversion tool that can also apply filters and effects.
  • GramoFile - Sound recorder that can split long audio files into seperate tracks, clean up pops and clicks in tracks, and add filters that recreate the soud of vintage recording tech.
  • declick - Dynamic digital click remover.
  • SoundTouch - Changes tempo, pitch, and playback rate of audio stems and files.

Music Source Separation Libraries

  • Open-Unmix - CLI program that will attempt to separate individual tracks from an audio recording using PyTorch.
  • Spleeter - Another music source separator developed by Deezer developers.
  • Demucs - Yet another, but developed by Meta researchers (I know, I'm sorry, but it is entirely FOSS).

Metadata Management

  • Tone - Audio tagger for dumping and editing metadata from multiple audio formats, such as FLAC, MP3, M4B, and more.

DAWs

Digital Audio Workstations

  • Ardour - Full-featured, cross-platform, multi-track workstation & MIDI sequencer with support for VST, LV2, and LADSPA plugins. Best option for working with audio tracks.
  • Qtractor - Multi-track recorder/editor with a powerful MIDI sequencer for Linux. Supports VST, LV2, DSSI, and LADSPA plugins. Not as capable as Ardour in working with audio tracks, but much better at handling MIDI tracks.
  • OpenDAW - A (soon to be) open source browser-based DAW. The project has a lot of promise, and will soon have a Desktop version and VST plugin support.
  • MusE - Complete multitrack DAW for Linux that handles both MIDI and audio tracks.
  • Zrythm - An in-development automated and convenient workstation for music production.
  • Helio - Remarkably intuitive and concise sequencer with helpful visualization tools.
  • LMMS - Ideal workstation for beatmaking or a loops-based workflow, like you may find in FL Studio or Ableton Live, though it does not feature native audio recording.
  • ossia score - Intermedia sequencer with mixed node-based and timeline workflow.
  • Ensembles - Digital workstation for arranging music for live performance, not targeted toward studio recording.
  • Rosegarden - MIDI sequencer and editing tool for composers with classical music notation built-in.

Audio Plugins

Plugin Hosts

  • Carla - Non-linear plugin host for running plugins outside the DAW, using Windows VSTs on Linux, and more.
  • Yabridge - Seamless support for both 64-bit and 32-bit VSTs (VST2 & VST3) on 64-bit Linux hosts.
  • AudioGridder - Allows users to offload DSP processing to remote computers to save system resources when using intensive plugins.
  • Element - VST plugin that is itself a modular, node-based plugin host that allows you to chain together plugins to create powerful new sounds.

Packs

  • Calf Studio Gear - Extensive pack of LV2 plugins including instruments and effects in modulation, delay, dynamics, EQ, and more.
  • Socalabs Plugins - Collection of useful plugins including a great reimplementation of mverb, some basic effects, several synths inspired by retro video game consoles, utility plugins, and more.
  • DPF-Plugins - Small collection of plugins by DISTRHO in LADSPA, DSSI, LV2, VST2 and VST3 formats.
  • DISTRHO Ports - Collection of open-source plugin ports to Linux, including the popular TAL-Noisemaker, Vitalium, mverb, and more.
  • IEM Plug-in Suite - Plugin suite comprised of a great multi-band compressor, encoders, decorders, and visualization tools.
  • Zam-Plugins - Several audio plugins including a really nice dynamic EQ and more, all in LV2 or VST formats.
  • Invada Studio - Pack of basic effects, filters, and more.
  • x42 MIDI Filter Collection - More than 25 MIDI data filters.
  • Linux Studio Plugins (LSP) - Suite of excellent plugins made for Linux users.

Synthesizers

  • Cardinal - FOSS version of VCV Rack 2 that runs as a plugin in your DAW, or even in your browser!
  • Helm - Versatile polyphonic synthesizer in multiple plugin formats or a standalone app.
  • Surge - Subtractive hybrid synth that seemingly does it all.
  • Odin 2 - A monstrous 24-voice polyphonic synth fit for the gods.
  • ZynAddSubFX - Polyphonic synth with additive, subtractive, and pad modes.
  • Orchestools Genesyn 2 - Additive synth with 4 generators and 100 presets to play with.
  • Sorcer - LV2 wavetable synth primarily for EDM producers.
  • Geonkick - Fantastic modern percussion synthesizer.
  • WeirdDrums - Small but highly tweakable synthesizer for techno/EDM drum sounds.
  • Dexed - Synth plugin inspired by the Yamaha DX7.
  • DSP56300 - Emulating late '90s/early '00s VA Synths based on the Motorola 56300 chip, such as the Virus B and Virus C.
  • Digits - Fantastic sounding Casio CZ synth emulation.
  • OPNPlug - FM Chip synthesizer, inspired by the YM2612 found in the Sega Genesis/MegaDrive and some classic arcade cabinets. Great for chiptunes.
  • SoyBoy - Emulating the sounds of the Game Boy.

Virtual Instruments

  • DrumGizmo - Drum sampler plugin with great samples and support for eDrum triggers (with positional sensitivity in the works).
  • x42 AVL Drums - Acoustic drum sampler plugin, now with three great sounding kits.
  • Hydrogen - MIDI drum machine that can be used on its own or as a sequencer and trigger for external virtual drums (like DrumGizmo) and other virtual instruments.
  • x42 setBfree - Classic tonewheel organ, great for jazz, blues, and more.
  • Orchestools - This is actually 4 plugins: Strings, Brass, Winds, and Percussion. Together, you will have all of the sounds of a symphony orchestra at your disposal.

Sampling

  • Drops - For easily processing samples and cutting loops.
  • ninjas2 - Another easy sample slicer.
  • SooperLooper - Real-time live looping for Linux and MacOS users.

Dynamics

  • EQ10Q - Powerful and flexible 10-band parametric equalizer with filters.
  • Luftikus - Maag-inspired, analogue style EQ.
  • WSTD EQ - 3-band EQ that adds a bit of "crunch" to the sound.
  • WSTD 3Q - Same as the WSTD EQ, only with three seperate outputs. Needs a plugin host that supports port-groups.
  • Squeezer - Flexible, all-purpose compression.
  • abGate - Noise gate in LV2 format.
  • HiLoPass - Simple high-pass/low-pass filter that is controlled with just one knob.

Delay and Reverb

  • CHOW Matrix - Infinitely growable, complex delay effect with lots of options.
  • Cocoa Delay - Nice, warm delay plugin in Windows VST format.
  • Regrader - Degenerative delay where each repeat degrades in resolution.
  • mverb - Great sounding, simple reverb plugin.
  • CloudSeed - Vast and beautiful ambient reverb in VST format.
    • Aether is a fork of Cloud Seed available in LV2 format.
  • Teufelsberg Reverb - 6 distinctive reverb sounds captured at the Berlin surveillance tower.
  • Dragonfly Reverb - A pack of reverbs including hall, plate, room, and reflections effects.

Modulation

  • YK Chorus - Chorus effect based on TAL's DSP code.
  • WSTD FLANGR - Basic flanger plugin with a wide range of sound.
  • CHOW Phaser - Very nice phhaser plugin available in both mono and stereo.

Distortion / Saturation

  • CHOW - Distortion plugin for heavy degredation.
  • C1Bitcrusher - Authentic sounding bitcrusher in VST2 format.
  • CHOW Tape Model - Digital emulation of analogue, reel-to-reel tape saturation.
  • Roth-AIR - Combines multiband compression and gentle saturation on high frequencies to add a crispy, airy presence to your tracks that is great for vocals, synths, strings, and more.

Vocal Processing

Guitar Effects

  • NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) - A truly impressive modeler that uses deep learning to replicate the sound of nearly any guitar amp or effect pedal.
    • ToneHunt - Very large online repository of NAM models created by the community.
  • guitarix - Multi-format virtual amplifier.
  • GxPlugins - Suite of LV2 plugins intended to be a standalone expansion to guitarix.
  • BYOD (Build-Your-Own-Distortion) - Allows the user to create custom guitar effects from distortion and tone-shaping effect emulation in a node-based UI.
  • SmartGuitarAmp - Uses machine learning to simulate real-world guitar amplifiers.
  • SmartGuitarPedal - Uses maching learning to simulate real-world guitar effect pedals.

Misc Effects

  • BinAural VST - Mono-to-stereo plugin that allows you to position sound in 3D space.
  • Wolf Shaper - Waveshaper with a graphic editor.
  • ArgotLunar - Granular synthesis with lots of flexibility.
  • AirWindows - Incredibly subtle, "subliminal" sound texturing plugin.
  • PaulXStretch - Extreme time-stretching plugin.
  • Flutterbird - Automated pitch and volume fluxuation.
  • x42 Phase Rotate - Rotates the phase of a signal up to 180 degrees.
  • x42 Whirl Speaker - Imitates the sound of Don Leslie's electromechanical rotating speaker.
  • plugdata - Visual programming UI based on pure-data for audio experimentation. Can be used as a plugin or standalone.

Mastering

  • x42 Digital Peak Limiter - Tool for preventing clipping during mixing and mastering.
  • x42 Meter Collection - Audio meters for dynamic range, phase, LUFS and more.
  • ReFine - The final coat of paint for your new song, allowing you to dial in more warmth, space, and punch to individual tracks or the overall mix.

Standalone Instruments

Synthesizers

  • VCV Rack - An insanely powerful and configurable modular synth with tons of possible applications.
  • FluidSynth - Cross-platform soundfont synthesizer. It has no GUI, but is versatile and powerful if that doesn't scare you away. However, due to it's robust API, there are programs that do have GUIs and utilize FluidSynth on the backend.

Trackers

  • Bosca Ceoli - Tracker that comes pre-loaded with over one hundred MIDI and chiptune instrument sounds.
  • MilkyTracker - Chiptune synthesizer and sequencer.
  • klystrack - Simple but powerful four-track synth and sequencer.
  • SunVox - Small modular synth for a variety of devices.
  • Schism tracker - Open source re-implementation of Impulse Tracker.
  • hUGETracker - Tracker for Game Boy homebrew and chiptune composers.
  • FamiStudio - Tracker for NES/Famicom homebrew and chiptune composers.
  • GoatTracker 2 - Tracker for Commodore 64 homebrew and chiptune composers.

DJ Software

  • Mixxx - Community-driven software with dozens of features for newbie DJs and master turntableists alike.

Music Notation

  • MuseScore - Create and print your own sheet music in multiple formats (including classical, jazz chord charts, tableture, vocal arrangements, and more), with a clean UI and support for MIDI keyboard input.
  • LilyPond - Flexible software for making beautiful, printable sheet music. It is extremely customizable and can be expanded for practically any kind of notation you might need.
  • Chordly - Easily create simple chord charts with lyrics and transpose chords as needed.