cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/1044336

DAWs

  • LMMS | FOSS | Powerful DAW with MIDI and VST support.
  • Audacity| FOSS | Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor with VST support.
  • Ardour| OSS |

Plugins

Synthesizers

  • Surge XT| FOSS | Great synthesizer with an extensive user made patch library.
  • Vital | FOSS* | Solid alternative to Serum, optional extra patches and wavetables with the paid version.
  • Cardinal | FOSS | Virtual modular synthesizer plugin based on VCV Rack.
  • dexed | FOSS | Plugin synth that is closely modelled on the Yamaha DX7.
  • Helm | FOSS | Polyphonic synth with lots of modulation.
  • ZynAddSubFX | FOSS | One of the most in depth FOSS synthesizers.

Effects

  • CloudSeed | FOSS | Algorithmic reverb plugin best employed as a special effect, for creating thick, lush pads.
  • Surge XT FX | FOSS | Package of FX included with the Surge synthesizer.
  • Airwindows | FOSS | Simplistic and experimental plugins.

Trackers

  • sunvox | FOSS | Node based modular synthesizer with a pattern-based sequencer.
  • OpenMPT | FOSS | Powerful tracker application that makes writing music fun, easy and efficient

Compositors

  • Helio | FOSS | MIDI music sequencer, lightweight UI to help you get into the zone and focus on your ideas.
  • Musescore | FOSS | music notation software.
    • sturgaxEnglish
      7·
      1 year ago

      Yeah, reaper is definitely not open.

      • zerocase@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        You are correct sorry, I was under the impression it was. I’m trying to edit my original post and that is edited, I don’t know if that will be updated in the cross posts as well.

    • zerocase@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      I checked zrythm recently and haven’t personally used it but i will edit the thread adding it! I tried to keep it to things I’ve personally tested, but if you have other suggestions I’d be happy to add them.

    • zerocase@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      I understand this notion, I simply was trying to specify which of these software you can use without paying anything and thus have a lower barrier of entry since it would be inefficient to explain this at the same time.

  • Go-On-A-Steam-Train@lemmy.mlEnglish
    5·
    1 year ago

    Thanks for sharing this! :)

    I got a kick out of seeing helm on your list, as I was using the developer’s Unity engine integration for a game when I started coding :) Fantastic synth.

    I could also recommend hydrogen as a drum machine - it plays nicely with lmms, which is cool! :) There’s also tuxguitar which I use as a guitar sketchpad when I just want to jot down a thing I’m playing, or learn a complicated song. :)