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
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Don’t forget about Zrythm!!! It has the most modern look from all DAWs I know.
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. :)


