Music Production Apps for Linux

Writing music is pretty important: after all, we wouldn’t have music without the ability to write it. Tools such as FL Studio and GarageBand have made music creation easier and more accessible than in any other point in history.

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  1. Audacity icon
    Audacity icon

    Audacity

     2267 likes

    Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. Audacity is free, open source software.

    133 Audacity alternatives
    Editing Audio

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • LAME
    Audacity 2.2.0 in default Light theme running on Windows 10
    Recording with Audacity 2.2.0 in Dark theme on Windows 10
    +4
    Audacity 2.2.0 MIDI playback running on macOS

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Multitrack editing
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Mix Music
    4.  Portable
    5.  Remove Noise
    6.  Track editing
    7.  Noise Reduction
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Support for VST Plugins
    10.  Music Recording
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    13.  No Tracking
    14.  Lossless Audio
    15.  Support for Android Things
    16.  Record to tape
    17.  FFMPEG support
    18.  Macro Recording
  2. LMMS icon
    LMMS icon

    LMMS

     591 likes

    LMMS is a free cross-platform alternative to commercial programs like FL Studio , which allow you to produce music with your computer. This includes the creation of melodies and beats, the synthesis and mixing of sounds, and arranging of...

    93 LMMS alternatives
    LMMS screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    LMMS screenshot 1
    LMMS screenshot 2
    +2
    LMMS screenshot 3

    Top LMMS Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Piano Roll
    3.  Export to MP3
    4.  Export to MIDI
    5.  MIDI Keyboard Input
    6.  Portable
    7.  Music Sequencer
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Support for MIDI
    10.  Lossless quality
    11.  Royalty-free music
    12.  Ad-free
    13.  Dark Mode
    14.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    15.  No registration required
    16.  Performance Monitoring
    17.  Free API
    18.  Beat bassline
    19.  Mix Music
  4. Reaper icon
    Reaper icon

    Reaper

     235 likes

    REAPER is a complete digital audio production application for Windows, Mac and Linux, offering a full multi-track audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering tool set.

    86 Reaper alternatives
    Default theme

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Full screen in Linux with inline MIDI editor using REA Evolution theme
    Analog Default theme
    +3
    Dark_Side_Imperial theme

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Support for scripting
    3.  MultiTrack
    4.  Support for MIDI
    5.  Extensive customisability
    6.  Portable
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Spectral editing
    9.  Multi Channel
    10.  Convert audio to MIDI
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Built-in routing
    13.  Piano Roll
    14.  Pitch shift engine
    15.  Dark Mode
    16.  Lossless Audio
    17.  Music Recording
    18.  Patch Management
  5. MuseScore icon
    MuseScore icon

    MuseScore

     229 likes

    MuseScore is a free music notation and composition software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

    72 MuseScore alternatives
    MuseScore screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    MuseScore screenshot 1
    MuseScore screenshot 2

    Top MuseScore Features

    1.  WYSIWYG Support
    2.  Transpose
    3.  Music XML Support
    4.  Export to PDF
    5.  Automatic positioning
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Support for MIDI
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Portable
    10.  SMuFL support
    11.  Support for Android Things
  6. Ardour icon
    Ardour icon

    Ardour

     221 likes

    Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. Record, edit, and mix on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.

    90 Ardour alternatives
    Ardour 6

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Ardour with a custom theme
    main window + mixer
    +8
    MIDI tracks

    Top Ardour Features

    1.  Multitrack editing
    2.  Mix Music
    3.  Non Destructive Editing
    4.  Support for VST Plugins
    5.  Music Sequencer
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Lossless Audio
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Virtual Instrument
    11.  Live Performance
  8. Mixxx icon
    Mixxx icon

    Mixxx

     156 likes

    Mixxx integrates the tools DJs need to perform creative live mixes with digital music files.

    29 Mixxx alternatives
    Mixxx screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Mixxx screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Beat Matching
    3.  Mix Music
    4.  Record Tracks
    5.  Controller Support
    6.  Stream audio
    7.  Music Sequencer
    8.  Portable
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Music Recording
    11.  iTunes integration
  9. Bitwig Studio icon
    Bitwig Studio icon

    Bitwig Studio

     87 likes

    Bitwig Studio is a multi-platform music-creation system for production, performance and DJing, with a focus on flexible editing tools and a super-fast workflow.

    49 Bitwig Studio alternatives
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 1
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 2
    +3
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 3

    Top Bitwig Studio Features

    1.  Live Performance
    2.  Modular System
    3.  Multiplatform
    4.  Grid layout
    5.  Support for VST Plugins
    6.  Piano Roll
    7.  Music Sequencer
    8.  Support for MIDI
    9.  Mix Music
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Music Looper
    12.  Support for scripting
    13.  Music Recording
  10. Bespoke Synth icon
    Bespoke Synth icon

    Bespoke Synth

     22 likes

    Bespoke is a software modular synthesizer. It contains a bunch of modules, which you can connect together to create sounds.

    77 Bespoke Synth alternatives
    Bespoke Synth screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Bespoke Synth screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Modular connections
    2.  Synthesizer
    3.  Virtual Instrument
    4.  Node Based
    5.  Music Looper
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Music Sequencer
    8.  Support for MIDI
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Music Recording
    12.  Mix Music
  11. TuxGuitar icon
    TuxGuitar icon

    TuxGuitar

     120 likes

    A Multitrack tablature editor and player.

    62 TuxGuitar alternatives
    TuxGuitar screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Flathub
    TuxGuitar screenshot 1
    TuxGuitar screenshot 2
    +5
    TuxGuitar screenshot 3

    TuxGuitar Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Support for MIDI
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Multitrack editing
    5.  Skinnable
  12. Carla icon
    Carla icon

    Carla

     28 likes

    Carla is an audio plugin host, with support for many audio drivers and plugin formats. It has some nice features like automation of parameters via MIDI CC (and send output back as MIDI too) and full OSC control.

    43 Carla alternatives
    Carla screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Carla screenshot 1

    Carla Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Rack Effects
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Live Performance
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    6.  Support for MIDI
    7.  Ad-free
  13. Vital icon
    Vital icon

    Vital

     26 likes

    Vital is a spectral warping wavetable synthesizer with drag'n'drop modulation workflow and animated preview of the synth's inner workings where needed. Comes with many modulation sources (including audio-rate), MPE support and FX chain.

    6 Vital alternatives
    default Vital skin

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    custom Vital skin
    custom Vital skin

    Vital Features

    1.  Synthesizer
    2.  Spectral Morphing
    3.  Wavetable editor
    4.  MIDI Keyboard Input
    5.  Voice synthesis
    6.  Spectral Warping
    7.  ARM support
    8.  Support for Audio Units Plugins
  14. Zrythm icon
    Zrythm icon

    Zrythm

     27 likes

    Zrythm is a digital audio workstation designed to be featureful and easy to use.

    93 Zrythm alternatives
    Zrythm screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Zrythm screenshot 1
    Zrythm screenshot 2
    +4
    Zrythm screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Support for VST Plugins
    3.  Audio Export
    4.  Multiple languages
    5.  Music Sequencer
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Support for Audio Units Plugins
    12.  Mix Music
    13.  Music Mastering
  15. Studio One icon
    Studio One icon

    Studio One

     47 likes

    Studio One is an advanced digital audio workstation for Mac and Windows featuring a bevy of powerful composition, editing, mixing and mastering tools on top of standard multi-track DAW features. Highly praised for its intuitive chord track that lets users drag and drop both...

    76 Studio One alternatives
    Studio One screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Studio One screenshot 1
    Studio One screenshot 2

    Top Studio One Features

    1.  Drag and Drop
    2.  Mix Music
    3.  Virtual Instrument
    4.  Music Sequencer
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Lossless Audio
    7.  Support for MIDI
    8.  Live Performance
    9.  Support for VST Plugins
    10.  Music Looper
    11.  Piano Roll
    12.  MIDI Clips
    13.  MIDI Keyboard Input
  16. Waveform icon
    Waveform icon

    Waveform

     53 likes

    Waveform is a commercial, cross-platform DAW. With a focus on design and composition, it offers tools to greatly simplify everything from initial inspiration to the final mix.

    60 Waveform alternatives
    Waveform screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Waveform screenshot 1
    Waveform screenshot 2
    +1
    Waveform screenshot 3

    Waveform Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
  17. FamiStudio icon
    FamiStudio icon

    FamiStudio

     18 likes

    FamiStudio is very simple music editor for the Nintendo Entertainment System or Famicom. It is designed to be easier to use than FamiTracker, but its feature set is also much more limited. It is targeted at both chiptune artists and NES homebrewers.

    32 FamiStudio alternatives
    Version 1.4.0

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Wine
    Version 2.1.0
    Version 2.3.0

    FamiStudio Features

    1.  Support for MIDI