Last Updated on May 26, 2022
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Linux is an attractive platform for professional audio production. It is an extremely stable operating system that has good support for audio hardware. Using a Linux machine as the focus of your recording setup opens a world of possibilities for an affordable price.
Software that creates music can often be expensive. The heavyweight Cubase, Apple LogicPro, FL Studio, Adobe Audition, and Sony ACID Pro are all impressive software music production environments. Unfortunately, they cost hundreds of dollars and are released under a proprietary software license. Fortunately, there is a good range of open source software that lets you produce professional quality recordings.
Here is our pick of the best Linux software for musicians. With a good background in music, talent, and patience, coupled with open source software you can be truly creative and innovative.
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of 21 sublime open source music creation tools. Hopefully, there will be something of interest here for anyone who wants to kickstart a music career.
Now, let’s explore the 21 music tools at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, screenshots, together with links to relevant resources and reviews.
| Make Music | |
|---|---|
| Ardour | Record, edit and mix with this digital audio workstation |
| LMMS | Digital audio workstation |
| Pure Data | Real-time computer music software package resembling Max |
| SuperCollider | Real time audio synthesis programming language |
| LinuxSampler | Professional grade software audio sampler |
| Cecilia | CSound-based graphical environment for music |
| Hydrogen | Advanced drum machine |
| MusE | MIDI/audio sequencer |
| Mixxx | Advanced DJ software |
| Audacity | Multi-track audio editor and recorder |
| Qtractor | Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer |
| Rosegarden | Sophisticated MIDI (and audio) sequencer and notation editor |
| Soundgrain | Graphical interface to control granular sound synthesis |
| Guitarix | Virtual guitar amplifier |
| ZynAddSubFX | Powerful realtime, multi-timbral software synthesizer |
| Giada | Hardcore audio tool for DJs, live performers and electronic musicians |
| Rakarrack | Multi-effects processor emulating a guitar effects pedalboard |
| Yoshimi | Software synthesizer |
| JAMin | JACK Audio Connection Kit Audio Mastering interface |
| LilyPond | Produce musical scores that are engraved with traditional layout rules |
| MuseScore | Graphical WYSIWYG music score typesetter |
 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. |