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awesome-linuxaudio

A list of software and resources for professional audio/video/live events production on the Linux platform

Work in progress - See current issues and CONTRIBUTING.

This list is provided to help you build your own GNU/Linux based A/V production environment. Most of the listed software is packaged for Debian, and should be directly installable using your package manager. Software that can be run on other GNU/Linux distributions may also be added to the list. This list focuses on sound, video, lighting and live applications.


◼ Debian package
▒   KXStudio package
©   Non-Free/closed source software


DAW/Sequencers

  • ardour - Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and Multichannel Hard Disk Recorder (HDR) ()
  • Helio workstation - Free linear-based music For macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS and Android, with clean interface, version control, synchronization between devices, undo history, and more. (Source code)
  • Bitwig Studio - dynamic software for creation and performance of your musical ideas on stage or in the studio. ©
  • qtractor - MIDI/Audio multi-track sequencer application ()
  • dino - Integrated MIDI piano roll editor and sequencer engine ()
  • jokosher - simple and easy to use audio multi-tracker ()
  • Harrison Mixbus - the first full-featured DAW with true analog style mixing. ©
  • muse - Qt4-based audio/MIDI sequencer ()
  • Radium Editor - Radium is a music editor with a new type of interface. (Source code)
  • rosegarden - music editor and MIDI/audio sequencer ()
  • Tracktion - The musician's DAW ©
  • b-step sequencer - harmonic music step sequencer to create melodies, arpeggios, drumsets, and basslines on the fly ©
  • traverso - Multitrack audio recorder and editor ()
  • meterec - minimalistic multi track recorder ()
  • jackbeat - Jackbeat is an audio sequencer for musicians and sound artists
  • lmms - Linux Multimedia Studio ()
  • composite - Live performance sequencer ()
  • seq24 - Real time MIDI sequencer ()
  • friniika - A complete music workstation for Windows/Linux/OSX
  • Open Octave - MIDI/Audio sequencer. (Source)

Trackers

  • Renoise - a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) using a tracker-based approach. ©
  • milkytracker - music creation tool inspired by Fast Tracker 2 ()
  • schism - ImpulseTracker clone aiming at providing the same look&feel ()

Audio Editors

  • audacity - fast, cross-platform audio editor ()
  • sweep - Audio editor and live playback tool ()
  • eisenkraut - A multi-channel and hi-res capable audio file editor ()
  • Shuriken beat slicer - beat slicer with beat detection and time stretching capabilities. Easy QT4 interface to slice up drum loops, assign hits to MIDI keys, and change the tempo of loops in real-time.
  • kwave - sound editor for KDE ()
  • smasher - Cross-platform audio loop slicer designed to create sliced loops from WAV, MP3, FLAC or AIFF files in seconds without a sequencer 2013
  • mhwaveedit - Simple and fast GTK2 sound editor () 2013
  • Sound Studio - A simple (minimal) light-weight tool for editing smaller soundfiles. Because Sound Studio uses Sox, it can cope with a wide variety of audio file formats. 2013
  • LAoE - Rich featured graphical audio sample editor featuring multi-layers, floating-point samples, volume-masks, variable selection-intensity, spectrogram editing, and plugins 2011
  • ReZound - ReZound aims to be a stable, open source, and graphical audio file editor primarily for but not limited to the Linux operating system. 2008

Samplers

  • giada - hardcore loop machine ()
  • hydrogen - advanced drum machine/step sequencer ()
  • hydrogen-drumkits - drumkits for Hydrogen ()
  • samplv1 - polyphonic sampler synthesizer ()
  • sooperlooper - Looping Sampler ()
  • sooperlooper-lv2 - looping sampler plugin
  • drumgizmo - multichannel, multilayered, cross-platform drum plugin and stand-alone application. It enables you to compose drums in midi and mix them with a multichannel approach ()
  • dgedit - drum kit editor for DrumGizmo ()
  • ls16 - LinuxSampler DSSI plugin GUI
  • linuxsampler-all - realtime audio sampler (meta)
  • gigedit - instrument editor for Gigasampler files ()
  • qsampler - LinuxSampler GUI frontend based on the Qt toolkit ()
  • kluppe - a loop-player and recorder designed for live use ()
  • freewheeling - live looping musical instrument ()
  • luppp - luppp music creation tool ()
  • petri-foo - MIDI controllable audio sampler - successor of specimen ()
  • Redux - a sample-based instrument, combined with a powerful phrase sequencer. ©
  • Tapeutape - Highly configurable midi-controlled virtual sampler.
  • SuperBoucle - Loop application synced with jack transport

Effects/Processing

Collections

EQ

  • eq10q - LV2 equalizer
  • fil-plugins - parametric equalizer LADSPA plugin ()
  • luftikus - analog modeled equalizer
  • lv2fil - Stereo and mono LV2 plugins, four-band parametric equalisers

Other FX

DJing / Vinyl emulation

  • mixxx - Digital Disc Jockey Interface ()
  • xwax - open-source vinyl emulation software for Linux with timecoded vinyl support ()

Synthesizers

Additive

Subtractive

  • bristol - vintage synthesizer emulator ()
  • monobristol - simple GUI for Bristol ()
  • amsynth - two oscillator software synthesizer ()
  • blepvco - LADSPA, minBLEP-based, hard-sync-capable oscillator plugins ()
  • cursynth - Cursynth is a polyphonic music synthesizer that runs graphically inside your terminal.
  • Discovery Pro - Virtual Analog synthesizer + sampler ©
  • helm - polyphonic synthesizer
  • synthv1 - old-school polyphonic synthesizer ()
  • obxd - ob-x emulation plugin
  • sineshaper - Monophonic synth plugin with two oscillators and waveshapers ()
  • whysynth - DSSI Soft Synth Interface ()
  • wolpertinger - Subtractive synth with a sharp bandpass filter

FM

Wavetable

  • sorcer - Sorcer polyphonic wavetable synth LV2 plugin
  • wsynth-dssi - hack on Xsynth-DSSI to allow wavetable synthesis ()
  • blop - Bandlimited wavetable-based plugins for LADSPA hosts ()

Other synths

  • din - digital audio synthesizer ()
  • drumkv1 - old-school drum-kit sampler ()
  • argotlunar - Realtime granulator LV2/VST plugin
  • qsynth - fluidsynth MIDI sound synthesiser front-end ()
  • fluidsynth - Real-time MIDI software synthesizer ()
  • fluid-soundfont-gm - Fluid (R3) General MIDI SoundFont (GM)
  • drmr - An LV2 sampler plugin that (currently) plays hydrogen drum kits
  • fabla - Fabla drum sampler plugin instrument
  • freebirth-data - Bass synthesizer/sample player/sequencer -- sound samples ()
  • freebirth - Bass synthesizer/sample player/sequencer ()
  • gmorgan - MIDI rhythm station emulator software ()
  • newtonator - LV2 synth that produces unpredictable sounds
  • xsynth-dssi - classic-analog (VCOs-VCF-VCA) style software synthesizer (◼)
  • paraphrasis - spectral modeling synthesizer
  • U-HE Repro-1 - Synth with raw, analogue inspiration, reverently modelling a classic synth ©

Modular synths

  • ams - Realtime modular synthesizer for ALSA ()
  • ams-lv2 - set of Voltage Controlled LV2 modules for Ingen
  • Psychosynth - an interactive modular soft-synth inspired by the ideas of the Reactable
  • BEAST/BSE - music composition and modular synthesis application
  • Sunvox - a small, fast and powerful modular synthesizer with pattern-based sequencer (tracker) ©
  • spiralsynthmodular - object orientated music studio
  • mcp-plugins - LADSPA plugins designed for Alsa Modular Synth ()
  • omins - collection of LADSPA plugins aimed at modular synthesizers ()

Organ simulators

Audio utilities

Misc

  • Linux Show Player a free cue player designed for sound-playback in stage production. The goal of the project is to provide a complete playback software for musical plays, theater shows and similar.
  • showq - MIDI controllable audio player ()
  • silan - commandline tool to detect silence in audio-files
  • silentjack - silence detector for the JACK audio system ()
  • fadecut - toolset to rip audiostreams, cut, fade in/out and tag the resulting audiofiles ()
  • gwc - Audio file denoiser () http://panic.et.tudelft.nl/~costar/gramofile/ 404
  • declick - a dynamic digital declicker for audio sample files.
  • ecasound - command-line multitrack-capable audio recorder and effect processor ()
  • nama - Multitrack recording with Ecasound ()
  • timemachine - JACK audio recorder for spontaneous and conservatory use ()
  • sox - Swiss army knife of sound processing ()
  • libsox-fmt-all - All SoX format libraries ()
  • Samplecat - a program for cataloguing and auditioning audio samples.

Meters & Analysis

  • baudline - Time-frequency browser designed for scientific visualization of the spectral domain - Fourier, correlation, transfer function, impulse response, and raster transforms
  • brp-pacu - audio analysis tool ()
  • ebumeter - Loudness measurement according to EBU-R128 ()
  • extace - waveform viewer ()
  • jaaa - audio signal generator and spectrum analyser ()
  • jackmeter - a basic command line meter for the JACK audio system ()
  • jkmeter - horizontal or vertical bargraph audio level meter for Jack Audio Connection Kit ()
  • bitmeter - diagnosis tool for JACK audio software ()
  • xoscope - digital oscilloscope ()
  • meterbridge - Collection of Audio meters for the JACK audio server ()
  • QLoud - tool to measure loudspeaker frequency and step responses and distortions
  • siggen - Waveform generation tools ()
  • spek - acoustic spectrum analyser
  • sonic-visualiser - View and analyse the contents of music audio files ()
  • easyssp - audio visualization plugin
  • japa - JACK and ALSA Perceptual Analyser ()

Tuners & Metronomes

  • fmit - Free Music Instrument Tuner ()
  • gtklick - simple metronome GUI for JACK ()
  • gtick - Metronome application ()
  • gxtuner - Tuner for Jack ()
  • lingot - accurate and easy to use musical instrument tuner
  • gtkguitune - Guitar and other instruments tuner

MIDI Utilities

  • jack-keyboard - Virtual MIDI keyboard for JACK MIDI ()
  • abcmidi - converter from ABC to MIDI format and back ()
  • arpage - MIDI Arpeggiator w/ JACK Tempo Sync.
  • gmidimonitor - GTK+ application that shows MIDI events (
  • kmidimon - MIDI monitor using ALSA sequencer and KDE user interface ()
  • m2hpc - MIDI to Hydrogen Pattern Converter
  • MidiJoystick - MidiJoystick is a MIDI client for the Jack Audio Connection Kit on Linux, which lets you use your joystick to emit MIDI commands
  • midimsg-lv2 - set of plugins to transform midi output
  • midisox - a SoX-like workalike, for handling MIDI files
  • qmidiarp - MIDI arpeggiator for ALSA ()
  • qmidinet - MIDI Network Gateway via UDP/IP Multicast ()
  • vmpk - Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard ()
  • mididings - MIDI router and processor based on Python ()
  • swami - MIDI instrument editor application ()
  • pjb.au MIDI scripts - Various MIDI utilities and scripts
  • QmidiCtl - A MIDI Remote Controller via UDP/IP Multicast
  • QXGEdit - Editor for MIDI System Exclusive files for XG devices (eg. Yamaha DB50XG).
  • SendMIDI - multi-platform command-line tool makes it very easy to quickly send MIDI messages to MIDI devices from your computer.
  • JackAss - JACK-MIDI support for VST hosts, including Wine apps
  • simple-sysexxer - GUI tool to create backups of the memory contents of MIDI devices
  • qxgedit - MIDI System Exclusive files editor ()

Transcoding

  • handbrake - versatile DVD ripper and video transcoder (GTK+ GUI) ()
  • winff - graphical video and audio batch converter using ffmpeg or avconv ()
  • audiotools - Collection of audio handling programs for the command line ()
  • soundconverter - GNOME application to convert audio files into other formats ()
  • ambdec - Ambisonic decoder for first and second order ()
  • hydro2sf2 - a tool which allows you to convert a Hydrogen drumkit into a SF2 soundfont
  • ogmrip - Application for ripping and encoding DVD ()
  • winff - graphical video and audio batch converter using ffmpeg or avconv ()
  • ffmpeg - Tools for transcoding, streaming and playing of multimedia files ()
  • mplayer2 - next generation movie player for Unix-like systems ()
  • zita-bls1 - binaural stereo signals converter ()
  • mp3splt-gtk - GTK interface to split MP3 and Ogg Vorbis files without reencoding ()
  • dir2ogg - audio file converter into ogg-vorbis format ()
  • mp3diags - find issues in MP3 files and help to solve them ()
  • mp3val - program for MPEG audio stream validation ()
  • transmageddon - video transcoder for Linux and Unix systems built using GStreamer ()
  • ffmpeg2theora - Theora video encoder using ffmpeg ()
  • sound-juicer - GNOME CD Ripper ()
  • mediainfo-gui - graphical utility for reading information from audio/video files ()
  • mediainfo - command-line utility for reading information from audio/video files ()

System utilities

JACK

  • jackd - JACK Audio Connection Kit ()
  • qjackctl - User interface for controlling the JACK sound server ()
  • aj-snapshot - make snapshots of JACK connections ()
  • cadence - JACK audio toolbox
  • carla-lv2 - audio plugin host (LV2 plugin)
  • carla - audio plugin host
  • catia - extended JACK patchbay
  • claudia - extended ladish frontend
  • gladish - graphical interface for LADI Session Handler ()
  • jack-capture - program for recording soundfiles with jack ()
  • jack-mixer - JACK Audio Mixer ()
  • gjacktransport - access to the JACK's transport mechanism as touchable slider ()
  • jack-rack - LADSPA effects "rack" for JACK ()
  • jack-tools - various JACK tools: dl, record, scope, osc, plumbing, udp, play, transport ()
  • jackd2-firewire - JACK Audio Connection Kit (FFADO and FreeBoB backends) ()
  • jackeq - routes and manipulates audio from/to multiple sources ()
  • laditools - Linux Audio Desktop Integration Tools ()
  • patchage - modular patch bay for Jack audio and Alsa Midi ()
  • qjackrcd - Qt4 application to record JACK server outputs ()
  • rotter - JACK client for transmission recording and audio logging ()
  • zita-mu1 - organise stereo monitoring for Jack Audio Connection Kit ()

ALSA

Firewire

VST adapters

  • airwave - Airwave is a WINE-based VST bridge, that allows for the use of Windows 32- and 64-bit VST 2.4 audio plugins with Linux VST hosts
  • dssi-vst - Adapter for VST an VSTi audio plugins
  • festige - GUI for fst and dssi-vst
  • linvst - LinVst enables Windows VSTs to be used as Linux VSTs in Linux VST-capable DAWs.
  • vst-bridge - VST bridge for Windows vst on Linux

Pulseaudio

Other system utilities

  • jalv - tool to run LV2 plugins as stand-alone applications ()
  • ingen - modular audio processing system for Jack and LV2 based systems.
  • linux-image-rt-686-pae - Linux for modern PCs (meta-package), PREEMPT_RT
  • linux-image-rt-686-pae - Linux for modern PCs (meta-package), PREEMPT_RT
  • rtirq-init - startup script for realtime-preempt enabled kernels ()
  • realtimeconfigquickscan - Linux configuration checker for systems to be used for real-time audio
  • rtkit - Realtime Policy and Watchdog Daemon ()

Network streaming/broadcasting

See https://github.com/Kickball/awesome-selfhosted/#media-streaming for the main list

  • autoradio - radio automation software ()
  • gpac - GPAC Project on Advanced Content - utilities ()
  • landell - audio and video streams manager ()
  • vlc-nox - multimedia player and streamer (without X support) ()
  • vlc - multimedia player and streamer ()
  • zita-njbridge - Jack clients to transmit multichannel audio over a local IP network ()

Icecast clients

Lighting

  • D::Light - mobile, flexible solution to control modern lighting/performance technology. ©
  • hyperion - An opensource 'AmbiLight' implementation controlled using the RaspBerry Pi
  • OLA - The DMX512 standard for Digital MultipleX is used for digital communication networks commonly used to control stage lighting and effects. (
  • Q Light Controller+ (QLC+) - a free and cross-platform software to control DMX or analog lighting systems like moving heads, dimmers, scanners etc.

Video

See also Linux4VJs VJ tools

  • kdenlive - non-linear video editor ()
  • Natron - Cross-platform open-source compositing software
  • cinelerra - Cinema Production Software
  • Lightworks - professional Non-Linear Editing (NLE) software supporting resolutions up to 4K. ©
  • openshot - Create and edit videos and movies ()
  • CasparCG Server - professional software used to play out and record professional graphics, audio and video to multiple outputs.for broadcast production
  • CHDK - Canon Hack Development Kit
  • delvj - a cyborg video jockey extension for pure data processing
  • dvswitch - basic video mixer for live DV streams ()
  • ffdiaporama - Movie creator from photos and video clips ()
  • FreeJ - a video mixer: an instrument for realtime video manipulation
  • freemix - live video performance software
  • frei0r-plugins - minimalistic plugin API for video effects, plugins collection ()
  • Gephex - modular video jockey software
  • glmixer - Graphic Live Mixer
  • kino - Non-linear editor for Digital Video data ()
  • lives - Video Editing system allowing users to edit and create video ()
  • Luz Studio - A live motion graphics editor and performer.
  • Magic Lantern Firmware - a software enhancement that offers increased functionality to the excellent Canon DSLR cameras.
  • Moviepy - Python module for video editing, which can be used for basic operations (like cuts, concatenations, title insertions), video compositing (a.k.a. non-linear editing), video processing, or to create advanced effects.
  • Natron - free open-source, cross-platform compositing software. It aims to produce visual effects.
  • pitivi - non-linear audio/video editor using GStreamer ()
  • Shotcut - a free, open source, cross-platform video editor
  • synaesthesia - Program for representing sounds visually
  • Veejay - realtime video sequencer and effects processor
  • xjadeo - Video player with JACK sync ()
  • ZS4 - advanced video editing and compositing software with over 150 built-in video effects. ©
  • xdmx - distributed multihead X server
  • mistserver - Live or Video on Demand streaming media server that works well in any streaming environment
  • dvgrab - grab digital video data via IEEE1394 and USB links ()
  • vid.stab - Video stabilization library http://public.hronopik.de/vid.stab/
  • pydub - Manipulate audio with a simple and easy high level interface http://pydub.com
  • Blackmagic Da Vinci Resolve - editing, color correction and professional audio post production, all in a single application ©
  • Nuke Studio - cutting-edge toolkits for node-based compositing, editorial and review ©

3D Modeling/CGI

  • blender - Very fast and versatile 3D modeller/renderer ()
  • aqsis - 3D rendering solution adhering to the RenderMan(R) standard, binaries ()
  • Ayam - a free 3D modelling environment for the RenderMan interface.
  • EQUINOX-3D - The 3D modeler with the fastest, fully integrated ray-tracer. ©
  • evolvotron - Generator of textures through interactive evolution ()
  • fractalnow - Fast, advanced fractal generator ()
  • fraqtive - draws Mandelbrot and Julia fractals ()
  • geomview - interactive geometry viewing program ()
  • javamorph - Java morphing film-make program for pixel picture-input ()
  • k3d - 3D modeling and animation system, binary files ()
  • makehuman - Modelling of 3-Dimensional humanoid characters ()
  • mandelbulber - 3D fractal renderer and animator ()
  • meshlab - System for processing and editing triangular meshes ()
  • sunflow - rendering system for photo-realistic image synthesis (GUI) ()
  • sweethome3d-furniture-editor - Sweet Home 3D Furniture Library Editor ()
  • sweethome3d-furniture-nonfree - Interior 2D design application with 3D preview (additional non-free furniture) ()
  • sweethome3d-furniture - Interior 2D design application with 3D preview (additional furniture) ()
  • sweethome3d-textures-editor - Sweet Home 3D Textures Library Editor ()
  • sweethome3d - Interior 2D design application with 3D preview ()
  • VSXu Artiste - create stunning open GL based audio reactive visuals.
  • VSXu Player - program that creates inspiring, beautiful pictures to your sound and music
  • wings3d - Nendo-inspired 3D polygon mesh modeller ()
  • yaprm - a free-as-in-freedom modeller to graphicaly design 3d scenes and generate POV-Ray-files for them.
  • fluxus - A 3D game engine for livecoding worlds into existence.
  • flumotion - modern streaming media server built with a modular distributed design, giving you stability and scalability in offering high-quality streaming media.

Authoring

Signal processing/electronics

Sample segmentation, analysis, programmable editors

  • SndBite - audio editor specialized in linguistic research, designed for breaking large recordings into smaller components with great efficiency.
  • wavesurfer - Sound visualization and manipulation program for speech/sound analysis and sound annotation/transcription ()
  • snd-gtk-jack - Powerful sound file editor that can be customized and extended using the Scheme programming language ()
  • aubio-tools - library for audio segmentation -- utilities ()

Score Editors

  • musescore - popular professional level WYIWYG music score editor ()
  • denemo - GTK+ front end to GNU Lilypond ()
  • lilypond - program for typesetting sheet music ()
  • nted - Musical score editor ()

Media players

  • audacious - small and fast audio player which supports lots of formats ()
  • mpv - video player based on MPlayer/mplayer2 ()
  • quodlibet - audio library manager and player for GTK3 ()
  • vlc - multimedia player and streamer ()
  • rhythmbox - music player and organizer for GNOME ()
  • amarok - easy to use media player based on the KDE Platform ()
  • ario - GTK+ client for the Music Player Daemon (MPD) ()
  • banshee - Media Management and Playback application ()
  • cantata - KDE client for the music player daemon (MPD) ()
  • clementine - modern music player and library organizer ()
  • exaile - flexible, full-featured audio player ()
  • gmusicbrowser - graphical jukebox for large music collections ()
  • gnome-music - Music is the new GNOME music playing application ()
  • gpodder - podcast client and feed aggregator ()
  • Groove Basin - Music player server with a web-based user interface ()
  • guayadeque - lightweight music player ()
  • moc - ncurses based console audio player ()
  • mplayer2 - next generation movie player for Unix-like systems ()
  • musique - Simple but sophisticated graphical music player ()
  • sonata - GTK+ client for the Music Player Daemon (MPD) ()

Metapackages

Linux Distributions

  • KXStudio - KXStudio is a collection of applications and plugins for professional audio production. KXStudio provides Debian and Ubuntu compatible repositories and its own Linux Distribution currently based on Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS.
  • Tango Studio
  • Ubuntu Studio
  • AVLinux
  • ArtistX
  • DidJiX

SAMPLES/PRESETS/RESOURCES

  • Musical Artifacts - Helping to catalogue, preserve and free the artifacts you need to produce music.
  • Freesound - a huge collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, bleeps, ... released under Creative Commons licenses that allow their reuse.
  • CCMixter - Search engine fore Creative Commons multimedia content
  • Freepats project - Free and open instrument sets, samples, sound synthesis, music...

DOCUMENTATION

Other Software Lists

Documentation/Blogs

Communities/Forums


CONTRIBUTING

See CONTRIBUTING.md

LICENSE

This work is licensed under the CreativeCommons Attribution Share-alike license. Copyright (c) 2015:

72	nodiscc <nodiscc@gmail.com>
 1	Aaron Wolf <wolftune@gmail.com>
 1	Andrew Kelley <superjoe30@gmail.com>
 1	VirtualTam <virtualtam@flibidi.net>
 1	paulbatchelor <thisispaulbatchelor@gmail.com>

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