If you're simply working with audio files, then I'd say Audacity is a really good option. A full-fledged DAW is useful if you're working with external plugins and MIDI files. But for basic audio work, Audacity will do well enough.
It's also one of the best supported and mature audio programs around, so stability won't be an issue at all
That's where I'm going towards next. I'm going to create a song from scratch using just Ardour and Zyn synth. I actually find Ardour's CPU usage to be more efficient than Ableton or Logic. And honestly, the learning curve isn't any steeper
Hi, author here. I aimed this list at non-technical people who wanted to make music for free. I avoided things like PureData and Sonic-Pi for this reason. Though if I'm honest, the learning curve for something like Sonic Pi isn't necessarily steeper than that for Ardour :)
"LinuxSampler is licensed under the GNU GPL with the exception that USAGE of the source code, libraries and applications FOR COMMERCIAL HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE PRODUCTS IS NOT ALLOWED without prior written permission by the LinuxSampler authors."
This directly contradicts the GPL v2.0 (the relevant version):
"You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein."
Of course the copyright holders have the right to impose whatever self-contradictory license they like, but this combination isn't GPL and it isn't Open Source.
Hello Ryan! As long as we're talking open source, can I suggest you Onlyoffice instead of Goggle Sheets? Similar functionality, but with AGPL license, and the personal tier is free as in free beer too. Here's how you doc would look if shared similarly: https://onlyo.co/32FPJAZ
Another suggestion: Orca [1], which is an experimental sequencer based upon an esoteric programming language and Pilot [2], which is a synth sometimes used together with Orca
- Why are helm and dexed called "sequencers"? They're synthesizers. You're missing a massive collection of open source synthesizers, effects units, and so on. Indeed you don't even have this as a category, or some common ones are put under "sequencers".
- You're also completely lacking open source patch editors, arduino and related MIDI tools, and so on.
- And ... you have supercollider but not PD? Not csound? Etc.
Thank you for the list. There something that bothers me a little. LMMS seems very much like commercial DAWs, but Muse was more of a notation+sequencer program. I remember Rosegarden much like that, but it was too long ago. The rest no idea, but it would be useful a brief commentary adding some additional info to the DAW and sequencer categories, since they seem very broad.
Of course, if someone can share opinions here, it would also be nice.
It's also one of the best supported and mature audio programs around, so stability won't be an issue at all