Free Audio Plugins & Softwares for Linux

Qtractor

Qtractor is a free sequencer and DAW Stand Alone developed by rncbc. Compatible OS(s): Linux.

Qtractor is an audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer application written in C++ with the Qt framework. Target platform is Linux, where the Jack Audio Connection Kit (JACK) for audio and the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) for MIDI are the main infrastructures to evolve as a fairly-featured Linux desktop audio workstation GUI, specially dedicated to the personal home-studio.

Website: http://qtractor.org, https://qtractor.sourceforge.io.

Project page: https://sourceforge.net/projects/qtractor

Weblog: https://www.rncbc.org

Qtractor is free, open-source software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.

Features:

Multi-track audio and MIDI sequencing and recording.

Developed on the Qt C++ application and UI framework.

Uses JACK for audio and ALSA sequencer for MIDI as multimedia infrastructures.

Traditional multi-track tape recorder control paradigm.

Audio file formats support: OGG (via libvorbis), MP3 (via libmad, playback only), WAV, FLAC, AIFF and many, many more (via libsndfile).

Standard MIDI files support (format 0 and 1).

Non-destructive, non-linear editing.

Unlimited number of tracks per session/project.

Unlimited number of overlapping clips per track.

XML encoded session/project description files (SDI).

Point-and-click, multi-select, drag-and-drop interaction (drag, move, drop, cut, copy, paste, paste-repeat, delete, split, merge).

Unlimited undo/redo.

Built-in mixer and monitor controls.

Built-in connection patchbay control and persistence (a-la QjackCtl).

LADSPA, DSSI, native VST and LV2 plug-ins support.

Unlimited number of plug-ins per track or bus.

Plug-in presets, programs and chunk/configurations support, including native VST FXB/FXP file support.

Unlimited audio/MIDI effect send/return inserts per track or bus.

Loop-recording/takes.

Audio/MIDI clip fade-in/out, cross-fade (linear, quadratic, cubic).

Audio/MIDI clip gain/volume, normalize, export.

Audio/MIDI track and plugin parameter automation (dynamic curves, sample&hold, linear and spline modes).

Audio clip time-stretching (WSOLA-like or via librubberband), pitch-shifting (via librubberband) and seamless sample-rate conversion (via libsamplerate).

Audio/MIDI track export (mix-down, render, merge, freeze).

Audio/MIDI metronome bar/beat clicks.

Unlimited tempo/time-signature map.

MIDI clip editor (matrix/piano roll).

MIDI instrument definitions (a-la Cakewalk ™);
SoundFont (*.sf2) and MIDI Names XML (*.midnam) files also supported.

MIDI controller mapping/learn/assignment (mixer and plug-in parameters).

MIDI system exclusive (SysEx) setups.

JACK transport sync master/slave.

JACK session support.

NSM (Non Session Management) support.

MMC control surface enabled.

MIDI Clock, Song Position Pointer (SPP) support.

Configurable PC-keyboard and MIDI controller shortcuts.

http://www.rncbc.org

Qsampler

Qsampler is a free sampler plugin for Alsa developed by rncbc. Compatible OS(s): Linux.

Qsampler is a LinuxSampler GUI front-end application written in C++ around the Qt framework using Qt Designer. At the moment it just wraps as a client reference interface for the LinuxSampler Control Protocol (LSCP).

LinuxSampler is a work in progress. The goal is to produce a free, open source pure software audio sampler with professional grade features, comparable to both hardware and commercial Windows/Mac software samplers.

The initial platform will be Linux because it is one of the most promising open source multimedia operating systems. Thanks to various kernel patches and the Jack Audio Connection Kit, Linux is currently able to deliver rock solid sub-5 millisecond MIDI-to-Audio response.

Website: https://qsampler.sourceforge.io, http://qsampler.sourceforge.net

Project page: https://sourceforge.net/projects/qsampler

Weblog: https://www.rncbc.org

Qsampler is free, open-source Linux Audio software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.

See also: https://www.linuxsampler.org

http://www.rncbc.org

QmidiNet

QmidiNet is a free studio tools plugin developed by rncbc. Compatible OS(s): Linux.

QmidiNet is a MIDI network gateway application that sends and receives MIDI data (ALSA Sequencer and/or JACK MIDI) over the network, using UDP/IP multicast. Inspired by multimidicast (https://llg.cubic.org/tools) and designed to be compatible with ipMIDI for Windows (https://nerds.de).

Website: https://qmidinet.sourceforge.io, http://qmidinet.sourceforge.net

Project page: https://sourceforge.net/projects/qmidinet

Weblog: https://www.rncbc.org

QmidiNet is free, open-source Linux Audio software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.

See also: QmidiCtl – A MIDI Remote Controller via UDP/IP Multicast.

http://www.rncbc.org

QmidiCtl

QmidiCtl is a free midi controller plugin developed by rncbc. Compatible OS(s): Linux.

QmidiCtl is a MIDI remote controller application that sends MIDI data over the network, using UDP/IP multicast. Inspired by multimidicast (https://llg.cubic.org/tools) and designed to be compatible with ipMIDI for Windows (https://nerds.de).

QmidiCtl was long ago designed for the Maemo enabled handheld devices, namely the late Nokia N900 and also being promoted to the Maemo Package repositories. Nevertheless, QmidiCtl may still be found effective as a regular desktop application and recently as an Android application as well.

Website: https://qmidictl.sourceforge.io, http://qmidictl.sourceforge.net

Project page: https://sourceforge.net/projects/qmidictl

Weblog: https://www.rncbc.org

QmidiCtl is free, open-source Linux Audio software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.

See also: QmidiNet – A MIDI network gateway via UDP/IP multicast.

http://www.rncbc.org

QjackCtl

QjackCtl is a free host application for Alsa, developed by rncbc. Compatible OS(s): Linux.

QjackCtl is a simple Qt application to control the JACK sound server (https://jackaudio.org), for the Linux Audio infrastructure.

Written in C++ around the Qt framework for X11, most exclusively using Qt Designer.

Provides a simple GUI dialog for setting several JACK server parameters, which are properly saved between sessions, and a way control of the status of the audio server. With time, this primordial interface has become richer by including a enhanced patch-bay and connection control features.

Website: https://qjackctl.sourceforge.io, http://qsynth.sourceforge.net

Project page: https://sourceforge.net/projects/qjackctl

Weblog: https://www.rncbc.org

QjackCtl is free, open-source Linux Audio software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.

See also: https://jackaudio.org

http://www.rncbc.org

Protoplug

Protoplug is a free development tool VST, Audio Unit plugin developed by Open Source Audio Research. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS, Linux.

Create audio plugins on-the-fly with LuaJIT.

Protoplug is a scriptable plugin that lets you load and edit Lua/LuaJIT scripts as audio effects and instruments. The scripts can process audio and MIDI, display their own interface, and use external libraries.

Cross-platform: builds for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. This means that all protoplug scripts are compatible with these platforms and can be loaded into a huge amount of audio software (glory to JUCE).

Fast: Use the speed of LuaJIT, and perform DSP tasks as efficiently as old school C implementations.

Free and open source: Want a new feature? Add it yourself. The source is MIT-licensed and available on Github.

http://www.osar.fr

padthv1

Padthv1 is a free software synthesizer developed by rncbc. Available format(s): LV2 for Linux.

An old-school all-digital polyphic additive synthesizer with stereo fx.

padthv1 is based on the PADsynth algorithm by Paul Nasca, as a special variant of additive synthesis.

features:

a pure stand-alone JACK client with JACK-session, NSM (Non session management) and both JACK MIDI and ALSA MIDI input support;

a LV2 instrument plugin.

license:

padthv1 is free, open-source software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.

website:

https://padthv1.sourceforge.io
http://padthv1.sourceforge.net

project page:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/padthv1

git repos:

https://git.code.sf.net/p/padthv1/code
https://github.com/rncbc/padthv1
https://gitlab.com/rncbc/padthv1.git
https://bitbucket.org/rncbc/padthv1.git

weblog:

https://www.rncbc.org

requirements:

mandatory, :

Qt framework, C++ class library and tools for cross-platform development and UI development.
https://qt.ıo/

FFTW3, a C library for computing the discrete Â Fourier transform (DFT) in one or more dimensions
http://www.fftw.org

optional (opted-in at build time), :

JACK Audio Connection Kit.
https://jackaudio.org/

ALSA, Advanced Linux Sound Architecture.
https://www.alsa-project.org/

LV2, Audio Plugin Standard, the extensible successor of LADSPA.
http://lv2plug.in/

installation:

– unpack tarball as usual; in the extracted source directory.

./configure [–prefix=/usr/local] make.

– optionally, as root:

make install.

– if checking out from Git, prepare the configure script with.

./autogen.sh.

cheers && enjoy.
—
rncbc aka. Rui Nuno Capela
[email protected].

http://www.rncbc.org

Oxe FM Synth

Oxe FM Synth is a free software synthesizer developed by Oxe Software. Available format(s): VST for Windows 64b, macOS, Linux.

Features:

multitimbral (16 MIDI channels);

8 operators (6 oscillators, 1 noise generator/limiter, 1 filter), all with envelope;

1 LFO per channel;

frequency modulation half-matrix with self-modulation;

global reverb and delay;

great general performance in low resources systems;

a lot of good quality patches included (thanks to Annabelle, Summa and Teksonic);

external skin support.

http://www.oxesoft.com/

Open Sound World

Open Sound World is a free host application developed by Amar / Open Sound World. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS, Linux.

Open Sound World is a scalable, extensible programming environment that allows musicians, sound designers, and researchers to process sound in response to expressive realtime control.

It combines a familiar visual patching paradigm with solid programming language features such as a strong type system and hierarchical name spaces.

OSW also includes an intuitive model for specifying new components using a graphical interface and high-level C++ expressions, making it easy to develop and share new music and signal processing algorithms.

OSW now includes support for VST instrument and effects plug-ins under Windows, with LADSPA support coming soon.

http://osw.sourceforge.net/

ocenaudio

ocenaudio is a free audio editor plugin developed by ocenaudio. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS, Linux.

ocenaudio is a cross-platform, easy to use, fast and functional audio editor. It is the ideal software for people who need to edit and analyze audio files without complications. ocenaudio also has powerful features that will please more advanced users.

This software is based on Ocen Framework, a powerful library developed to simplify and standardize the development of audio manipulation and analysis applications across multiple platforms.

http://www.ocenaudio.com/