Audio & Music Production
Audacity
Cross-platform software for multi-track recording and editing.
Cecilia
Released under the GNU GPL for Mac, Windows and Linux, Cecelia is a CSound-based graphical environment for music and signal processing.
Giada
Sometimes less truly is more. Giada is a minimal production environment designed for DJs and live electronic musicians - but that doesn't preclude it being enjoyed in the studio.
Hydrogen
Need a wickedly powerful drum machine? Available for Linux and OS X, Hydrogen is an advanced pattern-based drum sequencer and mixing environment.
LinuxSampler
Got a folder full of Akai, Giga or DLS samples? You can play them or make your own sample-based instruments in LinuxSampler.
LMMS
LMMS is a complete music production studio that began life as a Linux alternative to programs like FL Studio and Orion. Now available for OS X and Windows as well, it gives you everything you could need to produced polished electronic music on just about any computer.
Mixxx
A Linux, Windows and OS X program that was among the first open-source products to be made available in Apple’s App Store, Mixxx provides a professional quality DJ mixing environment that can read MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WAV, AIFF and FLAC formats, among others.
Pure Data
A sweeping visual programming language for multimedia, Pure Data is an open source program released under a “Modified BSD” license, considered GPL-compatible by the Free Software Foundation.
Rackarrack
Though Linux users have access to multiple plugin formats, they are not actually necessary, thanks to the JACK, a low-latency sound server daemon that allows interconnection of audio and MIDI from different programs. Rackarrack is just such a program.
Rosegarden
Another DAW initially developed for Linux and now in alpha for Windows, too, Rosegarden is a fully realised MIDI and audio workstation with all the trimmings.
SonicBirth
SonicBirth is a massive modular construction environment that enables the user to patch together individual modules in order to create their own audio effects, synthesisers and more.
Soundgrain
From the man behind Cecilia and Zyne, Soundgrain taps into the weird and wonderful world of granular processing.
SuperCollider
Another one for OS X, Windows and Linux, this GNU GPL release has been in active development since 1996.
ZynAddSubFX
How many forms of synthesis can you pack into a single instrument? ZynAddSubFX combines subtractive analogue with a powerful additive engine and a wicked pad synthesizer for serious sound design fun.