Best Digital Audio Workstations for Linux

FOSS

LMMS

LMMS LMMS is a QT based DAW for beginner. It is available on the most Distro Repos and on Flathub.

Main Purpose: Electronic Music Production

Pros:

  • Free
  • Stock Synths
  • Stock Plugins
  • Automation
  • Native Multisample support for SF2, GIG, GUS
  • VST, LASPD, LV2 support via Carla
  • Use Keyboard as MIDI input (Virtual MIDI Keyboard)
  • Good for Electronic Music production
  • Piano Roll

Cons:

  • no Bounce in Place
  • no Audio File Editing
  • Plugins just via Carla
  • Limited modulations

Zrythm

Zrythm

Zrythm is a modern DAW based on GTK4. Is available as AppImage or on Flathub

Main Purpose: Electronic Music Production

Pros:

  • GTK
  • Freemium/Free (when you build by your self)
  • Automation
  • VST, LASPD, LV2 support
  • Good for Electronic Music production
  • Bounce in Place
  • Auto Backups
  • Piano Roll

Cons:

  • Young Software kind of unstable because is official still in Beta.
  • No Vitual MIDI Keyboard
  • Less Stock Plugins
  • No Stock Synths

Audacity

Audacity

Audacity is DAW with a strong focus on Audio Files editing. Is available in the most Distro Repos and on Flathub

Main Purpose: Voice Recording for Example for Podcast or a Video

Pros:

  • Noise Reduction Tool
  • Spectrogram View Mode
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use
  • Free
  • VST, LADSPA, LV2 Support
  • Nice Export/Import Options
  • Sock Plugins

Cons:

  • No Sanbox
  • No Autobackup
  • No Bounce in Place
  • No Virtual Midi Keyboard
  • No Automation
  • No Piano Roll
  • No Stock Synths

Commercial Software

Bitwig Studio

Bitwig Studio

Bitwig Studio is a amazing all rounder DAW for Professional Music Production. Is is from Layout like Ableton but in terms of features for Electronic Music Production shines Bitwig Studio very bright. Bitwig exist as a .deb File and on Flathub

Main Purpose: Electronic Music Production

Pros:

  • Power full, easy Modulations
  • Modular System
  • Modular System (The Grid)
  • Note FX
  • Stock Synths
  • Stock Plugins
  • Virtual Midi Keyaboard
  • Plugin Sanbox (avoiding crashes)
  • Auto Backup
  • Bounce in Place
  • Automation
  • Piano Roll

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • No Noise Reduction Tool
  • Massive (not Lightweight)

Reaper

Reaper

Reaper is Lightweight and Powerful. It is also a all rounder DAW but where Reaper shines is for Recording and Audio Editing. Reaper is Freemiun but also kind of free because the trial version never ends and your are nor limited. But i bought Reaper because when you recognize that Reaper is a nice Software and you use is for you daily task and than you should just buy it and we don’t speak about a lot of money you can get Reaper just for 60 buckets.

Main Purpose: Recordings

Pros:

  • Noise Reduction Tool
  • Apply FX on single Audio Clips
  • Spectrogram View Mode
  • Scripting
  • Price
  • Lightweight
  • Freemium
  • Stock Plugins
  • Auto Backup
  • Bounce in Place
  • Automation
  • Piano Roll

Cons:

  • No Build in Synths
  • UI is not so User friendly
  • No Plugin Sanbox

Waveform Tracktion

Waveform

Waveform is also a all rounder DAW for Professionals. Waveform is in the middle between Reaper and Bitwig it good for Audio Recording but not so good like Reaper, It it good for Electronic Music production but not so good like Bitwig. It is Freemium but the Free version includes all impotent features the full version just offering you build in Plugins and Synths. Is avaivle as .deb file and on Flathub

Main Purpose: Electronic Music Production

Pros:

  • Different Types of Midi Clips
  • Freemium
  • Plugin Sanbox (avoiding crashes)
  • Auto Backup
  • Bounce in Place
  • Automation
  • Piano Roll
  • Sock Plugins
  • Sock Synths (Full Version)

Cons:

  • No Noise Reduction
  • The Full version is kind of expensive because you just by Stock Plugin