Best Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) for Linux of 2025

Audacity is a free and open-source audio software that operates on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux. This user-friendly multi-track audio editor and recorder was created by a dedicated team of volunteers committed to open-source development. Users can capture live audio via a microphone or mixer, as well as digitize sounds from various media sources. The software allows for the importation, editing, and merging of audio files, and recordings can be exported in a variety of file formats, including the capability to handle multiple files simultaneously. Audacity supports audio resolutions of 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit, with superior quality achieved through high-quality resampling and dithering techniques. It also accommodates effect plug-ins like LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST, and Audio Unit, allowing users to modify Nyquist effects directly within a text editor or create their own plug-ins. Editing is simplified with features like Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete, alongside unlimited Undo and Redo options for flexibility during sessions. Users can preview effects in real-time and manage their plug-ins effectively through the integrated Plug-in Manager, ensuring a smooth workflow while working on audio projects. Overall, Audacity stands out as a versatile tool for both amateur and professional audio enthusiasts.

REAPER boasts a comprehensive and adaptable suite of features alongside its impressive reliability, making it a preferred choice across a variety of applications that utilize digital audio, including professional studios, educational settings, broadcasting, location recording, scientific research, game design, and beyond. This powerful software is equally at home in high-stakes professional environments as it is on the laptops of students, offering a single, fully equipped version without any imposed restrictions or limitations. Users have the opportunity to explore the entirety of REAPER's capabilities through a 60-day trial period, allowing them to fully assess its functionality. Additionally, acquiring a REAPER license is both budget-friendly and free of digital rights management, ensuring a hassle-free experience for all users. This combination of features makes REAPER an appealing option for both novices and seasoned professionals alike.

Pyramix is a digital audio workstation that is widely utilized by professional studios and engineers globally for tasks related to music production, mastering, and post-production in television and film. Combined with its networked audio interfaces, Pyramix delivers a comprehensive solution that enables the digital creation of music with an audio quality that mimics the warmth of analog sound. It empowers music producers to maintain the highest standards throughout the entire production process, equipping them with essential tools for extensive distribution, including the latest streaming formats like Dolby Atmos®. Collaborating with companies such as Flux Audio, Merging Technologies has integrated remarkable plugins into Pyramix, offering them in any resolution with almost negligible latency. Beyond being the most transparent, analog-sounding digital audio workstation, Pyramix also features innovative editing capabilities, including the distinctive source/destination mode that allows for effortlessly editing vast multitrack recordings at exceptional speed. This combination of features ensures that Pyramix stands out as an essential tool for audio professionals who value both quality and efficiency.

Create music across multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. With a user-friendly interface, you can compose songs, develop sequences, mix tracks, and automate processes seamlessly. Utilize a MIDI controller or your computer's keyboard to play notes and enhance your workflow. The Rhythm + Bass Editor allows for easy consolidation of instrument tracks. Refine your patterns, notes, chords, and melodies using the Piano Roll Editor, which provides extensive editing capabilities. You can also achieve full automation through user-defined tracks and computer-controlled automation sources. The software supports importing both MIDI files and Hydrogen projects for added versatility. Enjoy built-in compatibility with 64-bit VST instruments through a 32-bit VST bridge on Windows 64-bit systems, along with support for LADSPA plugins. Additionally, VST® Effects Plugins are available for both Linux and Windows environments. The program features an array of built-in effects, such as compressors, limiters, delays, reverbs, distortions, and bass boosters, as well as graphic and parametric equalizers for precise sound shaping. A spectrum analyzer/viewer is also included to visualize your audio. Dive into the world of music creation on your computer, crafting melodies, rhythms, and synthesizing sounds while arranging samples and utilizing an expansive toolkit for your creative endeavors. This comprehensive software empowers musicians at all levels to explore their artistry and produce high-quality music effortlessly.

Rosegarden serves as a music composition and editing platform centered around a MIDI sequencer, boasting an extensive grasp of music notation and offering basic digital audio support. This user-friendly and visually appealing application is designed for Linux, making it a perfect choice for composers, musicians, music students, and those working in small home or studio recording setups. At present, Rosegarden is exclusive to Linux systems; however, the transition to Qt 4 has paved the way for its potential expansion to other platforms, especially since Qt is now freely accessible without requiring a commercial license. By utilizing the Qt 4 libraries for standard controls, Rosegarden can operate seamlessly across various window managers or graphical environments. Additionally, the "Open in Notation Editor" function found in the Segments menu allows users to open all selected segments simultaneously in one editor, enhancing workflow efficiency and collaboration possibilities among users. This feature exemplifies Rosegarden's commitment to providing a comprehensive and integrated music creation experience.

Waveform is an innovative application tailored for the contemporary needs of music producers, emphasizing creative and inspiring workflows while intentionally omitting unnecessary features to keep the interface engaging and user-friendly. Unlike other applications that cater to a wide array of users—including those in film scoring, live sound, and performance—our focus remains strictly on music production. The introduction of the Arranger Track in Waveform Pro provides an exceptionally straightforward yet effective means to manage arrangement regions. By simply creating an arrange clip within the arranger track, users can easily control their entire arrangement area. With contemporary functionalities like magnetic movement, similar to those used in video editing software, the arranger track automatically adjusts the opening and closing of arrangement regions based on user selections. This advancement has significantly simplified the process of experimenting with song structure and arrangement, making it an enjoyable experience for producers. Now, musicians can explore their creative possibilities with unprecedented ease and efficiency.

The software features a highly intuitive, fast, and modular graphical interface built on QT 4, designed for ease of use. It includes a sample-based stereo audio engine that allows for the import of sound samples in a variety of formats, including .wav, .au, and .aiff, with support for compressed FLAC files as well. Users can take advantage of a pattern-based sequencer that permits an unlimited number of patterns and the ability to seamlessly chain them into complete songs. Each pattern can accommodate up to 192 ticks and offers individual levels per event alongside variable pattern lengths. Additionally, the platform supports an unlimited number of instrument tracks, each equipped with volume, mute, solo, and pan functionalities. Notably, it allows for multi-layered instruments, accommodating up to 16 samples per instrument. Time-stretching and pitch adjustments are made possible through the rubberband cli, which requires the rubberband-cli package for operation. The Director Window features a visual metronome alongside song position tags, enhancing user interaction. Users can effortlessly export and import single patterns into song projects, and MIDI learning can be activated with a Shift+MouseClick on various GUI controllers, facilitated by a MIDI settings editor. Moreover, the software includes unique functions for human velocity, timing, pitch, and swing, enhancing the creative possibilities for users. Overall, its robust feature set makes it an ideal tool for both novice and experienced music producers.

Helm is compatible with GNU/Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows operating systems. You can utilize Helm as a standalone synthesizer or as a plugin in various formats such as LV2, VST, VST3, or AU, and it is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. This flexibility allows you to use Helm anywhere without concerns about digital rights management (DRM), and it empowers you to examine, modify, and share the source code, whether in its original form or altered. As a software synthesizer, Helm enables users to generate electronic music directly from their computers. Its philosophy of being "free as in freedom" means you have complete control over the software rather than being controlled by it. In financial terms, Helm operates on a "pay what you want" model, giving you the option to use it without any payment if you choose. Moreover, any sounds produced by Helm are owned by the user, granting you copyright over every sound you create. You can easily toggle various modules on or off using the small power buttons located in the top left corner of the interface. Among these modules, the SUB module serves as one of Helm's primary sound generators, managing a single oscillator that typically plays an octave lower than the note currently being struck. This intuitive design ensures that users can quickly experiment and craft their unique sounds.

Bitwig Studio empowers you to gain extensive control over your musical creations, allowing you to explore every facet of your production process. Enhance your creativity and rapidly transform your concepts into fully realized songs, tracks, and compositions. Whether you’re recording and arranging, improvising and performing, or integrating all these elements simultaneously, the software accommodates both linear and non-linear workflows for sound design, recording, live performance, and more. Additionally, you can take advantage of over 10 GB of high-quality sound content provided by Bitwig and its esteemed partners. The advanced modulation system within Bitwig Studio enables you to manipulate any device, VST plug-in, or hardware parameter using Macro controls, Note Expressions, LFOs, and Envelopes. With more than 30 modulators available and continuing to grow, the scope for creative expression is truly limitless, making it a versatile tool for musicians of all levels. This flexibility allows artists to experiment and innovate, pushing the boundaries of their sound.

Get yourself a quality audio interface and connect a microphone or keyboard to it. Create a new track, hit record, and you're all set. You can easily cut, move, stretch, copy, paste, delete, align, trim, crossfade, rename, snapshot, zoom, transpose, quantize, swing, drag, and drop. Additionally, you can import audio or MIDI files directly from your hard drive or utilize the Freesound database, all while benefiting from unlimited undo and redo options, all within a single interface. Utilize features such as mute, solo, fader control, automation, EQ, dynamics, insert and send effects, as well as pre-fader and post-fader adjustments. Sync and monitor your tracks, isolate sounds, and enjoy floating-point fidelity along with a highly adaptable mixer architecture. With access to hundreds of plugins and support for external control surfaces, Ardour caters to its core user base—those dedicated to recording, editing, mixing, and mastering audio and MIDI projects. When you require total command over your audio tools, and the constraints of other software hinder your creativity, Ardour is equipped to ensure that your sessions progress exactly as you envision. It serves as a reliable companion for both novice and experienced users seeking a versatile audio production environment.

Renoise, a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), is a new and refreshing digital audio workstation. You can record, compose, edit and process audio in a tracker-based way. The music is organized in a grid called a pattern. A song is made up of several patterns that are arranged in a specific order. A grid of patterns allows for quick and efficient workflows. Renoise also has a wide variety of modern features, including dozens of audio processors and support for all common virtual instrument and effect plugin formats. You can extend the software by using scripting. This allows you to use all your MIDI and OSC controllers to control it exactly how you want. Renoise is an excellent addition to any bedroom, professional studio, or home studio. Combine the best of both sequencers and trackers!