Favorite music production software on Linux (updated)

Updated: 2024-04-17

Sometimes I feel like I am dreaming. 😇 It is 2023 and I produce music on a powerful all-AMD computer running a cutting edge Linux distribution with one of the most innovative digital audio workstations on the market; Bitwig Studio. 😎

As if that were not enough, some of my favorite plugin vendors have recently joined the illustrious Linux Pro Audio community. With below list I would like to share with you the joy of being able to use a whole handful of wonderful audio software on my Linux workstation. With PipeWire, WirePlumber, Wayland... wow, what a time for Linux.

And although I am eagerly waiting for manufacturers like AudioRealism, d16, GForce Software, Sugar Bytes or Moog Music (among others) to come forward with Linux support in the near future (see my blog post Missing audio plugins on linux, I am at the same time almost glad that the overabundance of plugins available for macOS and Windows is of no concern for Linux based music production at this time. 🤫😝

Before you dig into the alphabetically ordered list of Linux audio gems, I would like to point out that all software as well as all hardware I currently use is listed on my Gear page (in case you are interested to take a peek).

Auburn Sounds

Couture

Killer sound character shaping plugin with a transient and a saturation stage. Really good sound and fun to use.

Inner Pitch

Amazingly versatile pitch changing toolkit with great sonic characteristics.

Panagement

Innovative plugin allowing oneself to place sound sources intuitively in a virtual room.

Audio Assault

DoubleTake

Creative 4 voice doubler effect with a sweet UI.

EchoVibe

Cute delay plugin with fantastic sound and admirable UI.

Audio Damage

EOS 2

Very versatile, good sounding reverb with an amazing UI.

Other Desert Cities

Super creative delay unit with very inspirational UI.

AudioThing

Dials

Outstanding concept and UI, a test equipment channel strip.

Gong Amp

Experimental amplifier with a Gong.

Lines

Multi-effect unit with a lovely workflow and lots of user interface candy.

Noises

Extraterrestrial instrument for "far out" sounddesign with an excellent UI.

Space Strip

Great tool-set to shape and place sounds in space.

Things Texture

Beautifully crafted little reverb.

Things Bubbles

Creative delay/filter with a lovely UI.

Valves

Vintage tube amp emulation with attention to detail.

Vinyl Strip

Channel strip like plugin to add character to sounds.

Bitwig

Bitwig Studio

After 25 happy years with Logic, Bitwig Studio was a fresh start for me (and a game changer too!). It really feels more like an instrument than a DAW (from a traditional kind of perspective). Very intuitive workflow, innovative and inspirational and simply put a lot of fun!

Chowdhury DSP

BYOD 🌟️

Amazing open source "patch it yourself" harmonics toolbox with a very intuitive workflow (and great sound, too).

discoDSP

Discovery Pro

A Nord synthesizer on your computer! Very well made.

OB-Xd

An Oberheim OB-X emulation, phat sound, solid workflow, love it.

HY-Plugins

HY-POLY

Inspiring and surprisingly good sounding poly synth with fun to use (and look at) UI made by Tadashi Suginomori.

Inphonik

RX1200

A fun drum machine based on E-mu's SP-1200 with a fantastic sound.

Klangfreund

Multimeter

My go-to toolbox in terms of sound levels.

midilab

JC303 🌟️

The best TB-303 emulation available for Linux!

Punk Labs

OneTrick SIMIAN 🌟️

Simply put an amazing little drum machine that is a lot of fun.

Sinevibes

Albedo

A super powered granular reverb effect.

Blend

My favorite chorus.

Droplet

A super creative delay engine.

Hollow

A reverb comprised of a thousand delays, amazing!

Integer

Like most Sinevibes plugins it is hard to describe what it does if you do not want to use the word "magic". The official description is: Integer is a digital-analog buffer modeling effect.