Best Free DAWs [Free Software to Make Music]

[Transverse Audio]

Hey everyone, I hope this will help you find a free DAW to use:

https://youtu.be/4cFwUXSZgEs

[DRMR]

You mean "free" as in beer. Not "Free Software".

Arguably only LMMS on this list is actually Free Software by definition (the user having all the freedom to do with the program and the source-code whatever they want).

Would've been nice to see cross platform Free Software audio applications in this review. Maybe a follow-up?

[chk071]

You mean "free" as in beer. Not "Free Software".

Arguably only LMMS on this list is actually Free Software by definition (the user having all the freedom to do with the program and the source-code whatever they want).

That's FOSS, not free software.

[DRMR]

That's FOSS, not free software.

Er .. no -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software

You mean "Freeware" -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeware

[chk071]

nevermind

[enroe]

There are apparently different meanings of the word "free":

1. "Free" in the way that nothing has to be paid for the
plugin or the software. This means also "gratis", "freeware".

2. "Free" in the way that the source code is made available
for the plug-in or software - and that changes to the source
code are both possible and permitted. This means also "libre",
"free software".

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The term "free" has very different meanings. In fact, software
of type (2) does not necessarily cost nothing.

The "Free Software Foundation" (FSF) defined four different versions
of being "free" in February 1986, and with the GNU project Richard
Stallmann set a milestone in terms of what free software should be.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the context of music here in KVR "free" is almost always
meant in the sense of (1) "gratis". This is because hardly any
musician is also a programmer at the same time. And the
typical musician mainly needs tools that are already ready
to make music.

That is why the thread-opener "Transverse Audio" understands free
software as being of type (1) of course and presents it in his video.
He talks about:

1. lmms (type 1 and 2) [can't record audio]
2. SoundBridge (type 1) [full DAW, with donation-splash-screen]
3. Ohm Studio (type 1) [full DAW, real-time-collaboration, needs
internet-connection, ogg-format]
4. Waveform free (type 1) [full DAW, Tracktion-version]
5 Cakewalk by Bandlab (type 1) [full DAW, need activation every
three month]

Thanks to Transverse Audio

[zzz00m]

1. Cakewalk by BandLab - (Windows only) - https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk
2. Waveform Free by Tracktion - (Win/Mac/Linux) - https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-free

[whyterabbyt]

You mean "free" as in beer.

Of course he does. That's the most common usage of the word free, even when applied to software. So we'll be fine sticking to common usage round here, ta, everyone here knew what he meant, including you.

[DRMR]

I'm fine with someone saying "free DAW", but "Free Software" (with caps) just simply is not the same thing.

[ReleaseCandidate]

I'm fine with someone saying "free DAW", but "Free Software" (with caps) just simply is not the same thing.

Are you talking about the thread's title?

Best Free DAWs [Free Software to Make Music]

If yes, you should check:
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/capi ... itles.html

[chk071]

The thread title is perfectly fine. It IS free software. Regardless of what some gurus claim.

Really nice video BTW, well done. For me, I'd choose Cakewalk by Bandlab. It's simply the most complete, and professional free offering. Of course it comes with the string attached that you need to sign for Bandlab, but, fair enough.

I think all the other offerings shown in the video show some significant flaws in terms of GUI design (well, except for Ohm Studio maybe, that one looks pretty good).

BTW, I'd really be interested in Cakewalk's market share. That thing looks the bomb for free... could really imagine using that, if my DAW's ever get on my nerves, or don't do some stuff I'd like them to do. And, I'm talking hundreds of € worth DAW's here, with Studio One and Cubase which I sometimes consider buying again. Really, if anyone would ask me which DAW he can get for free, I'd always point to Cakewalk. That thing seems really, really good. If they also worked on stability, which always has been an issue in the past, as far as I've seen (used to own Sonar X1), and read on the net.

[whyterabbyt]

I'm fine with someone saying "free DAW", but "Free Software" (with caps) just simply is not the same thing.

Get over yourself; your dogmatic quibbling is utterly irrelevant at this site. Our site, our usage, not yours.

And It Is the Same Thing, because You've Completely Missed the Fact that Every Single Noun, Adjective and Verb in the Subject of the Thread Is Capitalised.

This kind of bollocks, from Stallman onwards, is why people avoid open source software.

[chk071]

Couldn't agree more TBH...

[DRMR]

I'd still like to see a video that actually shows Free Software™ DAWs, whether you avoid them or not.

[Tj Shredder]

LMMS was mentioned, simply add Ardour and you don’t need to look further... Mixbus is based on Ardour btw. Its mainly Mixbus without the analog flavor plugins...
More an editor than a DAW is Audacity...
Any Linux only FOSS DAW I would not take into consideration actually...