Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

  • A studio for making audio.

FL Studio

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Audacity

  • Audacity is not a full DAW in the modern sense. It is an audio editor.

  • Waveform editing (destructive and non-destructive)

  • Recording

  • Basic effects

  • Limited multitrack editing

  • Plugin support (VST, LADSPA, etc.)

  • No native MIDI composition workflow

Ableton

  • 90 days free trial.

  • Compose music (MIDI, instruments, samples)

  • Record audio

  • Mix and master tracks

  • Design sounds (synths, effects)

  • Export audio files (WAV, MP3, etc.)

Ardour

  • Open source (GPL)

  • Linux, macOS, Windows

  • Professional-level DAW

  • MIDI, multitrack, automation, plugins

  • Widely used in Linux audio communities

LMMS

  • Open source

  • Linux, macOS, Windows

  • More focused on electronic music

  • Pattern-based workflow (FL Studio-like)

  • MIDI + synths

Zrythm

  • Open source

  • Linux

  • Modern design

  • MIDI, automation, plugin support

  • Still evolving

Rosegarden

  • Open source

  • Linux

  • MIDI-focused DAW

WaveForm

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Logic Pro

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Pro Tools

  • .

Reaper

  • Not free, but unlimited trial / very cheap license

Cubase

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Bitwig

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