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THE AUDIO MAGAZINE / RESOURCES

Free Music Software & Plug-ins

Find permanently free recording tools, instruments, effects and audio utilities for desktop, mobile and the browser. Each listing explains its purpose, compatibility and important free-edition restrictions, with links to the official source.

These are researched directory entries, not hands-on reviews. Optional purchases, account requirements and limited editions are identified on product pages. Format availability can differ by operating system.

424 listings

Chorus WS-1

Mercuriall Audio

Chorus WS-1 supplies a guitar-oriented chorus effect for adding ensemble movement.

macOSWindowsGuitar & Bass
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Chow Centaur

ChowDSP

Chow Centaur models a guitar overdrive circuit and offers several approaches to the modeled processing.

LinuxmacOSWindowsDistortion & SaturationGuitar & Bass
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Chow Kick

ChowDSP

Chow Kick synthesizes kick-drum sounds through a model-oriented signal path.

LinuxmacOSWindowsDrum InstrumentsSynthesizers
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Chow Matrix

ChowDSP

Chow Matrix is a delay processor organized around interconnected delay nodes.

LinuxmacOSWindowsDelaysSound Design
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Chow Phaser

ChowDSP

Chow Phaser applies phase-based modulation inspired by analog circuitry.

LinuxmacOSWindowsModulation Effects
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Chow Tape Model

ChowDSP

Chow Tape Model explores the behavior of magnetic tape through a collection of modeled processes.

LinuxmacOSWindowsDistortion & Saturation
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ChucK

ChucK Team

ChucK is a programming language for real-time synthesis and music creation, with explicit timing built into its design.

LinuxmacOSWindowsLive PerformanceSound DesignSynthesizers
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CollaB3

Sampleson

CollaB3 is a free tonewheel-organ instrument created through a collaborative development effort.

macOSWindowsOrchestral & Acoustic Instruments
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COLONY

13x Audio

COLONY groups drive, movement, space, pumping, width and noise-related color around an ENERGY macro.

LinuxmacOSWindowsDistortion & SaturationModulation EffectsReverbsSound Design
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ConjureAlign

ConjureDSP

ConjureAlign compares a recording with a sidechain reference to estimate time offset and polarity.

LinuxmacOSWindowsMetering & AnalysisRecording Utilities
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Couture Free

Auburn Sounds

Couture Free shapes transients, helping alter the apparent attack and sustain of recorded material.

LinuxmacOSWindowsCompressors & Dynamics
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Csound

Csound Community

Csound is a programmable sound-synthesis and signal-processing system with a long history in computer music.

LinuxmacOSWindowsSound DesignSynthesizers
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CsoundQt

CsoundQt Contributors

CsoundQt is a graphical development environment for Csound projects.

LinuxmacOSWindowsLive PerformanceSound DesignSynthesizers
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CUETools

CUETools Contributors

CUETools provides utilities for working with lossless audio, cue sheets and disc-oriented archives.

WindowsAudio EditingRecording Utilities
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DC1A

Klanghelm

DC1A is a streamlined compressor built around input and output controls, with switches that alter its response.

macOSWindowsCompressors & Dynamics
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dearVR AMBI MICRO

Sennheiser / Dear Reality

dearVR AMBI MICRO processes and monitors Ambisonic material, including binaural rendering for headphones.

macOSWindowsSpatial & Surround Audio
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dearVR MICRO

Sennheiser / Dear Reality

dearVR MICRO is a binaural spatializer for placing a source in a headphone-oriented three-dimensional sound field.

macOSWindowsSpatial & Surround Audio
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dearVR MIX

Sennheiser / Dear Reality

dearVR MIX creates a virtual monitoring environment for headphone listening with supported headphone-compensation options.

macOSWindowsSpatial & Surround Audio
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dearVR PRO 2

Sennheiser / Dear Reality

dearVR PRO 2 is a spatializer for binaural, Ambisonic and multichannel production.

macOSWindowsSpatial & Surround Audio
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Decent Sampler

Decent Samples

Decent Sampler is a sample-instrument player used by a wide range of independent sound-library makers.

LinuxmacOSWindowsOrchestral & Acoustic InstrumentsSamplers
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DeltaWave

DeltaWave

DeltaWave compares audio recordings with alignment and difference-analysis tools.

WindowsMetering & Analysis
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Demucs

Meta Research / Demucs Contributors

Demucs is a music-source-separation project with command-line and Python workflows.

LinuxmacOSWindowsAudio EditingAudio Restoration
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Denemo

Denemo Project

Denemo provides graphical music entry with LilyPond-based engraving.

LinuxmacOSWindowsNotation & Scoring
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Availability, licensing and system requirements can change. Verification refers to official documentation and download availability, not installation or hands-on testing. Check the developer's current terms before installing.

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