Skip to content
Product News
Recording · Instruments · Studio technologyRSS

THE AUDIO MAGAZINE / RESOURCES

Standalone – 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.

200 listings

SampleTank 4 CS

IK Multimedia

SampleTank 4 CS supplies a free introduction to IK's sample-based instrument platform.

macOSWindowsOrchestral & Acoustic InstrumentsSamplers
View details →

samplv1

rncbc / Rui Nuno Capela

samplv1 is a polyphonic sample-based instrument for Linux workflows.

LinuxSamplersSound Design
View details →

SAVIHost

Hermann Seib

SAVIHost turns a compatible plug-in into a compact standalone-style application.

WindowsLive PerformanceRecording Utilities
View details →

Schism Tracker

Schism Tracker Project

Schism Tracker continues the keyboard-driven tracker approach associated with Impulse Tracker.

LinuxmacOSWindowsDAW & Multitrack RecordingSamplers
View details →

seq24

Seq24 Project

seq24 is a minimal loop-oriented MIDI sequencer designed around patterns that can be triggered and arranged.

LinuxLive PerformanceMIDI Tools
View details →

Seq66

Seq66 Project

Seq66 is a pattern-based MIDI sequencer developed from the seq24 family.

LinuxmacOSWindowsLive PerformanceMIDI Tools
View details →

Serato Studio Free

Serato

Serato Studio Free provides a permanent, restricted beat-making workspace built around sample, drum and instrument decks.

macOSWindowsDAW & Multitrack RecordingDrum InstrumentsSamplers
View details →

Shutter Encoder

Paul Pacifico

Shutter Encoder is a graphical media-conversion tool with audio-related extraction and encoding workflows.

LinuxmacOSWindowsAudio EditingRecording Utilities
View details →

SINEfactory

Orchestral Tools

SINEfactory is a collection of free instruments for the SINE player.

macOSWindowsOrchestral & Acoustic Instruments
View details →

Sitala 1

Sitala / Decomposer

Sitala is a streamlined drum sampler for arranging one-shot sounds into a playable kit.

macOSWindowsDrum InstrumentsSamplers
View details →

Sonic Annotator

Centre for Digital Music / Sonic Visualiser

Sonic Annotator runs Vamp audio-analysis plug-ins over files in a repeatable batch workflow.

LinuxmacOSWindowsMetering & AnalysisRecording Utilities
View details →

Sonic Lineup

Sonic Lineup Project

Sonic Lineup helps compare multiple recordings of the same music by aligning them for listening and inspection.

LinuxmacOSWindowsMetering & Analysis
View details →

Sonic Pi

Sonic Pi

Sonic Pi turns code into playable musical patterns using synthesizers, samples and timed events.

LinuxmacOSWindowsLive PerformanceSound DesignSynthesizers
View details →

Sonic Visualiser

Sonic Visualiser Project

Sonic Visualiser is designed for studying recordings through waveforms, spectrograms and analysis layers.

LinuxmacOSWindowsMetering & Analysis
View details →

SonoBus

SonoBus Contributors

SonoBus shares live audio between participants over a network, with controls for connection and audio-quality tradeoffs.

LinuxmacOSWindowsLive PerformanceRecording Utilities
View details →

Soundly Free

Soundly

Soundly Free is a restricted edition of a sound-library search and management application.

macOSWindowsRecording UtilitiesSamplersSound Design
View details →

SoX

SoX Contributors

SoX is a command-line audio utility for conversion and signal processing.

LinuxmacOSWindowsAudio EditingRecording Utilities
View details →

Spek

Spek Project

Spek displays an audio file as a spectrogram, showing how frequency content changes over time.

LinuxmacOSWindowsMetering & Analysis
View details →

SunVox

Alexander Zolotov

SunVox combines a modular synthesizer with a tracker-style pattern sequencer.

LinuxmacOSWindowsDAW & Multitrack RecordingSound DesignSynthesizers
View details →

SuperCollider

SuperCollider Community

SuperCollider is a programming environment for audio synthesis and algorithmic composition.

LinuxmacOSWindowsLive PerformanceSound DesignSynthesizers
View details →

Surge XT

Surge Synth Team

Surge XT is a hybrid synthesizer with multiple oscillator models, extensive modulation and integrated effects.

LinuxmacOSWindowsSound DesignSynthesizers
View details →

Surge XT Effects

Surge Synth Team

Surge XT Effects makes the project's effect algorithms available for processing other audio.

LinuxmacOSWindowsDelaysDistortion & SaturationModulation EffectsReverbs
View details →

Synth One J6

AudioKit Pro

Synth One J6 is a separate AudioKit instrument inspired by classic analog polyphonic synthesizers.

iOSiPadOSmacOSSynthesizers
View details →

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.

Scroll to Top