Open Source DAW For Linux, Muse, Updated

Developers have announced that MusE 2.0, a major update to the open source DAW for Linux, is now available to download.

MusE aims to be a complete multitrack virtual studio for Linux, it is published under the GNU General Public License.

MusE features include:

  • Midi sequencing
    • Realtime record/playback
    • Midi file import/export
    • Midi part, as used in the arranger, import/export
    • Input filter
    • Midi editing with:
      • Piano roll
      • Drum editor
      • List view
      • Score editor (new in 2.0)
    • Internal synth plugins including:
      • Fluidsynth soundfont (sf2) capable softsynth
      • Deicsonze FM synth emulating DX11 (new in 2.0)
    • Standardized synth plugin formats: DSSI, VST
    • External synth support both hardware and software
    • Scriptable editing interface
    • Experimental python automation interface
  • Audio sequencing
    • Realtime Record/Playback several mono/stereo inputs/outputs.
    • Graphical editing of automation (new in 2.0)
    • Several types of audio tracks
      • Audio inputs
      • Audio outputs
      • Wave tracks
      • Group tracks
      • Aux outputs
    • Standardized plugin formats: LADSPA, DSSI, VST
    • Drag and drop import and arranging of:
      • Plugins and plugin presets
      • Parts
      • Midi files
      • Audio files
      • Aux outputs

See the MusE site for details.

13 thoughts on “Open Source DAW For Linux, Muse, Updated

  1. I used Linux for 5 years (2006-20011). I never once got comfortable with the DAWs available for it. I hope this improves the experience for users. If Live had come out for Linux, I probably would have stayed with it.

  2. Muse, Rosegarden, Qtractor, Ardour, …. All these nice pieces of software with nice ideas, but are unfinished jobs… Won’t it be time to merge all these guys with SuperBigEgos and deliver THE killer Audio app ? Together they have the power to do that. Separated as now, they will just all deliver.. unfinished apps… 🙁

  3. As a software engineer that develops music software, I have a couple of observations to make:

    1) Modern DAWs are all about the content – that is to say, softsynths and effects. Content is time consuming and expensive to make (hence the price-points that NI and others sustain). We’re not seeing lots of open source content appearing. Yes, you might get some Windows VSTs to work provided they’re not copy protected or licence managed in some way.
    Content is also increasingly coming to mean algorithms for pitch and time-stretch, beat detection, onset detection and so on. Lots of this stuff exists in academia, but it’s never polished or robust.

    2) Amongst the open source community, there is a lot of glory in writing code, but very little in testing, polishing or documenting it. Whilst you might think otherwise from the stability of commercial software, it gets a LOT of professional testing, including large amount of testing with external hardware. As a generalisation, open source projects tend to also lack project and build management, user experience and interaction design, and documentation authors.

    1. Well, while your points are correct I’m still missing another point.

      This is generalizing but in general the most open source projects involve around the programmer (or the team of programmers) whereas most commercial products involve around the customers.

      There is a difference, in both approach and result.

      1. re: difference of approach. This is completely true. The most successful new products on the market in the last 5 years or so are user-experience focused. Technology is merely the magic that makes this happen and is generally invisible and unobtrusive.

        I think the telling features on Muse’s feature list is the ‘scriptable editing interface’ and ‘python automation interface’. These are things that would only ever appeal to developers! Which could also be said for the user interface…

        I also suggest that almost nobody has enough time to have a hobby of serious music production AND a significant role in an open source software project.

  4. Linux? hahah who the fuck cares seriously. Real people use real tools. Linux for audio production is a fucking joke. Get yourself a real machine pc or mac. save yourself the hassles, troubles and pointless nerdery.

    1. LOL… “pointless nerdery”
      it’s true… but, I have to admit that I’m a sucker for that whole “free” thing too.
      I use Cubase, sometimes Reaper, ALWAYS Windows – just my thing… but I’m writing this while booted up to Mint 13. Windows killer? It’s close everywhere but freakin audio/midi… Hoping Muse will at least get me close to where I can go with Cubase and my VSTs.

  5. DAWs of any variety are complex pieces of software. The interface can help but few are intuitive. The disadvantage of the open source version is the price! If you’ve spent a serious amount of money for a piece of software then you’ll put in the effort to learn how to use it. Of course that requires full documentation – something which open source is not renowned for.
    Muse2 looks promising in terms of getting parts in and editing.
    Is anyone preparing a detailed user guide?

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