Free Music Software (for Djs & Producers, professional or beginner)

LinuxSampler produce a free, streaming capable open source pure software audio sampler with high stability, efficiency and very low latency, providing professional grade features, comparable to both hardware and commercial Windows/Mac software samplers and to introduce new features not yet available by any other sampler in the world.

Cecilia is an audio signal processing environment aimed at sound designers. Cecilia mangles sound in ways unheard of.

Hydrogen is an advanced drum machine for GNU/Linux. It's main goal is to bring professional yet simple and intuitive pattern-based drum programming.

Samplv1 is an old-school all-digital polyphonic sampler synthesizer with stereo fx.

Mixxx has everything you need to start making DJ mixes in a tight, integrated free package.

Soundgrain is a graphical interface where users can draw and edit trajectories to control granular sound synthesis.

LMMS, produce music with your computer by creating melodies and beats, synthesizing and mixing sounds, arranging samples and much more.

Giada is a minimal production environment designed for DJs and live electronic musicians

Ardour is an open-source alternative to the likes of Pro Tools, Cubase and Logic. A fully-fleshed out, mature DAW with all of the trimmings, Ardour began life as a Linux program before being ported to OS X and now, in version 4, Windows.

TAL-NoiseMaker is new synth engine with lots of improvements in sound and usability.

Green Oak’s Crystal is one of the classic free synths. With FM, granular and wave sequencing synthesis capabilities

Tyrell N6 is free piece of software, which is perfect for capturing thick polyphonic sounds.

Dexed is an emulation of the Yamaha DX7, and it captures the synth’s classic FM sound

TX16Wx is one of the most comprehensive and best updated free samplers you’ll find. Based on Yamaha’s rack-mounted TX16W sampler.

MFreeEffectsBundle is worth a look. The 25 utilities range from a simple noise generator and phaser to a six-band equaliser.

TAL makes some solid free effects too. Not all are currently supported, but its Reverb, Filter and Vocoder all do exactly what they’re supposed to, albeit with no frills.

DC1A is free compressor/saturation tool.

Voxengo’s SPAN is one of the best, with a clean, colour coded interface and the option to view spectrums from two different channels at the same time.

TDR’s VOS SlickEQ is one of the best free offerings, with a foolproof interface.

Komplete Player features Kontakt 5 Player, Reaktor 5 Player and Guitar Rig 5 Player, meaning you get a sample player, capable synth and effects engine with 600 MB of sounds for free.