Ardour
A free, open-source digital audio workstation for Windows, Linux and macOS, used to record, edit and mix audio and MIDI projects.
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Ardour is a digital audio workstation, free and open source, that runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. It is built for recording, editing, mixing and mastering audio and MIDI projects, from capturing vocals and live instruments to producing beats and preparing tracks for streaming.
Recording starts from an audio interface, microphone or keyboard, and material can be imported from a hard drive or the Freesound database. Editing tools include cutting, moving, stretching, trimming, crossfading, transposing and quantizing with unlimited undo and redo, while the mixer offers faders, automation, EQ, dynamics, sends, inserts and support for external control surfaces.
Its core audience is audio engineers who want full control of their tools for long sessions, along with musicians who record real instruments. Ardour supports plugin formats such as LV2 and VST and connects through JACK. It is written in C++, and the GitHub repository is a mirror of the project's source code.
Key features
- Multitrack audio and MIDI recording
- Editing with unlimited undo and redo
- Mixer with automation, EQ and dynamics
- LV2 and VST plugin support
- JACK audio connectivity
- External control surface support
- Audio and MIDI import including Freesound
Pricing: Distributed as free, open-source software.
