this is a living post that will be updated over time

feel free to make suggestions in the comments

open-source DAWs

• Ardour – multitrack audio/MIDI recording, editing, and mixing DAW
• LMMS – pattern-based DAW with built-in synths; great for beats/electronic
• Qtractor – lightweight JACK/PipeWire-friendly audio/MIDI sequencer
• Bespoke Synth – modular DAW/synth environment

livecoding

• Sonic Pi – Ruby-based live-coding synth with precise timing
• SuperCollider – synthesis server + language for algorithmic music/DSP
• TidalCycles – pattern-focused live-coding DSL (commonly with SuperDirt)

tools

• Carla – plugin host/patchbay and LV2/VST bridging
• JACK – low-latency audio/MIDI routing between apps and devices
• PipeWire – modern low-latency audio graph integrating JACK/PulseAudio workflows
• WineASIO – ASIO driver for Wine to run Windows DAWs/plugins with low latency

patchbay / routing

• qpwgraph – PipeWire patchbay
• helvum – simple GTK patchbay
• qjackctl – JACK control/patchbay (still handy on PipeWire)

session management

• New Session Manager – NSM reference

system-wide FX

• EasyEffects – EQ, compressor, convolver on PipeWire
• JamesDSP for Linux – lightweight system effects

plugin bundles (LV2/VST)

• LSP Plugins – large suite of processors/instruments
• x42 Plugins – meters, EQs, utilities
• Dragonfly Reverb – lush reverbs
• Airwindows – minimalist, great-sounding FX (Linux builds exist)

synths & instruments

• Surge XT – flagship open-source synth
• Yoshimi (ZynAddSubFX fork) – additive/subtractive/PM powerhouse
• Helm – approachable subtractive synth
• Dexed – DX7-style FM
• Cardinal – FOSS VCV Rack (standalone/LV2/VST)

samplers, drums & loopers

• Hydrogen – drum machine
• Fluidsynth + Qsynth – SoundFont player + GUI
• samplv1 / drumkv1 / padthv1 – lightweight sampler family
• Giada – loop machine
• SooperLooper – live looping

guitar & amp modeling

• Rakarrack-NG – multi-FX
• Aida-X / Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) – neural amp modelers

recording / editing / analysis

• Audacity (or Tenacity) – editor
• JAAA / JAPA – spectrum/analyzers
• x42 meters – LUFS/EBU meters
• jack_capture – quick JACK recording

MIDI & control

• a2jmidid – ALSA↔JACK MIDI bridge
• mididings – Python MIDI routing/processing
• Open Stage Control – OSC/MIDI control surfaces in a browser

bridging windows plugins

• yabridge – run Windows VST2/3 on Linux via Wine
• LinVst – alternative bridge

DJ / playback / collaboration

• Mixxx – DJing
• SonoBus / Jamulus / JackTrip – low-latency online jams

notation

• MuseScore – notation
• Frescobaldi + LilyPond – engraver workflow

handy CLI libs

• SoX – swiss-army audio tool
• Rubber Band – time-stretch/pitch-shift library & CLI