Open Source Music Composition Software

Psycle is a Music tracker (like FastTracker 2 or Impulse Tracker) combined with plugin modularity. It supports its own plugin API, the VST2 plugin standard, and a tracker style sampler playback.

This kangaroo-themed program allows the user to create their own music and sound effects, effectively from scratch. There are two variants of the program: Kangas Sound Editor which requires MySQL for its database, and Kangas Sound Editor QI which does not (it uses an internal database - HSQLDB - instead). Kangas Sound Editor (QI) uses a system of boxes or cells, which are placed by the user onto a timeline using drag-and-drop, and which represent entities such as chords, repetition, and individual sounds or notes. The program's database allows the user to create and store harmonics, used for constructing melodic instruments, and anti-harmonics, which are used for constructing percussion instruments. Users can collaborate with and build on the work of others via an XML import/export facility.

Simply type in the names of the chords that you'd like played, with a space between each chord. Set the tempo by entering a delay time (in fractions of second) to be paused between each chord. Click the start button to hear the chords played repeatedly. Save and load progression for any songs you've created. Chord types include major triad, minor triad, dominant 7th ("7"), major 7th ("maj7"), minor 7th ("m7"), diminished 7th ("dim7"), and half diminished 7th ("m7b5").

A unique desktop music composing application for PC/Mac/Linux/Android with a tracker style interface and a simple modular Java plugin based design allowing rapid improvement and endless expansion.

Just download the above zip file, extract it and then open the respective index.html file on your favourite internet browser and follow the instructions shown.

Music synthesizer based on cellular automata. Written in Haskell.

LMMS is a free cross-platform software which allows you to produce music with your computer. This covers creating melodies and beats, synthesizing and mixing sounds and arranging samples. You can have fun with your MIDI keyboard and much more – all in a user-friendly and modern interface. Furthermore LMMS comes with many ready-to-use instrument and effect plugins, presets and samples.

A C++ library and Python module for audio synthesis featuring dynamic digital filters. Nsound lets you easily shape waveforms and write to disk or plot them. Nsound aims to be as powerful as Csound but easy to use.

A software music synthesizer inspired by 8-bit Atari Softsynth. It can import, edit and play Atari Softsynth tunes on PC. You can write your music in BASIC-like language and create your instruments with graphic editor. Now available for Raspberry Pi 2

Rubato Composer is a music software based on the concepts and models of mathematical music theory and equally suited for music composition, analysis, performance, and logical or geometric operations.

Fractal/Scripting VSTi synthesizer, written on Java with jVSTwrapper

A compiler library for a language integrating all that is needed for completely defining whole sound/music compilations. From very basic stuff as defining oscillators etc in all their parameters up to note events and more.

A binary waveform synthesizer derived from and based upon Timewave Zero theory by Terence McKenna. His theory proposes that the structure of time is a complex wave with a scalar potential, and the King Wen sequence of the I Ching is the 64 hexagram code from which the waveform of time is derived; that the King Wen sequence maps the linear progression of the human states of mind, which ultimately substantiates this waveform. This theory is the basis for the well-known novelty computer program he and others had developed. This program synth was made in supercollider.

VST Preset Generator has moved to http://vst-preset-generator.org

grrbl (pronounce 'grumble') is a set of tools to make music. it aims to be the instrument set of groolot artist. everything is based on PureData.