Awesome Music Production

A curated list of software, hardware, and other resources to create music.

I use this knowledge to produce music as my alter ego Leo Mask. Check it out at leomask.com

• Software
  • Audio Workstations
  • Libraries
  • Synthesizers
  • Apps
  • Webapps
  • Virtual Reality
  • Guitar, Ukulele, …
• Services
  • AI Music Creation
  • Music Distribution
  • Management
• Datasets
• Misc
• Hardware
  • Synthesizers
  • MIDI Controllers
  • Instruments
  • Workstations
• Community
• Knowledge
  • Misc
  • Articles
  • Research

Software

Audio Workstations

• Ableton
• Ardour
• Bitwig
• Cubase
• Garage Band
• Giada - Minimal audio tool for DJs, live performers and musicians.
• GridSound - Free online DAW implemented with the Web Audio API.
• LMMS - Comprehensive open source, cross platform DAW.
• Logic Pro X
• Pro Tools
• Reaper - Complete digital audio production app for Windows and macOS.
• Rytmik Studio - Music creation software.
• Zrythm - Cross-platform DAW.

Libraries

• Alda - A music programming language for musicians.
• ATM CLI - Command line tool for generating and working with MIDI files.
• Aubio - Segmentation, pitch detection, tapping the beat and producing midi streams.
• Band.js - Music composer interface for the Web Audio API.
• Blip - Looping and sampling with the Web Audio API.
• CSound - A sound and music computing system.
• Dplug - Library to make audio plug-ins with the D programming language.
• Euterpea - In Haskell embedded language for computer music applications.
• Faust - Functional programming language for sound synthesis and audio processing.
• FourVoices - Automatic music generator for four-part writing.
• Houdini Music Toolset - Adding MIDI functionality to 3D program Houdini.
• Klasma - Chiptune music composition kit.
• libsoundio - Cross platform audio input and output library.
• LickCreator - Online web based music notation.
• Leipzig - Composition library for Clojure and ClojureScript.
• Magenta - Music and Art Generation with Machine Intelligence.
• Magiclock - Feel MIDI clock beat via the magic trackpad.
• meSing.js - JavaScript singing synthesis library.
• Microm - JavaScript library to convert browser microphone to mp3.
• Music Suite - Haskell based language for describing music.
• Nashville - Convert Nashville Number System (NNS) entries to chords.
• Node Speaker - Output PCM audio data to the speakers.
• Octavian - Utility to reason about notes, frequencies, and intervals.
• Orca - Esoteric programming language to create procedural sequencers.
• Overtone - Open Source toolkit for designing synthesizers and collaborating with music.
• Pedalboard.js - JavaScript framework to develop audio effects for guitars.
• Pippi - Computer music with python.
• PitchFinder & Node PitchFinder - Javascript (and node c++ addon) with pitch detection algorithms
• React Music - Create beats with React.
• Repitch - Real-time polyphonic MIDI-controlled audio pitch shifting.
• Rust Music Theory - A music theory guide written in Rust.
• Scribbletune - Create music with JavaScript.
• Sharp11 - Music theorization and improvisation engine.
• Slang - Simple audio programming language implemented in JavaScript.
• Spectmorph - Analyze samples of instruments, and combine (morph) them.
• Spleeter - Source separation library (e.g. extract drums from a track).
• Step Sequencer - Elm step sequencer for programming drum beats.
• Teoria - JavaScript library for music theory.
• TidalCycles - Programming language to describe polyphonic, polyrhythmic, and generative music sequences.
• timbre.js - JavaScript library for objective sound programming.
• Tonal - Functional music theory library.
• Tone.js - A Web Audio framework for making interactive music in the browser.
• Tuna - An audio effects library for the Web Audio API.
• VCV Rack - Open source virtual modular synthesizer.
• Vexwarp - JavaSCript library for audio time stretching and pitch shifting.
• Vivid - High quality audio in Haskell with SuperCollider.

Synthesizers

• Amsynth - Synthesizer with a classic subtractive synthesizer topology.
• Helm - GPL licensed polyphonic synth with lots of modulation.
• Surge Synthesizer - Open source digital synthesizer.
• NSynth Super - Open source AI synth from the Google Magenta team.
• Yoshimi - Software audio synthesizer.

Apps

• Agordejo - Music production session manager.
• Auxy - Modern instruments for mobile creators.
• Composer's Sketchpad - Sequencer that combines musical staff paper with an artist's sketchbook (iOS only).
• Dragonfly Reverb - Open source audio effects for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Fluajho - Simple SF2 soundfont host and player for Linux.
• IXI Programs - Apps for creating musical instruments and environments.
• KXStudio - Collection of applications and plugins for audio production.
• Laborejo - MIDI sequencer based on classical music notation.
• Luna - MIDI sequencer.
• Max - Visual programming language for music and multimedia creation.
• Melodics - Desktop app to teach playing MIDI keyboards, pads, and e-drums.
• Midica - Music programming language and desktop app for MIDI generation.
• MIDI Tapper - Shape music performances with multi-touch gestures.
• Ninjas 2 - Sample slicer audio plugin and standalone app.
• Patroneo - Simple pattern based midi sequencer.
• Samplr - Multi-touch music making app for iPad.
• SeekMIDI - Graphical multi channel MIDI sequencer.
• Seq24 - Minimal loop based midi sequencer.
• SFZ Designer - Visual sample mapping tool to create SFZ files.
• Sonic Pi - Live coding music synth for everyone.
• Spire - iOS multitrack recording app with FX & mixing features.

Webapps

• 108 - Minimal beat machine.
• AI Duet - A smart piano that responds to you.
• Arpeggiator - Web Audio Arpeggiator.
• Baroque Dances - Procedurally generated classical music.
• Beat Push - Online music production with built-in parallel drum and synth machine.
• beatboxer - Simple drum machine.
• BlokDust - Interactive music-making app to build synths and sounds.
• Chords - Text based chord progression editor.
• Circle of 5ths Explorer
• Djenerator - A metal breakdown generator.
• Frequency Explorer - A microtonal additive synthesizer + sequencer
• Funklet - Drum machine and library of famous drum patterns.
• Jamwithchrome - Play music live with your friends online.
• Keithwhor.com/music - Musical Keyboard - JS Dynamic Audio Synth.
• Klangmeister - Live coding environment for the browser.
• Klank - Sound and animation in the browser using PureScript.
• Landr - Automatic audio mastering.
• Lissajous - A tool for programmatic audio performance in the browser.
• Loopjs - Live Electronic Music Performance Software.
• Looplabs - Cloud based music studio.
• Matrix Piano - Virtual 2D piano to use the PC keyboard as an instrument.
• Musical Chord Progression Arpeggiator - Sketch out musical chord progressions.
• MyNoise - Background noises and interactive soundscapes.
• Piano Genie - Machine learning augmented piano app.
• Reactor - Online DJ controller connected to SoundCloud.
• Repeater Orchestra - An orchestra of repeaters which repeat the conductor.
• Scale Explorer - Visual scale explorer.
• Song Maker - Simple step sequencer.
• Sononym - Visual sample browser.
• Splice - Music creation and collaboration platform.
• SuperCollider - Platform for audio synthesis and algorithmic composition.
• Synth Time - Simple synthesizer.
• Synthi-JS - A JavaScript emulator of the legendary EMS Synthi A synthesizer.
• TimeStretch - Online tool to loop, speed up, slow down, and pitch shift sections of an audio file.
• ToneBasic - Programmatic sound generation in the browser.
• Websynths - Free browser-based microtonal midi instrument.
• QuasiMusic - Quasiperiodic tilings of the plane as sound triggers.
• Qwerkey - Keyboard tonnetz.

Virtual Reality

• Block Rocking Beats - Play with music in a virtual sound studio.
• Electronauts - DJ simulation with 8 digital instruments.
• Exa - The infinite instrument.
• Lyra VR - Room scale music creation app.
• Modulia Studio - App for music creation and performance.
• Paradiddle - Virtual reality drum kit.
• SoundStage - Music sandbox built specifically for room-scale VR.
• Synthspace - Modular synth VR environment.

Guitar, Ukulele, …

• Chordata - A dummy chord-book for mandolin, ukulele and guitar.
• Fretboard - Online Guitar fretboard viewer to study scales and chords.
• SmartGuitarAmp - Guitar plugin using neural networks to emulate real world hardware.
• UkeGeeks - Creates fingering diagrams by reading plain text or ChordPro ukulele songs.
• Ukutabs - Source for ukulele tabs, chords, tips, tools, guides
• Ukulele Chord Finder

Services

AI Music Creation

• Amper
• Jukedeck
• Melodrive
• Humtap
• Popgun

Music Distribution

• ReverbNation
• TuneCore
• DittoMusic
• SoundCloud
• Octiive
• BandCamp
• DistroKid
• RecordJet
• Spinnup

Management

• SongRiffer - Organize and browse riffs and song ideas.

Datasets

• SigSep - Publicly available datasets for research on source separation.

Misc

• BandLab - All in one social music creation platform.
• Sequencer Electronics - Online shop for music apps and plugins.

Hardware

Synthesizers

• dadamachines - Toolkit to create automated analog sounds.
• LittleBits Synth Kit - Snap-together modular synthesizer built in partnership with KORG.
• Modal 002R - 8 or 12 voice digital/analogue hybrid 3U rack.
• OP-1 - A powerful portable music workstation. with sampler, multi-track support, and onboard synth generation.
• Organelle - Intuitive controls with a powerful and flexible sound engine.
• Pocket Operators - Tiny, low-cost digital instruments.
• ZynAddSubFX - Polyphonic fully featured musical software synthesizer.
• Zynthian - Open hardware swiss army knife of synthesis, equipped with multiple engines, filters and effects.

MIDI Controllers

• Artiphon - Guitar like MPE controller.
• Bela - Computing platform for creating responsive interactive applications.
• C-Thru Music Axis - Hexagonal and harmonic table based controller.
• Continuum Fingerboard - Linear piano like MPE playing surface.
• DIY Controller - DIY midi controller with simple buttons.
• Dodeka Stellar - Linear and isomorphic MIDI keyboard.
• dualo du-touch - Accordion like controller with hexagonal pads.
• Eigenharp - Grid, breath pipe, and touch strip enabled MPE instrument.
• Erea Touch - Seamless polyphonic MIDI Controller with LED touch surface.
• Joué - Expressive and modular MPE controller.
• LinnStrument - Grid based expressive MPE controller.
• [Lumatone] - Hexagonal isomorphic keyboard.
• Mimu Gloves - Expressive wearable musical instrument.
• Morph - Expressive MPE touch controller with swappable hardware interfaces.
• MPK Mini mkII - Cheap, functional, excellent starter controller.
• Neova - Expressive finger ring.
• NuEVI - Electronic valve instrument MIDI controller.
• Open Woodwind Project - Electronic aerophone.
• OpenDeck - Hardware platform to build custom MIDI controllers.
• Poly Expressive - Foot controller.
• QuNexus - Small and portable MPE keyboard.
• ROLI Blocks - Portable snap-together MIDI controller with both desktop and mobile interfaces.
• XVI Desktop - USB 16 Channel Fader Bank with CV, I2C, and MIDI.

Instruments

• Chapman Stick - 8, 10, or 12 string fretboard tapping instrument.
• Harpejji - Electric stringed musical instrument.
• Karlax - Multi sensor expressive Clarinette like instrument.
• Keytam - Tunable guitar-tambourine hybrid.
• Musical Instrument Challenge - List of DIY instruments.
• Orba - Ball shaped, hand sized musical instrument.
• OTTO - Sampler, sequencer, multi-engine synth and effects in a box.

Workstations

• Polyend Tracker - Compact standalone workstation with a tracker UI.

Community

• Poly Expression - Forum for expressive instruments and controllers.

Knowledge

Misc

• Audio Working Group - Add advanced sound & music synthesis capabilities to the Open Web Platform.
• Awesome Sheet Music - Curated list of tools to create, edit, and display sheet music.
• Awesome WebAudio - A curated list of awesome WebAudio packages and demos.
• Digital Filters Introduction - Jupyter notebooks and a geometric interpretation of digital audio filters.
• Frazier Piano Studio - Blog posts, videos, and apps.
• SFZ Format - Main reference for creating instruments with the SFZ format.
• Know Your Theory - Interactive tutorial to learn theory fundamentals.
• Music Theory - The exciting universe of music theory.
• youtube.com/i_0DXxNeaQ0 - The science and mathematics of music.
• Sound hacking and music technologies

Articles

• Detecting piano notes with web audio
• DeepAudioClassification - Finding the genre of a song with deep learning.
• Learning Synths - Learn the basics of using synthesizers.
• Modeling Music with algebraic data types
• Musimathics - The mathematical foundations of music.
• Sound, Motion, Notation - Information and Art.
• Terry Riley's "In C" - A Journey Through a Musical Possibility Space.
• Theory Pages - Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People.
• Training a Recurrent Neural Network to Compose Music
• Visual Music & Machine Learning Workshop for Kids

Research

• Guthman Musical Instrument Competition
• Harmony Explained - Progress towards a scientific theory of music.
• Musical User Interfaces - Rethink how audio software is designed.
• Universal Music Translation Network
• Virtual Reality Musical Instruments: State of the Art, Design Principles, and Future Directions