https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-free
A highly efficient audio engine, intuitive recording workflows and rapid mixing capabilities make Waveform Free the perfect choice for multi-track band recordings. 15 new audio FX are on hand for processing and support for VST, VST3 and AU opens the door to a world of 3rd party plugin possibilities.
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No track limits.
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It’s cross-platform.
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Full plugin support. ( VST2, VST3, and AU (on Mac).
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It works offline. (Unlike browser-based options)
Waveform’s interface takes some adjustment. It doesn’t follow the traditional “mixer on the bottom, timeline on top” layout that most DAWs use.
Give it a week, and it clicks. But those first few sessions will feel unfamiliar.
Is this an ad? I dunno why one would use this over Reaper. Waveform looks like a traditional "free" app that'll slowly get features cut out & resold in their already-established "extension" store. $50 for MIDI tools?? Hard pass. Wouldn't even have made my list of contenders with business practices like that.
From the source blog post, they limited their options to:
Sure, if you're trying to pick a DAW out of a pile of the worst DAWs available, Waveform "Free" looks pretty good.
I'd avoid all of those options. If you're looking for a free DAW on Linux (from someone who knows not to call Audacity a "DAW") - Reaper has an indefinite, full-featured, free trial period. Full version is $60.
FOSS options include Ardour and LMMS, both of which include features Waveform hides behind hundreds of $$$ worth of "extensions".
I suppose if the extensions are also FOSS, paying for them is fair enough. I use Blender and buy paid extensions that are GPL licensed, which is way better than subscription-only software. Free as in freedom, not beer, and freedom is worth paying for, IMO.
~~Nothing about Waveform is FOSS (afaik), but~~ I'm on board with your idea - with open source apps I'm all for giving money to the devs making useful stuff. Waveform hiding basic functionality behind multiple $50 DLC purchases is just heinous, though.
Sounds like the core engine is FOSS at least: https://github.com/Tracktion/tracktion_engine?tab=License-1-ov-file. Unless it’s all 100% FOSS, might as well go with Reaper or another paid DAW, though.
Huh, yeah kinda weird to only have part of the project open source. Interesting
For fk sake... Im just trying to share some decent linux software. Just make a post about Reaper too. The more the merrier .
and I'm trying to point out how dogshit Waveform's business is & how skewed the original source material is. Nothing personal.
Don't worry, I'm too high to care 👽 👍
I've made posts like this while high. Can confirm it's weird when people mistake your motovations as financial rather than THC-induced.
Why didn’t you include ardour if you are showcasing Linux DAWs? Do you have any business connections to this software?
Yes. They give me drugs.
If i post an article can i get some too?
No! They're all mine! MINE!