Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ardour

Record, edit, and mix on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.

3.0
(1 review)
Pricing:
  • Open Source
Ardour

Ardour Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Ardour is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Ardour Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-13

Features & Specs

  1. Open Source

    Ardour is an open-source digital audio workstation, which means it's free to use and its source code is publicly available for modification and enhancement.

  2. Cross-Platform

    It is compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows, making it accessible for users on different operating systems.

  3. Extensive Plugin Support

    Ardour supports a wide range of plugins including LADSPA, LV2, VST, and AU, providing versatility in sound processing and effects.

  4. Professional Audio and MIDI Features

    Offers comprehensive tools for recording, editing, and mixing audio and MIDI, suitable for professional audio production environments.

  5. Flexible Audio Routing

    Provides advanced and flexible routing options, including the ability to route any track to any other track, bus, or output.

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Videos

What is Ardour?

Ardour Review ENDED

Ardour Tutorial - Digital Audio Workstation for Linux

Reviews

  1. User avatar
    Guto Santana
    ยท Director at LAS Cons Art EIRELI ยท
     
    Great for the poor man. Still needs A LOT of improvements, specially on midi editing.

    Copy Yes, you can start a project from scratch and end up with a great sounding track using Ardour. Specially if you use mostly audio. For those like me who use both audio and midi editing, it may easily drive you to a real nightmare. The DAW doesn't behave as you would expect. The "share regions" will get you good as you edit one region and it "magically" ruins the original one. Oh, just use copy instead of share, like they say right? Nope. It still bugs you to the bone. So you have to go manually "unlinking" every single region. Some regions may be a single note, for example, and you can miss that. Oh, so I will consolidate all regions before unlinking! Nope, there is not such thing here. Another example: You want to keep only a certain midi note on your midi track, the C3 that is you Drum Kick. You cannot do it, unless if you go deleting every single other note, one by one! Terrible isn't it? No, you cannot copy a single note through the entire track. Sometimes I managed to select a note through the track and delete it. So I took note how I did it and... Next time it's a negative! With so many different selections of tools, smart, playhead, etc, it appears the DAW confuses itself and do not respond appropriately. So... my advice to you is not to fall for what I did, which is believing Ardour can do everything it says it does, cause it doesn't. Keep simple with audio recording and editing. Do your midi stuff elsewhere and run from the nightmare I got myself into. Nevertheless, it is great cost/benefit DAW. Worthy a try. Yes, you can start a project from scratch and end up with a great sounding track using Ardour. Specially if you use mostly audio. For those like me who use both audio and MIDI editing, it may easily drive you into a real nightmare. The DAW doesn't behave as you would expect. The "share regions" will get you good as you edit one region and it "magically" ruins the original one. Oh, just use copy instead of share, like they say right? Nope. It still bugs you to the bone. So you have to go manually "unlinking" every single region. Some regions may be a single note, for example, and you can miss that. Oh, so I will consolidate all regions before unlinking! Nope, there is not such thing here. Another example: You want to keep only a certain midi note on your midi track, the C3 that is you Drum Kick. You cannot do it, unless if you go deleting every single other note, one by one! Terrible isn't it? No, you cannot copy a single note through the entire track. Sometimes I managed to select a note through the track and delete it. So I took note how I did it and... Next time it's a negative! With so many different selections of tools, smart, playhead, etc, it appears the DAW confuses itself and do not respond appropriately. So... my advice to you is not to fall for what I did, which is believing Ardour can do everything it says it does, cause it doesn't. Keep simple with audio recording and editing. Do your midi stuff elsewhere and run from the nightmare I got myself into. Nevertheless, it is great cost/benefit DAW. Worthy a try.

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Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Ardour and what they use it for.
  • 24-bit/192kHz music downloads and why they make no sense
    > Ok dude, you obviously never recorded anything. https://ardour.org/ is my website. - Source: Hacker News / 18 days ago
  • Ardour 9.0 Released
    Or get involved with the community at - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Ask HN: Is There a Blender for Music?
    Effects you can hear. [0] https://ardour.org/ [1[ https://cybershow.uk/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • What Is the Future of the DAW?
    I'm the lead author of Ardour [0], and I'd very much like to hear more about your frustrations, since over the next 1-2 years, paying attention to non-European musical culture is one of the things I hope to focus on during development. You can reach me via the email address in my profile, or maybe use our forums at discourse.ardour.org. Thanks. [0] https://ardour.org/ <= a cross-platform open source DAW that has... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Red Blob Games: Interactive visual explanations of math and algorithms
    One extra detail, something I've learned from 20 years of working on dragging all kinds of objects around the GUI of Ardour [0]: handle ALL button press and release events as drag events where there is no movement. [0] https://ardour.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Absolute beginner seeking advice
    I am aware of the 'Real Tone Cable' however I am curious if this is what I should be buying if I also intend on recording my playing in a software such as 'Ardour'. Source: about 3 years ago
  • How to map multiple samples with linux-sampler?
    I just loaded an instance of samplv https://samplv1.sourceforge.io/ into the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), Ardour https://ardour.org/ . Source: about 3 years ago
  • Is it possible to create professional music on Linux?
    If you produce music using a DAW, my preferred is Linux's Ardour: Http://ardour.org. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Thought was worth sharing โค๏ธ
    Ardour is a free DAW that recently added a clip launcher. I've never tried it. Source: about 3 years ago
  • What the hell do I even do with sfizz?
    If you installed a Sfizz lv2 plugin you need an lv2 host to execute Sfizz. Ardour https://ardour.org/ and Carla are https://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/Applications:Carla are lv2 plugin hosts. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Fueling Innovation and Collaborative Storytelling
    Music and sound provide depth and development to science fiction worlds. Open source music production software like Ardour and LMMS provide aspiring composers and sound designers with professional-grade tools to create atmospheric and futuristic soundscapes. The TV show The Expanse uses open source soundscaping tools to create realistic soundscapes of space travel. The soundscape helps to immerse the viewer in the... - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • Get Started Making Music
    Ardour (http://ardour.org/) is probably the most fleshed out one, but it's still pretty bad compared to popular commercial options. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • How many people here (living in Santa Fe) are software engineers?
    Self-employed. Responsible for the cross-platform DAW Ardour (https://ardour.org/) ... Work from home in Galisteo. Actually looking for a part time person, but the skills are challenging (realtime C++ plus GUI plus multithreading plus audio plus ...). Source: over 3 years ago
  • I have the Alesis Recital Pro. It has an output for MIDI for connecting to my laptop and I'm trying to see if I can save a recorded song in the internal memory to my laptop.
    I personally use Ardour which is totally free but it took some time to learn how to configure and use it, and it doesnโ€™t have any good built-in piano sounds so I had to download and configure those separately. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Making flute parts from vocals for songs I like
    BTW: If you want to make your own multi-track recordings, check out Ardour. This is a low cost alternative to more expensive DAW software such as Cubase (which I now use). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Switching to Audacity
    I use Ardour, it's free and open-source just like Audacity, but has much better features for editing a podcast IMO. Just to name a few:. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Musicians that use Linux?
    [Ardour](https://ardour.org] works great for me. Source: over 3 years ago
  • My "drum kit" for the past couple weeks
    I haven't tried EZ Drummer yet, but I might. I'm a computer nerd, so I've put together a laptop with Ubuntu Studio, and I'm in the process of getting Jack configured to reduce the Midi latency. I want to have ultimate control over everything, and may eventually write some custom plug-ins once I have it all set up to work with something like Ardour or Hydrogen. (Open-source FTW.). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Any Free/Open source music creation software that lets you pick the Key, Time Signature, Bpm and Instruments/Audio Elements/Audio Tracks?
    You are looking for a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Google is your friend. There are a few soft like ardour fully open source You will be able to import samples, write music and apply effects. They are not really good at score editing but the produced audio can be orefessiinnal grade...if you know how to use all the effect and do the mastering. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Possible to update MBP 17 early 2011?
    More or less, but the ecosystem would be quite different for someone into music production. For example there is Ardour but it's definitely not the same as Logic. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Best Studio Recorder software
    I'd add in a vote for Ardour. To my mind, it's the best free software DAW bar none, and great for multi-track recording: https://ardour.org/. Source: over 3 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Ardour

Public Opinion on Ardour: An Overview

Ardour, an open-source Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), consistently receives mention among audio professionals and enthusiasts for its robust features and open-source model. Designed for recording, editing, and mixing, Ardour caters to music producers using Windows, macOS, and Linux. It stands out for offering high-quality audio production tools without a commercial price tag, although users are encouraged to support development through donations for pre-built binaries.

Key Features and Industry Position

Ardour is lauded for its comprehensive suite of audio production tools. Its traditional track recorder layout, timecode support, and multi-track editing capabilities are frequently compared to those of Pro Tools, a leading commercial DAW. Ardour includes a powerful mixer, effects processors, and recent additions such as a clip launcher feature, enhancing its functionality for professional-grade music production.

User Experience

The tool's complexity is a double-edged sword. While it is praised for its power and flexibility, the learning curve can be steep, making it more suitable for users with prior experience in audio engineering. For beginners, setting up and navigating Ardour can be challenging, requiring patience and a willingness to delve into forums and user guides. Despite these challenges, many users appreciate the freedom and control it provides, comparable to more expensive proprietary options like Cubase or Logic.

Community and Support

Ardour benefits from a committed open-source community, providing a wealth of online resources, forums, and tutorials. This community-driven model fosters continuous improvements and feature enhancements guided by user feedback. The software's global development team actively seeks input from diverse cultural music communities, highlighting its adaptability and emphasis on addressing a broader range of musical traditions and styles.

Comparisons and Use Cases

In reviews comparing Ardour to alternatives like Audacity, LMMS, Cubase, and Ableton Live, it's positioned as a powerful alternative, especially on Linux platforms. Users often recommend it for tasks that require more advanced mixing and editing capabilities than simpler tools like Audacity can offer. It also fares well against LMMS, particularly for those already familiar with the complexities of professional audio workflows.

Additionally, Ardour's open-source nature aligns with initiatives that value collaborative and accessible music production. Its use in creating soundscapes for productions like "The Expanse" demonstrates its capacity to provide professional-grade audio in creative industries.

User Sentiments

Overall, public opinion on Ardour is positive among its target audience of experienced audio professionals and Linux enthusiasts. Users appreciate its feature-rich environment and the level of control it offers. However, potential users should be prepared for a steep learning curve and the need for additional configuration, particularly for newbies or those transitioning from different DAWs.

In summary, while Ardour is not without its challenges, it remains a respected and valued tool for those seeking a comprehensive, cost-effective solution for professional audio production in an open-source format.

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Is Ardour good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Ardour here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.