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LMMS — Music Production (DAW)

LMMS Developers

LMMS is a free, open-source, cross-platform digital audio workstation for making music on a computer. The official pages describe a Song Editor, a Beat+Bassline Editor, a Piano Roll and a Mixer, built-in synthesizers and effects, MIDI support and plugin formats such as VST, SoundFont and LADSPA. The download page shows 1.2.2 as the stable version and 1.3.0-alpha.2 as a pre-release, with builds for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Why it fits

Music Production (DAW)

Desktop

Go to lmms.io
Good to know (2)

Requires desktop installation.

Available features may vary by device and access method.

Good to know
Good to knowDesktop
Free outputYes
No account needed—
No watermark—
Works offline—
Batch processing—
Content language—

— Unverified conditions. Official documentation reviewed. The app itself has not been hands-on tested. Matches only documented content-language support, not interface language.

Sources and review date (5)
  • lmms.io/
  • lmms.io/download
  • github.com/LMMS/lmms
  • docs.lmms.io/user-manual/getting-started/installation
  • docs.lmms.io/user-manual/production/your-first-song
Founder feedback and correction

Founder feedback and correction

If you represent this product, send a source-backed correction or update to the editors. Publication follows editorial review.

Editorial selection guide

Last checked:

Who is it for?

  • It suits people who want to make beats, loops or full tracks on a desktop computer without paying: the download page says downloading and using LMMS is free, and the README names the GPL-2.0 license.
  • It suits beginners who like to compose with patterns and a piano roll: the manual's first-song tutorial walks from a preset instrument to a melody, an arrangement, drum patterns and a mixer check.
  • It suits users who work with a MIDI keyboard or computer keyboard, SoundFont (SF2), GIG or GUS instruments, or VST instruments, all of which the home page and manual describe.
  • It suits people who like to inspect or contribute to the code: the README is hosted on GitHub and welcomes contributions to programming, artwork, testing and demo songs.

Getting started

  • Download LMMS from the official download page. Stable 1.2.2 lists Windows 64-bit and 32-bit .exe installers, two Intel macOS .dmg files (10.13 and 10.14) and a Linux AppImage; the 1.3.0-alpha.2 builds add macOS Apple silicon and Windows ARM64 files. The manual calls the AppImage the preferred Linux method.
  • Follow the manual's first-song tutorial: drag a preset from the Presets browser into the Song Editor to create an instrument track, then add, resize and copy notes in the Piano Roll.
  • In the Song Editor copy and arrange melody segments, add drum samples such as kick, closed hi-hat and snare in the Beat+Bassline Editor, and watch the mixer meters; the tutorial says to lower the volume sliders if a meter reaches the red.
  • Export the finished song. The exporting page lists WAV and OGG Vorbis, an adjustable sample rate (44.1 kHz is noted as the CD standard) and 16-bit integer or 32-bit float bit depth.

Decision points

  • Pick the version: the download page calls 1.2.2 (release notes dated 2020-06-25) stable and 1.3.0-alpha.2 a development-branch release that is less stable than stable builds. The alpha notes warn that projects saved in it cannot be opened in earlier versions.
  • Check your platform. Stable macOS builds are Intel-only (10.13 and 10.14 files), while the alpha lists an Apple silicon build for macOS 11.0 or newer. As of 1.3.0-alpha, 32-bit builds are no longer released.
  • Check plugins before relying on them. The manual covers loading VST instruments through VeSTige on Windows and Linux (with Wine), the README lists VST2 and does not mention VST3, and the stable 1.2.2 release notes list a known issue that VST .dll plugins do not work on Apple systems.
  • Decide whether the pages match your task. They describe composing with patterns, a piano roll, samples and MIDI; they do not describe recording a microphone or an instrument, so if live recording is your main goal, compare other tools or check the manual first.

Limits

  • Version dates differ across pages: the stable 1.2.2 release notes are dated 2020-06-25, while the manual's front page documents 1.3.0-alpha.2 dated 2026-09-05. Features listed for the alpha, such as detachable windows, alternative tunings, native Linux VST support and MP3 import, are not stated for stable.
  • The pages differ in details: the home page counts 16 built-in synthesizers and the README says 15+; the README lists LV2 support, which the home page does not mention, and whether LV2 is part of stable 1.2.2 is not stated.
  • The download page gives no system requirements for stable 1.2.2. The installation guide, which documents 1.3.x, lists minimum Windows 7, macOS X Lion or Linux with a 1.5 GHz 2-core CPU, 1 GB of RAM and 100 MB of storage, and recommended Windows 10, macOS X High Sierra, 4 cores, 4 GB of RAM and 512 MB.
  • The exporting page lists only WAV and OGG Vorbis; MP3 and FLAC export are not mentioned. The README mentions MIDI file import and export, but the MIDI page does not describe file import or export.
  • The pages do not state an account requirement, offline behavior or a Turkish interface. The stable 1.2.2 release notes list known issues (on Windows, the software fails to load on some systems and some systems get no sound or distorted sound), the download page warns that the macOS 10.13 build is buggy on macOS 10.14 or newer, and its macOS notes include a terminal command to mark the application as safe before running.

Frequently asked questions

Is LMMS free?

Yes, according to the official pages. The home page calls LMMS free, open source and community-driven, and the download page says downloading and using LMMS is free. The README names the GPL-2.0 license, and the manual says GNU General Public License version 2 or later.

How do I make my first song in LMMS?

Follow the manual's tutorial: drag a preset from the Presets browser into the Song Editor, write notes in the Piano Roll, copy and arrange segments in the Song Editor, add drum samples in the Beat+Bassline Editor and check the mixer meters for clipping. The tutorial does not cover exporting; the exporting page does.

Does LMMS run on Mac, including Apple silicon?

The stable 1.2.2 list has two Intel .dmg files for macOS 10.13 and 10.14 and no Apple silicon build. The 1.3.0-alpha.2 list includes an arm64 .dmg for macOS 11.0 or newer and an Intel .dmg for 10.13 or newer. The stable 1.2.2 release notes list a known issue that VST .dll plugins do not work on Apple systems.

Does LMMS support VST plugins?

The home page lists VST instrument support, with a 32-bit bridge on 64-bit Windows, and VST effects on Linux and Windows. The manual says VST instruments load through VeSTige and covers Windows and Linux (via Wine). The README lists VST2 and does not mention VST3.

Which audio formats can LMMS export?

The exporting page lists WAV and OGG Vorbis, with an adjustable sample rate and 16-bit integer or 32-bit float bit depth; MP3 and FLAC are not mentioned there. On the input side, the home page lists MIDI file and Hydrogen project import and SoundFont (SF2), GIG and GUS instruments.

What computer do I need for LMMS?

The installation guide lists minimum requirements of Windows 7, macOS X Lion or Linux, a 1.5 GHz CPU with 2 cores, 1 GB of RAM and 100 MB of storage, and recommends Windows 10, macOS X High Sierra, 4 cores, 4 GB of RAM and 512 MB. The alpha download table lists newer minimum operating systems for 1.3.0-alpha.2, for example Windows 10 or 11.

Official sources (11)
lmms.io/lmms.io/download/github.com/LMMS/lmmsgithub.com/LMMS/lmms/releasesdocs.lmms.io/user-manual/docs.lmms.io/user-manual/getting-started/installationdocs.lmms.io/user-manual/production/your-first-songdocs.lmms.io/user-manual/production/vstdocs.lmms.io/user-manual/production/exportingdocs.lmms.io/user-manual/production/mididocs.lmms.io/user-manual/legal/license

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