Freeware music tools for OS X

 I happened across Ken Restivo’s blog the other day (lots of good "math funk" there in Ogg Vorbis format), and was interested to note that he’s doing almost everything – recording, synthesis, mixdown, the works – on LInux, using free software.

Having listened to the stuff he’s got there and liking it quite a lot, I started investigating what I could get or get running on OS X to best take advantage of my now-aging iBook G4.

  • Most of these use Jack to output audio, so JackOSX is a requirement. I’ve installed it from a pre-built package.
  • Hydrogen, a very nice drum machine, is available via MacPorts. Outputs via Jack. Does not build properly. Grrr.
  • He uses the specimen sampler, which doesn’t have an OS X port, so I’ll have to try porting that myself. Outputs via Jack.
  • Ardour, which comes in a prebuilt OS X version, for audio recording. I’m trying the new native version of this. Seems fine.
  • Rosegarden, for MIDI sequencing (should be buildable via MacPorts, but not sure if this is a native app or X11).
  • Lilypond, for engraving
  • There are several more tools he mentions: fluidsynth, PHASEX, nekostring, AMS, Jack Rack, SooperLooper, WhySynth (interesting because of its mention of the ESQ-1 as an influence) and Helix, all of which I need to investigate in more detail.
  • I’ve put links to all this in my del.icio.us, and will keep updating those as I go along.

 What I hope to do is put together a reference list of "useful free music software that will run under OS X". This is all part of my plan to hit Different Skies 2008 with my laptop, a USB controller keyboard, and the necessary gewgaws to connect me to the board (the FIREBOX; a teeny-tiny mixer to allow me to pull myself out of the mix for cueing, and to swap in the headphone output to the board if the FIREBOX cacks on me; and the necessary cables & c.). My aim is something that will fit completely into my carryon luggage so I can just walk in, set up, and be ready to go.

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