Linux Audio Plugin Development (LAPD)

Our Mission

We aim to make Linux more attractive as a platform for computer-based music production by encouraging software developers to make their audio plugins available for Linux.

While Linux is the de facto standard operating system for synthesizers, keyboards, effect units and controllers, many audio plugin vendors do not offer Linux versions of their products.

We want to showcase the advantages of Linux as an operating system for modern music production, help developers make or port and release their plugins for Linux, and, if possible, provide a platform for them to reach out for help. Ultimately, our initiative aims to lead to a larger selection of high-quality audio plugins for Linux.

“We want more native audio plugins available for Linux.”

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does producing music on Linux look like today?
  • 
  • The availability of both proprietary (Bitwig Studio, Mixbus, Reaper, Studio One, Waveform, etc.) and open source (Ardour, Qtractor, Zrythm, etc.) digital audio workstations (DAW) and the flexible audio subsystem of modern Linux distributions, PipeWire, make Linux a serious alternative to macOS and Windows when it comes to computer-aided music production.
  • Even independently of music production, Linux has come a long way and is now not only on a par with macOS and Windows in many areas, but even superior in some.
  • Of course, this does not mean that the experience of producing music with Linux is already on a par with the competition from Redmond and Cupertino in all respects. Especially when it comes to the range of available plugins, Linux still lags. And this even though it would be relatively easy for most plugin vendors to compile and publish their plugins as native Linux versions, thanks to the widely adopted use of open source cross-platform frameworks such as JUCE for plugin development.
  • With the help of libraries such as yabridge, Windows plugins can be used under Linux. However, this is sometimes associated with trial and error, involves performance losses and does not work with all Windows plugins.
  • And, yes, not all major digital audio workstations are available on Linux. For example, there is no Cubase, no Logic (obviously), no Pro Tools, no Live (even though Ableton uses a Linux version of Live with their Push hardware), and no FL Studio for Linux.
  • Another hurdle for Linux-based music production is the lack of drivers and software for audio interfaces in many cases. Fortunately, there are at least some vendors, such as RME, who design their audio interfaces to be USB Class Compliant, which means that they can generally be used with Linux without any drivers and/or software. So, in addition to a lack of software (plugins and DAWs), better support from manufacturers of audio interfaces would also be desirable.
  • The bottom line is that Linux is absolutely ready for music production. However, depending on which DAW or which plugins users want/need, they may have to make concessions or hope for an improvement of the market situation, which is what we're aiming for with our initiative.
• Why should I offer my plugins for Linux?
  • The Linux market is growing steadily, thanks in part to positive developments in the gaming sector (e.g. Steam Deck) and more and more vendors are offering their products for Linux.
  • The current status of the Linux user base could be compared with that of macOS a few years ago. The macOS user base was also relatively small at the time, but it grew rapidly over time and with it the range of software available for macOS. We expect a similar development for Linux.
  • So, the decision for a vendor to support Linux is currently still more of an ideological nature. But since the effort on their side is usually oversee-able, and the move to support Linux also has a sympathetic effect on their brand, we think it is already worth going that route today.
• How large is the target audience for Linux users who are willing to pay for plugin licenses?
  • A growing number of professional Linux users are willing to pay for software, as seen in other industries such as video production, with vendors like Blackmagic Design and paid products such as DaVinci Resolve.
  • By Mai 2025, Linux has just shy under 5% of the desktop market share, with macOS above 15% and Windows still the dominant player at over 70%.
• Should plugins for Linux be "Free and Open Source Software"?
  • Since Linux itself is so-called Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), one could assume that plugins distributed for Linux should also conform to this model. However, this is not the case.
  • Plugins offered for Linux can be FOSS as well as proprietary and/or commercial.
• What other vendors offer their plugins for Linux?
  • There is a growing number of vendors who offer their products for Linux. A good overview can be found at Linux DAW, an independent directory of music software for Linux or below in the Linux Audio Developers Spotlight.
• How can I copy-protect my plugins on Linux? What about services like iLok?
  • Most existing Linux plugins use a server-based username/password pair as a login/authentication-based copy protection mechanism. Others use a server-based challenge/response system, while some use an authentication keyfile among other mechanisms.
  • Systems like iLok are not currently available for Linux, while it would theoretically be possible for vendors like PACE to provide a system like iLok for Linux systems.
• What do Linux users expect from audio plugin vendors?
  • Linux users in general enjoy their freedom and usually do not want to be controlled or patronized by vendors.
  • Things like complicated or even invasive copy protection mechanisms, installers that do not transparently show the user what is being installed where, or even plugin/download managers would most likely not be well received by the typical Linux user.
  • Linux users generally appreciate modest, straightforward processes and are also happy to download plugins by hand and copy the binaries to their respective locations, etc.
• What are the system requirements for a Linux development computer?
  • As Linux generally has low hardware requirements and is often installed and operated succesfully on older computers, the requirements for developing and compiling audio plugins for Linux are actually very low.
• What operating system should I use for development?
  • Many developers of Linux audio plugins use a widespread distribution such as Ubuntu, Debian or Fedora. In general, however, most distributions should, in theory, be suitable for Linux audio plugin development. For example, Arch Linux is another popular distribution among developers.
  • With regard to backwards compatibility, however, it can make sense to use operating systems (or operating system versions) that are not cutting edge for compiling Linux plugins.
• What formats should I distribute my plugins in?
  • On Linux, plugins are usually offered as VST3 and LV2, but also increasingly in CLAP format.
• With which DAWs and/or operating systems should I test my plugins?
  • As with other platforms, testing audio plugins with different DAWs is also worthwhile on Linux. The numerous Linux distributions and desktop environments or window managers can be an additional factor. However, many vendors test their plugins on Linux to a limited extent, e.g. only with Ubuntu and Ardour.
  • However, an ideal scenario would be to test at least two distributions, e.g. an Arch based distribution with KDE as the desktop environment and Fedora with GNOME as the desktop environment.
• How well does the framework I use work with Linux?

  • Framework	License	Android	iOS/iPadOS	Linux	macOS	Windows
    DPF	ISC			✔	✔	✔
    HISE	GPL v3 / proprietary		✔	✔	✔	✔
    JUCE	AGPL v3 / proprietary	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
    LV2	ISC			✔	✔	✔
    VST3	GPL v3 / proprietary		✔	✔	✔	✔

• Are there any associated costs, such as fees for licenses, when developing Linux plugins?
  • DPF is completely free to use.
  • HISE can be used for free with GPL v3 plugins. A proprietary licence can be purchased for non-GPL v3 plugins.
  • JUCE offers a free version with limited features. A professional license requires a one-time payment per developer.
  • LV2 is completely free to use.
  • VST3 can be used for free with GPL v3 plugins. A proprietary licence can be purchased for non-GPL v3 plugins.
• Can I get help from experienced developers if I run into problems?
  • In the long run, we would like to mediate between experienced Linux audio developers and such that are new to the topic, but unfortunately we are not there yet and currently can't offer any support in this regard.
• After all, can't Linux users just use Wine/yabridge to run Windows plugins?
  • With the help of libraries such as yabridge, Windows plugins can be used under Linux. However, this is sometimes associated with trial and error, involves performance losses and does not work with all Windows plugins.
  • There's a new generation of Linux audio users who are not willing to accept a halfway functioning solution and only use native Linux software.

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Linux Audio Developers Spotlight

This is an incomplete list of vendors who already offer their products for Linux.

Highlighted cards contain interviews.

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Linux Musicians Spotlight

The following is a list of musicians who use Linux for their productions.

Highlighted cards contain interviews.

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About Us

Linux Audio Plugin Deelopment is an initiative by Amadeus Paulussen with the greatly appreciated help of fellow Linux musician friends alf, Christoph Strauss and G M Slater as well as the inspiring Linux Audio community all around the world.

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Contact

• Email (amadeus@linuxaudio.dev)
• Matrix (@amadeuspaulussen:matrix.org)
• Signal (@amadeuspaulussen.81)

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