openDAW
**openDAW** is a next-generation web-based Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) designed to **democratize** music production
and to **resurface the process of making music** by making **high-quality** creation tools accessible to everyone, with
a strong focus on **education** and data-privacy.
Subscribe to our [Newsletter](https://buttondown.com/opendaw) for regular updates.
How do we use AI, and why will openDAW never generate your music? [opendaw.studio/manuals/ai](https://opendaw.studio/manuals/ai) gives the honest answer.
New to the codebase? [introduction.md](introduction.md) maps every component of this repository and how they depend on
each other.
---
## Open-Source
We are committed to transparency and community-driven development.
The source code for openDAW is available under **AGPL v3 (or later)**
### Built on Trust and Transparency
**openDAW stands for radical simplicity and respect.**
- **No SignUp**
- **No Tracking**
- **No Cookie Banners**
- **No User Profiling**
- **No Terms & Conditions**
- **No Ads**
- **No Paywalls**
- **No Data Mining**
---
## Looking for Contributors
We welcome contributions that follow the existing style and conventions of the project. AI-assisted code is fine, but
every contributor must **understand every line of code they submit**. If you use AI tools, please document your process
in [`/plans`](https://github.com/andremichelle/openDAW/tree/main/plans). Keep pull requests small and focused. Large
PRs will not be reviewed. Split big contributions into smaller commits that add requirements gradually and maintain
operations of the app.
If you are interested in helping, here are areas where we need support:
1. **Offline App** — e.g. wrapping openDAW with [Tauri](https://tauri.app/) for a native desktop experience
2. **PWA** — turning openDAW into a fully installable Progressive Web App with offline support
3. **Timeline Track Management** — design and UX help for track layout, ordering, grouping, and interaction
We always appreciate help on open issues: https://github.com/andremichelle/openDAW/issues
To discuss contributions, book a call: https://calendly.com/andremichelle/opendaw-on-tour
---
## Huge Shoutout To The Incredible openDAW Community!
To everyone who has contributed feedback, reported bugs, suggested improvements, or helped spread the word — thank you!
Your support is shaping openDAW into something truly powerful!
Thank
you [@ccswdavidson](https://github.com/ccswdavidson), [@Chaosmeister](https://github.com/Chaosmeister), [@jeffreylouden](https://github.com/jeffreylouden), [@solsos](https://github.com/solsos), [@TheRealSyler](https://github.com/TheRealSyler), [@Trinitou](https://github.com/Trinitou),
and [@xnstad](https://github.com/xnstad) for testing the repositories and identifying issues during the installation of
openDAW!
Special shout-out to the biggest bug
hunters: [kanaris](https://kanaris.net/), [@Chaosmeister](https://github.com/Chaosmeister)
and [BeatMax Prediction](https://linktr.ee/beatmax_prediction). Your relentless attention to detail made a huge
difference!
Huge thanks to our [ambassadors](https://opendaw.org/ambassadors), whose dedication and outreach amplify our mission!
## And big hugs to all our supporters!
### openDAW Visionary — $25.00
Stephen Tai, Pathfinder, One Sound Every Day (santino), kanaris, Oli Larkin, [@Robert Anthony](https://github.com/RobertAnthonyDevelopment)
### openDAW Supporter — $5.00
Cal Lycus, Jetdarc, Truls Enstad, Polarity, Ynot Etluhcs, Mats Gisselson, Ola, SKYENCE, BeatMax_Prediction, Kim T,
Nyenoidz, Steve Meiers, 4ohm, Yito, Shawn Lukas, Tommes, David Thompson, Harry Gillich, OxVolt, Wojciech Miłkowski,
skyboundzoo, JHINZ, Mark Dammer, fork-kun, Martin Eigel
---
### openDAW Devices
#### Stock Plugins
* Apparat (programmable instrument scripted in JavaScript)
* Arpeggio (plays the notes of a chord one after another)
* Autotune (real-time monophonic pitch correction)
* Composite (layers several instruments under one set of notes, each with its own effect chains and strip)
* Convolver (zero-latency partitioned convolution with impulse-response samples)
* Crusher (degenerates audio signal)
* Cubed (monophonic acid bass synthesizer driven by its own step sequencer)
* Dattorro Reverb (dense algorithmic reverb based on Dattorro's design)
* Delay (stereo delay with cross and filter options)
* Fold (waveform folding algorithm with oversampling)
* Free Reverb (FreeVerb variation)
* Frequency Split (splits the signal into frequency bands, each with its own effect chain)
* FX Composite (runs several effect chains in parallel and mixes them with dry/wet)
* Gate (noise gate with sidechain support)
* Maximizer (brickwall limiter with automatic makeup gain)
* MIDI Output (sends MIDI messages to other devices)
* Nano (nano sampler for a single audio file)
* Neon (phase-distortion synthesizer)
* Pitch (offsets midi note pitches)
* Playfield (sample drum computer with individual effect chains)
* Revamp (graphical equalizer with spectrum analyser)
* Soundfont (soundfont player)
* Spielwerk (programmable MIDI effect scripted in JavaScript)
* Stereo Split (processes the left and right channels through separate effect chains)
* Stereo Tool (volume, panning and invert the stereo signal)
* Tape (playback device for audio regions and clips)
* Tidal (shapes rhythm and space through volume and pan)
* Tone3000 (amplifier and effects modeling via Neural Amp Modeler)
* Vaporisateur (subtractive synth with classical waveforms)
* Velocity (manipulates velocities of incoming notes)
* Vocoder (analysis/synthesis vocoder)
* Waveshaper (nonlinear waveshaping distortion)
* Werkstatt (programmable audio effect scripted in JavaScript)
* Zeitgeist (transforms time)
#### Ported Plugins (Excluded in commercial license)
* [Compressor](https://github.com/p-hlp/CTAGDRC) (CTAG Dynamic Range Compressor)
### WebCLAP
openDAW hosts [WebCLAP](https://github.com/free-audio/web-clap) plugins, CLAP plugins compiled to WebAssembly, as
instruments and audio effects. Their original interfaces open in floating windows, all parameters can be automated, and
the plugins travel with the project into bundles, cloud backups and Live Rooms. Pick a plugin from the openDAW cloud or
import your own `.wclap` bundle.
#### Available in the openDAW cloud
* [Basics] Analyser, Chorus, Crunch, Frequency Shifter, Limiter, Reverb (Signalsmith Audio)
* MNO (Charlie Culbert)
* OB-Xf (Surge Synth Team)
* Pro54 (Cmajor)
* RipplerX (Tilr)
* Six Sines (BaconPaul)
* Slide (Charlie Culbert)
* Tapa (Charlie Culbert)
### Repositories
* [openDAW](https://github.com/andremichelle/opendaw)
* [openDAW-headless (SDK)](https://github.com/andremichelle/opendaw-headless)
* [openDAW-headless @naomiaro](https://github.com/naomiaro/opendaw-test) (openDAW-headless fork with more docs and
examples)
### Prepare, Clone, Installation, and Run
openDAW tries to avoid external libraries and frameworks. The following is a list of the external libraries we currently
use in the web studio:
* [jszip](https://www.npmjs.com/package/jszip) (for openDAW project bundle file)
* [markdown-it](https://www.npmjs.com/package/markdown-it) + [markdown-it-table](https://www.npmjs.com/package/markdown-it-table) (
for help pages)
* [d3-force](https://d3js.org/d3-force) (for graph debugging)
* [soundfont2](https://github.com/Mrtenz/soundfont2) (for soundfont loading)
* [zod](https://zod.dev) (schema validation)
* [ffmpeg](https://github.com/ffmpegwasm/ffmpeg.wasm) (decoding/encoding)
Before starting, ensure you have the following installed on your system:
- [Git](https://git-scm.com/) is required for cloning the repository and managing submodules.
- [mkcert](https://github.com/FiloSottile/mkcert#installation) is required to create a certificate for developing with
https protocol.
- [Node.js](nodejs.org) version **>= 23**. This is necessary for running the development server and installing
dependencies.
- [Sass](https://sass-lang.com/) While Sass is handled internally during the development process, you will need to
ensure you have the
binaries available in your environment if used outside the build system.
- [TypeScript](https://www.typescriptlang.org/)
- [OpenSSL](https://openssl-library.org/) For generating local development certificates (), OpenSSL needs to be
installed on
your system. Most Linux/macOS systems have OpenSSL pre-installed.
- [Rust](https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install) (via `rustup`, **>= 1.82**) is required to build the WASM
audio engine (`@opendaw/studio-core-wasm`). Without it, `npm run build` / `npm run dev:studio` fails to
resolve that package (a Vite pre-transform error), because `packages/studio/core-wasm/dist` never gets built.
You need:
- the `wasm32-unknown-unknown` target — `rustup target add wasm32-unknown-unknown`
- a **nightly** toolchain with the `rust-src` component (the device crates build with `-Zbuild-std=core`) —
`rustup toolchain install nightly && rustup component add rust-src --toolchain nightly`
- [binaryen](https://github.com/WebAssembly/binaryen) *(optional)* provides `wasm-opt`, used to size-optimise
the WASM modules (`brew install binaryen`, or `apt install binaryen`). If it is missing, the build still
succeeds and ships unoptimised modules.
### Clone
`git clone https://github.com/andremichelle/opendaw.git && cd opendaw`
### Installation
* `npm run cert` (only for the very first time)
* `npm run clean` (to revert to clean slate, removes all `node_modules` and `dist` folders)
* `npm install` (for the first time and after `npm run clean`)
* `npm run build` (for the first time and after `npm run clean`)
* `npm run dev:studio` | `npm run dev:headless` (start dev server)
* Navigate to https://localhost:8080 (port is important > cors sample api)
[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPTXeJY6Eaw)
Watch Polarity's Video *"there's a new FREE DAW in town"*
## Links
* [opendaw.studio (prototype)](https://opendaw.studio)
* [opendaw.org (website)](https://opendaw.org)
* [openDAW on Discord](https://discord.opendaw.studio)
* [openDAW SDK](https://www.npmjs.com/org/opendaw)
* [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/opendaw-org/)
* [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/opendaw.studio)
## Contributions
### Icons
* "Wave" by Gregor Cresnar
from [Noun Project](https://thenounproject.com/icon/wave-6250020/) (CC BY 3.0)
* "Compress" by Gregor Cresnar
from [Noun Project](https://thenounproject.com/browse/icons/term/compress/) (CC BY 3.0)
* "Waveforms" by [Austin Andrews](https://github.com/Templarian/MaterialDesign)
* "futurism" by Martin Königsmann from [Noun Project](https://thenounproject.com/icon/futurism-4565401/)
* "tape reel" by Evgeny Filatov from [thenounproject](https://thenounproject.com/icon/tape-reel-2216293/)
## Dual-Licensing Model
openDAW is available **under two alternative license terms**:
| Option | When to choose it | Obligations |
|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **A. AGPL v3 (or later)** | You are happy for the entire work that includes openDAW to be released under AGPL-compatible open-source terms. | – Must distribute complete corresponding source code under AGPL.
– Must keep copyright & licence notices.
– Applies both to distribution **and** to public use via network/SaaS (§13).
– May run openDAW privately in any software, open or closed (§0). |
| **B. Commercial Licence** | You wish to incorporate openDAW into **closed-source** or otherwise licence-incompatible software or SaaS offerings. | – Pay the agreed fee.
– No copyleft requirement for your own source code.
– Other terms as per the signed agreement. |
> **How to obtain the Commercial License**
> Email `andre.michelle@opendaw.org` with your company name, product description, and expected distribution volume.
If you redistribute or run modified versions of openDAW for public use **without** a commercial license, the AGPL v3
terms apply automatically.
## License
[AGPL v3 (or later)](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.txt) © 2025 André Michelle