Comparison of MIDI editors and sequencers

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Notable software MIDI editors and sequencers are listed in the following table.

SoftwarePlatformLicenseDeveloperEditing interfaceNotes
Aegis Sonix Amiga Proprietary Aegis DevelopmentScore, keyboard, and an instrument editorMusic sequencer and a score editor.
Anvil Studio Windows Freemium Willow SoftwareScore, piano roll, tablature, event listFull-featured MIDI editor & sequencer with staff, piano roll, percussion, event list, and audio editors.
Ardour FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows GPL-2.0-or-later Paul Davis, and The Ardour CommunityPiano roll, event listMIDI support began with version 3.
Aria Maestosa Linux, macOS, Windows GPL-2.0-or-later MIDI sequencer/editor with score, keyboard, guitar, drum and controller views.
B-Step Sequencer macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS (iPad), Android, Raspberry Pi Proprietary MonoplugsA step sequencer to create arpeggios, chord progressions, basslines or percussions. Available as VST, Audio Units or standalone program.
Band-in-a-Box macOS, Windows
(also previously for Atari ST)
Proprietary PG MusicAccompaniment sequencer with audio loops and more.
Cakewalk by BandLab Windows Proprietary BandLab Technologies Piano roll, event list
Steinberg Cubase macOS, Windows
(also previously for Atari ST)
Proprietary Steinberg Score, piano roll, drum editor, event list [1]
Deluxe Music Construction Set AmigaOS, macOS Proprietary Electronic Arts
Digital Performer macOS, Windows [2] Proprietary Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU)
DirectMusic ProducerWindows Freeware Microsoft Part of DirectMusic SDK.
Finale macOS, Windows Proprietary MakeMusic, Inc.ScoreComposition and sequencing program, with various versions, including freeware (version 2008 and earlier) "NotePad" version (with very limited features). Discontinued. [3]
FL Studio Windows, macOS, Android, iOS Proprietary Image-Line Piano roll, step sequencer
GarageBand macOS, iOS Proprietary Apple Import only, saves to native format.
Guitar Pro Linux, macOS, Windows Proprietary Arobas Music
Indaba Music macOS, Windows Proprietary
JFugue Linux, macOS, Windows (Java-based)5: Apache-2.0
3-4: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Programming library (API).
KeyKit Linux, WindowsFree for non-commercial use, source available
LilyPond FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows GPL-3.0-or-later
Live macOS, Windows Proprietary Ableton Piano roll
Logic Pro macOS
(also previously for Windows & Atari ST)
Proprietary Apple/Emagic (formerly named C-Lab)Piano roll, step editor, event list
LMMS Linux, macOS, OpenBSD, Windows GPL-2.0-or-later Piano roll, step sequencerDAW; VST, LADSPA support. MIDI editor displaying notes positions on a virtual keyboard. As of March 30, 2011 no MIDI aftertouch support.
MAGIX Samplitude Windows Proprietary MAGIX
Master Tracks Pro Windows Proprietary GVOX (originally Passport Designs)Full-featured GUI MIDI sequencer with notation screen (requires supplied Anastasia TrueType or Type1 font), event editor, MCI, SMPTE sync., etc. Tested to work under Win 10 1903.
MIDI Converter StudioWindowsSharewareManiacToolsMIDI file converter, karaoke converter.
MidiEditorLinux, Windows GPL-2.0-or-later Markus SchwenkPiano rollOpen-sourced on GitHub.
Mixcraft Windows Proprietary AcousticaAudio and MIDI sequencer, support for VSTis, MIDI recording, editing, and playback.
Mozart Windows Proprietary David WebberMusic notation software for simple tunes to full scores of up to 64 parts.
MuLab Windows, macOS Proprietary MutoolsMIDI and audio full DAW. Support for customizable modular DSP graphs. For electronic music, but not only.
MultitrackStudio Windows, macOS, iOS Proprietary Bremmers Audio DesignMIDI and audio full DAW, simple user interface, flexible MIDI editing.
MusE Linux GPL-2.0-or-later Piano roll, event listOpen source midi and audio work station with support for VST, DSSI, LADSPA and LV2.
MuseScore Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS (partial) GPL-2.0-only Werner SchweerScoreMusic notation software with full MusicXML support. Piano roll editor, unlimited parts. good stability below 300 000 notes, edit multiple files at once, user friendly GUI, portable edition.
Musink Windows Proprietary Lee ReidMusic notation freeware with MIDI output, loop, and playback functionality.
Notation Composer Windows, with Wine support Proprietary Notation SoftwareScore, piano rollFull featured notation software program and MIDI sequencer.
NoteEdit Linux GPL-2.0-or-later Jörg AndersMIDI based score writerDefunct; last stable release September 2006.
NoteWorthy Composer Windows Proprietary Noteworthy SoftwareCan import and export MIDI data, but only edit and display it as a musical score. Runs correctly in wine.
Overture macOS, Windows Proprietary Sonic Scores (formerly called Geniesoft)Score, piano roll, MIDI sequencerNotation, tab, piano roll, MIDI/step sequencing, VST/VSTi host, hybrid DAW, video sync.
Podium Windows Proprietary Zynewave
Pro Tools macOS, Windows Proprietary Avid Score, piano roll, event list
Qtractor Linux GPL-2.0-or-later Audio MIDI multi-track sequencer application written in C++ in the Qt framework.
REAPER Linux, macOS, Windows Proprietary CockosScore, piano roll, event listSupports guitar tabs and MIDI2Tab conversion with TabEditor plug.
Reason macOS, Windows Proprietary PropellerheadPiano roll
Renoise Linux, macOS, Windows Proprietary Tracker Demo version available.
Rosegarden Linux GPL-2.0-or-later Score, piano roll, event listAudio, MIDI sequence, record. Win VST support, LADSPA, JACK.
Scala Linux, macOS, WindowsFreeware, noncommercialManuel Op de CoulSpecializes in tuning; converts ascii score file to MIDI.
Seq24 Linux, Windows GPL-2.0-or-later Piano rollMIDI loops sequencer.
Sibelius macOS, Windows Proprietary Avid (originally Sibelius Software)Score, piano roll, tablatureLive scoring of sheet music from MIDI input.
Signal WebOpen sourceSignalPiano roll, event list
Studio One macOS, Windows Proprietary PreSonus Score, piano roll, drum editor
TineFune Linux, Windows Proprietary TineFune, LLCPiano roll, event listMIDI sequencer with a Web Browser GUI, no windows or menu clutter.
TuxGuitar FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows (Java-based) LGPL-2.1-only TablatureTablature editor.
Z-Maestro Windows Proprietary "Lite" version: limited tracks, I/O.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MIDI</span> Connection standard for electronic musical instruments

MIDI is a technical standard that describes a communication protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and related audio devices for playing, editing, and recording music.

A music sequencer is a device or application software that can record, edit, or play back music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically CV/Gate, MIDI, or Open Sound Control, and possibly audio and automation data for digital audio workstations (DAWs) and plug-ins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sibelius (scorewriter)</span> Scorewriter program

Sibelius is a scorewriter program developed and released by Sibelius Software Limited. Beyond creating, editing and printing music scores, it can also play the music back using sampled or synthesised sounds. It produces printed scores, and can also publish them via the Internet for others to access. Less advanced versions of Sibelius at lower prices have been released, as have various add-ons for the software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steinberg Cubase</span> Digital audio workstation

Cubase is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Steinberg for music and MIDI recording, arranging and editing. The first version, which was originally only a MIDI sequencer and ran on the Atari ST computer, was released in 1989. Cut-down versions of Cubase are included with almost all Yamaha audio and MIDI hardware, as well as hardware from other manufacturers. These versions can be upgraded to a more advanced version at a discount.

A scorewriter, or music notation program is software for creating, editing and printing sheet music. A scorewriter is to music notation what a word processor is to text, in that they typically provide flexible editing and automatic layout, and produce high-quality printed results.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital audio workstation</span> Electronic device or application software used for recording, editing and producing audio files

A digital audio workstation is an electronic device or application software used for recording, editing and producing audio files. DAWs come in a wide variety of configurations from a single software program on a laptop, to an integrated stand-alone unit, all the way to a highly complex configuration of numerous components controlled by a central computer. Regardless of configuration, modern DAWs have a central interface that allows the user to alter and mix multiple recordings and tracks into a final produced piece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosegarden</span> Digital audio workstation program for BSD and Linux

Rosegarden is a free software digital audio workstation program developed for Linux with ALSA, JACK and Qt4. It acts as an audio and MIDI sequencer, scorewriter, and musical composition and editing tool. It is intended to be a free alternative to such applications as Cubase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audio editing software</span> Computer system for manipulating audio

Audio editing software is any software or computer program which allows editing and generating audio data. Audio editing software can be implemented completely or partly as a library, as a computer application, as a web application, or as a loadable kernel module. Wave editors are digital audio editors. There are many sources of software available to perform this function. Most can edit music, apply effects and filters, and adjust stereo channels.

Emagic was a music software and hardware company based in Rellingen, Germany and a satellite office in Grass Valley, California. On July 1, 2002 Emagic was bought by Apple Computer. Emagic's Windows-based product offerings were discontinued on September 30, 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ableton Live</span> Digital audio workstation

Ableton Live, also known as Live or sometimes colloquially as "Ableton", is a digital audio workstation for macOS and Windows developed by the German company Ableton.

Digital Performer is a digital audio workstation and music sequencer software package published by Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) of Cambridge, Massachusetts for the Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows platforms.

ReWire is a software protocol, jointly developed by Propellerhead and Steinberg, allowing remote control and data transfer among digital audio editing and related software. Originally appearing in the ReBirth software synthesizer in 1998, the protocol has since evolved into an industry standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MIDI controller</span> Device that produces MIDI data

A MIDI controller is any hardware or software that generates and transmits Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) data to MIDI-enabled devices, typically to trigger sounds and control parameters of an electronic music performance. They most often use a musical keyboard to send data about the pitch of notes to play, although a MIDI controller may trigger lighting and other effects. A wind controller has a sensor that converts breath pressure to volume information and lip pressure to control pitch. Controllers for percussion and stringed instruments exist, as well as specialized and experimental devices. Some MIDI controllers are used in association with specific digital audio workstation software. The original MIDI specification has been extended to include a greater range of control features.

The Roland Juno-106 is a synthesizer released by Roland Corporation in February 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracktion Waveform</span>

Waveform, previously known as Tracktion, is a digital audio workstation for recording and editing audio and MIDI. The software is cross-platform, and runs on Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Linux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overture (software)</span> Scorewriter

Overture is a music notation (scorewriter) program for Windows and Macintosh platforms, published and developed by Sonic Scores. While Overture is primarily a scorewriter program, it also allows editing the score's MIDI audio playback data in the manner of sequencer and digital audio workstation (DAW) software.

This is a comparison of music notation programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anvil Studio</span> Digital audio workstation

Anvil Studio is a multitrack MIDI and audio editing, digital audio workstation program that runs on Microsoft Windows. It is developed by Willow Software, based in Shoreline, Washington, U.S.A.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MultitrackStudio</span>

MultitrackStudio is a digital audio workstation application for macOS, Windows and iPad platforms.

References

  1. "MIDI Editors". steinberg.help. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  2. "Digital Performer 11 - Downloads | MOTU.com". motu.com. Archived from the original on 2024-06-23. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  3. "Finale | Music Notation Software That Lets You Create Your Way". Finale. Retrieved 2024-09-11.