Rosegarden

Free plan Linux

What Rosegarden is

Rosegarden is a free Linux environment for music composition and editing, centered on MIDI sequencing with notation tools and basic digital audio support. Notes can be entered with a MIDI keyboard, computer keyboard, or mouse. MIDI editors manage ports, banks, programs, and controllers, with velocity and pitch-bend controls; the software includes configurations for over 100 MIDI synthesizers. Its notation editor can tidy recorded notation while preserving performance timing, and LilyPond can generate typeset output. Audio clips can be recorded, arranged, and mixed alongside a composition, with routing through submaster groups and track insert effects. Rosegarden uses LADSPA for audio effects and DSSI for synths. Audio and MIDI support require ALSA sound drivers, and audio sequencing also requires JACK. It runs on Linux, with distribution packages, a Flathub Flatpak, and source code available. Distribution repository packages tend to be outdated, while Flatpaks may take more space because they include dependencies. The project provides a manual, tutorials, FAQs, a wiki, and community resources.

Who it suits

Rosegarden may suit composers, musicians, and music students working on Linux. Its MIDI and notation tools also fit small studio or home recording environments that need basic audio support.

What it does well

MIDI notes can be entered three ways.
Notation tools can preserve performance timing.
Supports LADSPA effects and DSSI synths.
Configurations cover over 100 MIDI synthesizers.
Manual, tutorials, FAQs, and wiki are available.

What to know first

Runs on Linux only.
Audio sequencing requires JACK.
Distribution repository packages tend to be outdated.
Flatpaks may take more space.

Verdict

Rosegarden combines MIDI, notation, and basic audio work in a free Linux program. Check the ALSA and JACK requirements and package options before choosing an installation method.

Facts from Rosegarden's own pages

Audio: Rosegarden can record and mix audio clips alongside a composition, with audio track capacity depending on the user's hardware. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Audio plugins: Rosegarden uses the LADSPA plugin API for effects and the DSSI plugin API for synths. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
Community support: The project lists mailing lists, a wiki, and a SourceForge page for bug tracking and feature requests as community resources. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
Distribution: The site lists Linux distribution packages and a Flathub Flatpak, and says the development team also provides source code. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Editing: Users can enter notes with a MIDI keyboard, the PC keyboard, or a mouse, and the editors provide unlimited undo and redo. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Flatpak: A Flatpak with dependencies is available on Flathub; the site says Flatpaks may be larger because they include dependencies. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · rosegardenmusic.com, 20 Sept 2026
Hardware limits: Audio recording and playback, multiple audio plugins, and soft synths can require more system resources than MIDI editing and score editing. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
Help: The site provides FAQs, tutorials, a manual, and a wiki resource for user tips and tricks. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
Integrations: Rosegarden's integration page describes routing and synchronizing audio applications through JACK. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Intended users: The site describes Rosegarden as suitable for composers, musicians, music students, and small studio or home recording environments. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Languages: The site says Rosegarden is available in 21 languages, with about 12 remaining reasonably current. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Linux audio requirements: Rosegarden requires ALSA sound drivers for audio and MIDI support, and JACK is required for audio sequencing but not MIDI. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
Linux distributions: Installable packages are available from major Linux distributions, though the site says repository packages tend to be outdated. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
MIDI devices: Rosegarden includes configurations for over 100 MIDI synthesizers and lets users create and export device files. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
MIDI editing: Its MIDI tools manage ports, banks, programs, and controllers, and its editors include controls for velocity and pitch bend. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
MIDI sequencing: Yes · rosegardenmusic.com, 20 Sept 2026
Multitrack editing: Yes · rosegardenmusic.com, 20 Sept 2026
Notation: The notation editor supports editing and printing scores, and can use LilyPond to generate typeset output. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Package limitation: The site says packages from distribution repositories tend to be outdated, while Flatpaks may take more space because they include dependencies. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Plugins: Rosegarden supports the LADSPA audio plugin API and the DSSI synth plugin architecture. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Project leadership: The authors page identifies Ted Felix as the current primary curator and calls the role unofficial. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: Rosegarden is a music composition and editing environment built around a MIDI sequencer, with music notation and basic digital audio support. · rosegardenmusic.com, 12 Oct 2026
Source code: The development team provides Rosegarden in source code form for users to compile after downloading. · rosegardenmusic.com, 11 Oct 2026

Where Rosegarden stands on Freedom251

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