MusE is a multitrack virtual studio for Linux that has support for sequencing of both MIDI and audio and has, among other things, support for LADSPA, Jack and ALSA.

Some Highlights:

• Advanced jack audio routing possibilities.
• Automation architecture for both MIDI and audio.
• Better MIDI controller abstraction: available MIDI controller can be defined in instrument definition file (*.idf).
• Integrated mixer with:
  - Unlimited number of inputs.
  - Unlimited number of outputs.
  - Unlimited number of tracks.
  - Unlimited number of aux's.
  - LADSPA effects on all track types, both before and after fader.
  - Stereo/Mono track types.

• Interface changes, the TrackInfo pane is used more.
• MIDI instrument definition files (*.idf).
• Lots of customization options.
• Shortcut editor.
• Drag and drop import of MIDI files.
• Drag and drop import of wave files.
• Standard MIDIfile (smf) import-/export.
• RTC (Real time clock) use for rock solid timing.
• Advanced arranger with track and part abstractions.
• MIDI editors:
  - Pianoroll.
  - Drum editor.
  - List editors.
  - Controller editors.

• Realtime editing of "everything".
• Unlimited number of open editors.
• Unlimited undo/redo.
• Realtime and step-recording.
• Multiple MIDI devices.
• Unlimited number of tracks, both MIDI and audio.
• Audio playback/recording.
• Sync to external and internal devices/applications:
  - MTC/MMC.
  - MIDI Clock.
  - Master/Slave.
  - Jack transport enabled.

• LADSPA effects.
• Integrated softsynth architecture M.E.S.S
  - Several internal synths available.
  - Simple architecture for adding more synths.
  - Support for industry standard Windows VSTi softsynths.

• JACK enabled.
• ALSA sequencer client.
• LASH enabled (formerly LADCCA).
• Raw MIDI device usage through ALSA.
• XML based project files.
• XML based configuration files.
• Project file contains complete app state (session data).
• Application spanning Cut/Paste Drag/Drop.
• Uses C++, QT3.2 GUI Library, STL.

Related Hardware:
To record audio you will need an Audio Interface: See our review of USB Audio Interfaces here.

New in v3.0pre1

• Switched to Qt5.
• New Plugin Path editor in Global Settings.
• System-wide move to double precision of all audio paths.
• LV2 fix for very slow right-click synth 'presets' ex. amsynth.
• LV2 support PowerOf2BlockLength.
• LV2 support FixedBlockLength.
• Mixer makeover with lots of fixes.
• Arranger Track Info panel complete makeover.
• New: Persistent routes jack audio and MIDI routes.
• Multi-channel Audio Track routing.
• Improved automation editing, no multi-point editing yet though.
• Audio automation graphs undo support.
• New wave drawing mode in arranger with a tiny outline of the wave file.
• Added Native VST FX support (synths were already supported).
• Added support to resize notes and parts to the left with pencil tool.
• Added live update of wave parts while recording.
• Added Native VST shell plugins support.
• Added recording restart function (CTRL+Space and SHIFT+space keeping the old).
• Auto resample imported wave files to project's sample rate.
• Graphical Routing dialog redone and enhanced.
• Routing popup menus for MIDI now allow Jack MIDI routing.
• Device List added to MIDI configuration, with 'Delete' button.
• Added multichannel support for SimpleDrums (+routing ability).
• Added channel meters for SimpleDrums.
• Fix toolbars initial positions in all windows.
• Many more GUI items added to the editable color list.
• Converted python scripts to python3 and explicitly launch with python3.
• Added instrument definition for Yamaha S30/S80 made by Dennis Schulmeister.

New in v2.2

• Support for LV2 Synths and effects
• Major audio engine and plugin/synth process chain re-write
• Various bugfixes

New in v2.1.2

• Read old drummaps for new style drumtracks
• New metronome icon in main window
• Bugfix for moving events with keyboard in Drum editor
• New theme support, Light, Dark and Ardour so far
• Now with missing line draw shortcut (F) to drum editor.
• New french translation from Yann Collette
• Pan and Zoom tools to editors.
• Various other bugfixes and improvements
• Latest changelog here

New in v2.1

• Various bugfixes
• Changed versions to rc2
• Changed name of SimpleSynth to original name SimpleDrums

New in v2.0.1

• Fixed wacky controller bug
• Changed naming convention for recorded wav files
• Use cmake's own FindPythonLibs module instead of pkgconfig to detect Python
• Updated Czech translation from Pavel Fric
• Increased zoom range a bit in arranger

New in v2.0

• Moved to qt4, this affects the visuals and potentially improved portability
• Graphical automation in the arranger
• A new score editor
• MusE now defaults to using midi through Jack, -A enables native alsa support
• New style MDI gui with a bunch of configuration options to satisfy all tastes
• Redone midi editing tool dialogs with lots of new functionality
• Lots and lots and lots of internal small and big changes to improve stability, speed and functionality
• PSIIF support (support for: probably something important I forgot)
• Sync fix: MusE now records tempo changes from externally clocked midi.
• Finally! Audio controller playback has smooooth frame resolution even with large audio buffers.
• Feature: Midi control of audio paramters.
• Lots of automation improvements
• Switched to use JACK midi
• Added: -A switch: "Force inclusion of ALSA midi even if using Jack".
• Lots of leaks removed
• Added colorhints to iR and oR routing buttons
• Templates: File dialog: Lots of changes
• Lots of widget focus fixes
• Allow loading of DSSI synths in LADSPA browser.
• Midi editors: Added "Delta Mode" button to Note Info toolbar.

New in v2.0 rc2

• New super-glue feature
• Global Cut: Fixed crashes with markers. Re-did marker section in structure.cpp:adjustGlobalLists().
• Fixed drag and drop cloning parts - bad reference count in PartCanvas::moveItem()
• File Open dialog: Start with song data and configuration.
• New 'Duplicate tracks' Edit action, and dialog. Post-cleanups. TODO: Copy plugins, fix copying parts
• Audio strip prefader now controls audio.
• Fixed: Annoying ladspa browser issues. Leak: Dialog was not destroyed. Sorting. Save complete state
• Fixed long-time graphics corruption issue: Large areas of desktop erased to background.
• New: Midi routing matrix! No more clumsy routing menu items. Currently for Midi Track iR and Audio Input iR solo routes
• Improved: Midi ports list now fills automatically at start
• List only writeable ports in track list output port column and midi track info combo box.
• Jack midi devices now save an additional required rwFlags xml tag.
• Midi ports dialog: Auto dis/connect the stated default channels when selecting a device.
• Complete Spanish translation from Cristian Ramos
• Improved: Project save dialog: Now has quick save as Template. Separate project/result paths shown. Editable project folder.
• Added: Project directory in global settings dialog.
• Changed: In File Dialog, 'User' initial prepend path changed to muse ./config path. So user files + templates are shown.
• Fixed: Template directory changed from /home/templates to muse config directory. Support for old files included.
• Fixed: DSSI synth audio inputs. This means dssi vocoders, samplers etc. should work now
• Re-write: Fixed audio mixing, meter processing. Audio, and meters, for all mono <-> stereo route combinations work sensibly now.
• Window titles of ladspa and dssi plugins now have track name prefix to help identify them.
• Added "Unused Devices" menu to the arranger's port popupmenu for rapid device selection

New in v1.1

• added: missing headerfile in dssihost.cpp, required for building on Ubuntu Maverick (rj)
• Fixed: Mixers not restoring their size properly upon song load. (T356)
  
  - Rearranged MusE::loadProjectFile1() slightly so mixer resizing done at end. Tested OK.

• Changed: Disabled some optimized code always enabled in Dsp::cpy(), for now, in case of 64-bit issues. (T356)
• Created rc2 release for 1.1 (rj)
• Fixed: Delete track(s) not disconnecting track routes, causing routes to hang around and store in song file. (T356)
  
  - Fixed major regressions (my fault) in Song::insertTrack2() and ::removeTrack2().

• Fixed: Dummy audio device: Crashes when Jack midi device created in device manager, or loaded from song. (T356)
  
  - This allows to create Jack midi devices even when dummy audio driver is used.
  
  - Tested OK loading complex Jack midi based songs with dummy audio driver.

• Fixed: AlsaTimer cannot start, with dummy audio device. (T356)
  
  - Reverted: Back to default SND_TIMER_GLOBAL_SYSTEM in AlsaTimer, for now until a better fix.
  
  - Also replaced pop-up warning in dummy loop with terminal output instead.

• Changed: MidiDevice <-> Track routes replaced with MidiPort <-> Track routes. (T356)
  
  - This allows to change a port's device (even to !) while keeping all the track channel routes.

• Changed: Single midi <-> track route with channel mask, instead of one route-per-channel. (T356)
  
  - Potentially saving very many routes from memory and in song file.