LMMS is intended for authoring your music. In this regard, it is a comprehensive package that includes a song editor and multiple tools for music synthesizing and mixing. The app may have an initial steep learning curve, mainly because it comes with lots of different features. This means that it may take some time to discover and learn how to use all of them.
Fortunately, there is a huge community supporting this app, and there is even a platform on which projects are shared. Regarding this, there are samples for you to try the application and realize its potential before you start with your creations.
One of the main tools in this package is the Song Editor, which allows composing your own music as well as mixing and synthesizing sounds. Additionally, there is an editor specifically intended for creating beats and basslines.
LMMS comes with many other valuable features. For instance, there is a Piano-Roll that you can use for editing patterns and melodies. Luckily, its FX mixer allows working with an unlimited number of FX channels and effects.
In terms of sound synthesis, for instance, LMMS can accuratelty simulate the sound of various instruments, like violins and pianos. It also comes with multiple native musical instruments, including ZynAddSubFx plugin, Native SoundFont and Native Commodore instrument emulators.
The application fully supports MIDI files. Similarly, it is compatible with such standards as SoundFont2, LADSPA and GUS Patches. Regrettably, due to limitations of your operating system, the Mac version cannot use VST plugins.
All in all, LMMS is a worth-trying open-source alternative to generally expensive music authoring applications. Good news that, besides being absolutely free to use, this product has versions for not only macOS but also Linux and Windows, which facilitates exchanging projects with others and across devices.
v1.2 [Jul 20, 2018]
General improvements
Stop filtering out valid characters from file name while exporting tracks
Fix Invalid warning about "dummy-MIDI-client"
UI improvements
Note selection: Editing values works in dialog
Bug Fixes
Piano Roll - Fix retrigger with vol/pan sliders
Fix a rare crash on export
Fix LMMS not launching when AppImage has spaces in name
Fix vertical piano being unresponsive when clicked too fast
Fix crash with Grooove VST
Fix crash on deleting instrument with controller connections on knob
Fix notes being placed at negative positions on MIDI import
Fix scrolling direction in the song editor due to stuck Ctrl/Shift
Fix stuck notes with Helm VST on tempo automation
Fix file factory delimeter position
Fix a muted demo project "Greippi - Krem Kaakkuja (Second Flight Remix)"
Fix controls linking misbehaviors
Fix loading and saving of .fxb/.fxp files on Windows
Fix crashes and hangs on importing some Hydrogen drum kit songs
Fix freeze when replacing Mallets with another instrument
DrumSynth: ensure correct envelope length in any sample rate
AFP: fix loading start and loop points if the loop point is automated
Select the correct piano key for marking semitones
Ensure consistent use of effect gate
Fix Piano roll crashing when window is vertically scaled too large
Fix some memory errors with JACK audio/MIDI
JackMidi: Remove confusing warnings at shutdown
Fix SF2 player crashing when file is not a soundfont, with FluidSynth 2
BB editor: fix mouse event affecting wrong beats due to the cursor shape
Fix knobs moving too fast on some platforms
Fix notes created in BB editor resizing incorrectly when resizing a selection
Fix some patterns not being saved in project
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