Open-source music creation tool LMMS has issued its first stable update in over 4 years!
The previous version of the music composing, sequencer and tracker app was LMMS 1.1.3, released way back in 2015.
Read on to discover the kinds of new features, fixes, and improvements that are on offer in LMMS 1.2.0, or skip straight to the download section to grab the DAW for yourself!
LMMS 1.2.0: New Features
Once pitched as a free Fruityloops (now FL Studio) clone, LMMS has matured into a brilliant beat maker (okay, digital audio workstation) in its own right.
The app boasts an easy-to-use interface, lots of tools, and plenty of advanced features, including support for VST instruments.
But before we rundown the changes included in the latest release, here’s a quick recap of the existing LMMS feature set:
- Sequence, compose, mix and automate songs
- Note playback via MIDI or typing keyboard
- Beat + Bassline Editor
- Piano Roll Editor
- Full user-defined track-based automation
- Support for MIDI files and Hydrogen project files
- 16 built-in synthesisers
- Support for SoundFonts, VST, LADSPA
- ZynAddSubFx plugin
- Tools include compressor, limiter, reverb, distortion, etc
- Built-in equaliser
Fairly robust, right?
With LMMS 1.2.0, the team build on this solid foundation with four years’ worth of bug fixes, feature enhancements and UI improvements.
As you can imagine, the change-log for LMMS 1.2.0 is hefty, so we we pored over it for you to pull out the real highlights:
- Brand new theme
- Brand new “demo” song
- Parametric equalizer with spectrum visualizer
- Sample tracks can now be played from any position
- VST sync is enabled by default
- New metronome samples
- Record chords directly from the piano roll
- Undo note movements
- Improved note resizing in the piano roll
- New export encodings for MP3, 24 bit WAV, VBR OGG
- Improved MIDI import & export
- Dedicated folders for plugins & instrument patches
- Fast-switch support for instrument dialogs
- SDL now default audio back-end
- Move tracks by dragging the track label
- Effects list is sortable
- File menu gains “New from template”
Linux-specific fixes include support for App Image (including working JACK detection in the App Images), as well as fixes for running 32bit VSTs on 64bit Linux with VST sync turned on. The interface should also play nicely with HiDPI displays too.
As mentioned, the list above is only scratching the surface of the improvements in LMMS 1.2.0. You’ll find a full change-log over on Github — but grab a coffee if you plan on reading it, as you’ll be there quite a while!
Next, how to get it.
Download LMMS 1.2.0
LMMS is free, open source software available for Windows, macOS and Linux. Head to the LMMS website’s download page to grab an installer.
Linux users can get the latest LMMS 1.2.0 release as an App Image. An App Image is a self-contained run-time that contains all the necessary dependencies bundled up inside.
AppImages work on most modern Linux distros, including Ubuntu. You just download the App Image, give it permission to run, and then double-click to open.
LMMS 1.2.0 is also available as a Flatpak app via Flathub. If Flatpaks float your boat, go get it: