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andremichelle

andremichelle/openDAW

A web-based digital audio workstation (DAW) for making music in the browser, with no sign-up and no tracking.

Open-source alternative to:Ableton LiveFL StudioBandLab

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What is it?

openDAW is a digital audio workstation that runs entirely in the browser, aiming to make music production tools accessible without installation or accounts. It is built with TypeScript and includes a set of stock instruments and effects such as a subtractive synth, a phase-distortion synth, a sample drum machine, a soundfont player, reverbs, delays, compressors and a graphical equalizer.

The project also hosts WebCLAP plugins compiled to WebAssembly, which open their original interfaces in floating windows and can be automated and bundled with projects. Projects are saved as bundle files, and a headless SDK is available for running openDAW programmatically.

The codebase uses a Rust-built WASM audio engine alongside the web studio. Development requires Node.js 23 or later, and Rust with the wasm32 target and a nightly toolchain for building the audio engine. The source is licensed under AGPL v3 or later, with a separate commercial license offered.

Key features

  • 01Runs in the browser with no installation or account required.
  • 02Includes stock instruments such as a subtractive synth, a sample drum machine and a soundfont player.
  • 03Provides effects including reverb, delay, compressor, limiter and graphical EQ.
  • 04Hosts WebCLAP plugins with floating UI windows and full parameter automation.
  • 05Offers a headless SDK for running projects programmatically.

Use cases

  • Learning music production in a classroom or self-study setting without installing software.
  • Making quick sketches on a computer where installing a desktop DAW is not possible.
  • Building custom audio tools or automated music workflows on top of the headless SDK.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/andremichelle/opendaw.git && cd opendaw
  2. 2

    Install dependencies

    npm install
  3. 3

    Build the project

    npm run build
  4. 4

    Start the dev server, then open https://localhost:8080

    npm run dev:studio

Things to know

  • Requires Node.js 23 or later, Rust with a nightly toolchain, and mkcert/OpenSSL for local HTTPS setup.
  • The README calls the project a prototype and lists Tauri and PWA support as unfinished areas.
  • Licensed under AGPL v3, so modified public or networked use must also be released under AGPL.

Topics

#audio#daw#music-production#webassembly#typescript#web-audio#music#dsp#online#production

FAQ

What is openDAW?
A web-based digital audio workstation (DAW) for making music in the browser, with no sign-up and no tracking. openDAW is a digital audio workstation that runs entirely in the browser, aiming to make music production tools accessible without installation or accounts. It is built with TypeScript and includes a set of stock instruments and effects such as a subtractive synth, a phase-distortion synth, a sample drum machine, a soundfont player, reverbs, delays, compressors and a graphical equalizer.
Is openDAW free to use? What license does it have?
openDAW is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is openDAW still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to openDAW was on Oct 19, 2026.
What can I use openDAW for?
Learning music production in a classroom or self-study setting without installing software. Making quick sketches on a computer where installing a desktop DAW is not possible. Building custom audio tools or automated music workflows on top of the headless SDK.
How do I install openDAW?
Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/andremichelle/opendaw.git && cd opendaw Install dependencies: npm install Build the project: npm run build Start the dev server, then open https://localhost:8080: npm run dev:studio
Where can I get openDAW?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/andremichelle/openDAW

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