Rapicorn Audio is an independent site about free and open-source music and audio software. We help people record, edit, mix and make sounds without spending money on licenses, and we explain the tools in plain language so you can get to the music faster.
What We Cover
Our focus is software you can download and use for free, with a strong preference for projects whose source code is open. Around that, we cover the practical knowledge that makes those tools useful.
- Free DAWs. Digital audio workstations that cost nothing, how they compare, and which kind of project each one suits.
- Audacity and audio editing. Cleaning up recordings, cutting podcasts, removing noise, fixing levels and exporting files correctly.
- Free plugins. Effects and instruments that load into your DAW, from EQs and compressors to reverbs and samplers.
- Linux audio. Setting up a working music system on Linux, including audio servers, low-latency configuration and the distributions built for production.
- Synths and sound design. How synthesizers actually work, plus free soft synths and techniques for building your own patches.
- Production basics. Recording, arranging, mixing and mastering fundamentals explained for people who are learning.
- Budget home studio gear. Audio interfaces, microphones, headphones and monitors that make sense on a tight budget, and what you can skip.
Free Browser Tools
Some jobs don’t need a full application. We build small tools that open in your browser and work right away:
- Guitar tuner that listens through your microphone
- Virtual piano you can play with your mouse, touchscreen or computer keyboard
- Metronome for practice and recording
- BPM tapper to find the tempo of a song by tapping along
- MP4 to MP3 converter that extracts audio from video files
The converter runs on your own device. Your files are processed locally in the browser instead of being uploaded to a server, so your recordings stay with you.
Where the Name Comes From
The name Rapicorn once belonged to an open-source toolkit for building user interfaces, created for audio software. That project came out of the same community spirit we care about: people writing tools for musicians and sharing the code so others could learn from it, improve it and build on it.
We chose the name as a nod to that tradition. This site is separate from that project, but it shares the belief that good audio software should be open to everyone.
How We Write About Software
Free software moves quickly. Features change, projects get forked, and some go quiet. We try to keep our coverage honest and current:
- We say what is free and what is open source. These are different things. When a tool costs nothing but keeps its code closed, we tell you. When a project offers free source code but charges for ready-made installers, we explain that too.
- We focus on what works. Our guides are written around real tasks, such as recording a vocal or setting up low latency, rather than feature lists copied from a project page.
- We name the trade-offs. Free tools are often excellent, but some have rough edges, steep learning curves or limited support. We point those out so you know what to expect.
- We update when things change. When a new version shifts a workflow or a project stops being maintained, we revise the guide.
Who This Site Is For
Rapicorn Audio is for beginners making their first recordings, hobbyists building a home studio on a small budget, podcasters who need clean audio, and Linux users who want a dependable music setup. It is also for experienced producers curious about what the open-source world offers today.
You don’t need prior technical knowledge to use our guides. We explain terms the first time they appear and keep instructions step by step.
New and Independent
Rapicorn Audio is a new site. We are not owned by a software company or a gear manufacturer, and no developer pays to be featured in our coverage. Our recommendations are based on what we think serves readers best.
We are building the library steadily, one useful guide and one working tool at a time. If free and open-source audio software interests you, you’re in the right place.