Start here

Lemon Studio is a free and open-source digital audio workstation for Windows, Linux and macOS. You build patterns in a step sequencer and a piano roll, put them in order in the arranger, and mix them through a routable mixer. Its own instruments and effects are built in, and it also hosts your CLAP, VST3 and VST2 plugins.

It’s early software. Some controls are drawn dim and say “not available yet”, and things change from build to build.

Read these in order

1. Install Lemon Studio: download a build and open it on your system.
2. Set up your audio: choose an output device and a buffer length.
3. A tour of the window: the toolbar, the menus and the main windows.
4. Your first song: from an empty project to an exported file.

Then look things up

• The workspace: the instrument rack, piano roll, arranger, mixer and browser each have a page of their own.
• Sounds: Instruments and effects covers everything built in, and Your plugins covers the ones you already have.
• Reference: Keyboard shortcuts, Settings, Project files, Troubleshooting and the FAQ.