Renoise
Renoise is a digital audio workstation for recording, composing, editing, processing, and rendering audio through a music-tracker workflow.
What Renoise is
Renoise is a digital audio workstation for recording, composing, editing, processing, and rendering audio through a music-tracker workflow. Its tracker uses keyboard shortcuts and keeps widgets in a fixed workspace. More than 26 native effects include reverb, delay, filters, compressors, EQ, and distortion, with support for VST, VST3, AU, LADSPA, and DSSI plugins. The Sample Editor handles sample editing and auditioning, and sequenced audio can be rendered through an effects chain into new instruments. Renoise connects hardware synthesizers and plugin instruments over MIDI, exchanges notes and controllers, supports master or slave synchronization, and includes OSC. Lua scripting through its API allows customization and extensions. One license covers Windows, macOS, and Linux. Renoise is paid, has no free plan, and offers a restricted demo. The listed license costs $8,800, paid once, plus local VAT rates. Windows requires 64-bit Windows 10 or later; macOS requires 10.14 or later.
Good
- Tracker workspace with keyboard shortcuts
- More than 26 native audio effects
- Supports VST, VST3, AU, LADSPA, and DSSI
- MIDI, OSC, and synchronization support
- Lua API for customization
Watch out
- No free plan
- Demo disables several rendering functions
- Windows requires 64-bit Windows 10 or later
- Listed license costs $8,800, paid once
Who it suits
Renoise suits musicians and sound designers who prefer tracker-based composition, plugin effects, sampling, MIDI hardware, and Lua customization. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux users under one license.
Verdict
Renoise combines tracker sequencing with recording, sampling, effects, plugin support, MIDI, and scripting. Its paid license covers three desktop platforms, while the demo restrictions limit evaluation capabilities.
Plans and prices
From Renoise's own pricing page, checked 26 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Renoise license | Priced on request | License from Renoise 3.5.4 to 4.5.4 |
| Renoise | $8,800, paid once | License from versions 3.5.4 to 4.5.4 · One-time license; + local VAT rates. |
The facts
Each one read from Renoise's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Creators
- The maker page credits Eduard Müller, Lucio Asnaghi, Erik Jälevik, Bjørn Næsby, Martin Alnæs, Simon Finne and Kieran Foster among Renoise's creators.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Demo limits
- The Renoise demo disables ASIO support on Windows and rendering to WAV, selections and plugin instruments to samples, and displays nag screens.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Effects
- Renoise includes over 26 native effects, including reverb, delay, filters, compressors, EQ and distortion.checked 10 Oct 2026
- MIDI and OSC
- Renoise can connect to hardware synthesizers or plugin instruments over MIDI, and supports MIDI note and controller exchange and master or slave synchronization; it also supports OSC.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- Renoise runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, and one license covers all three platforms.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Plugin support
- Renoise supports VST, AU, LADSPA and DSSI plugins.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Product
- Renoise is a digital audio workstation for recording, composing, editing, processing and rendering audio using a music-tracker approach.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Sampling
- The Sample Editor lets users edit and audition samples, and Renoise can render sequenced audio through an effects chain into new instruments.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Scripting
- Renoise includes an API that lets users customize and extend the application with Lua scripting.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Tracker interface
- The tracker interface supports keyboard shortcuts and keeps its widgets in a fixed workspace without floating windows.checked 10 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Nochecked 19 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Linux requirement
- Renoise lists Linux support for x86 64-bit and ARM 64-bit systems, with different minimum glibc versions for each.checked 10 Oct 2026
- macOS requirement
- Renoise supports Intel or Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 10.14 or later.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Windows requirement
- Renoise requires 64-bit Windows 10 or later.checked 10 Oct 2026
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