# Zrythm

> digital audio station

**Wikidata**: [Q102241944](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102241944)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/zrythm

## Summary
Zrythm is a free and open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) for music production. It was created by Alexandros Theodotou and first released in 2019, with the latest stable version 0.8.982 released in September 2020.

## Key Facts
- Zrythm is free software licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 and GNU Free Documentation License
- The software was developed by Alexandros Theodotou and first released on March 5, 2019
- Latest stable version 0.8.982 was released on September 15, 2020
- Zrythm uses the GTK 3 toolkit and is built with the Meson build system
- The software supports LV2, VST, and JACK Audio Connection Kit plugins
- Zrythm is written in C++ and supports GNU Guile scripting
- The project's source code is hosted on GitLab at gitlab.zrythm.org/zrythm/zrythm
- Zrythm runs on Linux and other operating systems

## FAQs
### Q: What is Zrythm used for?
A: Zrythm is a digital audio workstation used for music production, allowing users to record, edit, mix, and master audio tracks and MIDI sequences.

### Q: Is Zrythm free to use?
A: Yes, Zrythm is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 and GNU Free Documentation License.

### Q: What platforms does Zrythm support?
A: Zrythm primarily runs on Linux and other operating systems, with specific package availability for various Linux distributions.

## Why It Matters
Zrythm represents an important contribution to the ecosystem of free and open-source digital audio workstations, providing musicians and producers with a professional-grade tool without licensing costs or restrictions. As a free software project, it embodies the principles of software freedom, allowing users to study, modify, and distribute the code. This is particularly significant in the audio production space, where proprietary software often dominates and can be prohibitively expensive for many users. Zrythm's development demonstrates that high-quality music production tools can be created through open collaboration, potentially lowering barriers to entry for aspiring musicians and audio engineers. The project's commitment to supporting industry-standard plugin formats like LV2 and VST ensures compatibility with existing workflows while maintaining the flexibility and transparency that free software provides.

## Notable For
- Being a completely free and open-source digital audio workstation
- Supporting multiple plugin formats (LV2, VST, JACK) in a single application
- Built with modern development tools (Meson, GTK 3) for better performance and maintainability
- Active development with regular releases and community engagement through Matrix and IRC channels
- Supporting GNU Guile scripting for extensibility and customization

## Body
### Development History
Zrythm was initiated by Alexandros Theodotou in July 2018, with the first stable release (version 0.1) coming on March 5, 2019. The project has maintained a consistent release schedule, with version 0.8.982 released on September 15, 2020, and alpha version 1.0.0-alpha5.0.1 released on November 16, 2020.

### Technical Architecture
The software is built using the Meson build system, which was adopted in May 2019. Zrythm uses the GTK 3 toolkit for its graphical user interface, providing a modern and responsive user experience. The core application is written in C++, ensuring good performance for audio processing tasks.

### Plugin Support
Zrythm supports multiple plugin formats to ensure compatibility with existing audio software ecosystems. It includes native support for LV2 plugins, as well as Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins, and integrates with the JACK Audio Connection Kit for low-latency audio routing.

### Extensibility
The software includes support for GNU Guile scripting, allowing users to extend functionality and automate tasks through a Scheme-based language. This scripting capability provides advanced users with the ability to customize their workflow and add new features.

### Community and Distribution
Zrythm maintains an active community presence through Matrix chat at #zrythmdaw:matrix.org and IRC at irc://irc.freenode.net/zrythm. The software is distributed through various channels including Flathub (org.zrythm.Zrythm), Nixpkgs, AUR, and Mageia packages, making it accessible across different Linux distributions.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.linux-community.de/ausgaben/linuxuser/2022/06/zrythm-entwickler-alexandros-theodotou-im-interview/)
2. [Source](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/blob/master/COPYING.GPL3)
3. [Source](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/blob/master/COPYING.GFDL)
4. [Source](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/blob/master/COPYING)
5. [Source](https://git.sr.ht/~alextee/zrythm/refs/v1.0.0-alpha.5.0.1)
6. [Source](https://git.sr.ht/~alextee/zrythm/refs/v0.8.982)
7. [Source](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1)
8. [Release 0.1.009. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.009)
9. [Release 0.1.025. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.025)
10. [Release 0.1.027. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.027)
11. [Release 0.1.038. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.038)
12. [Release 0.1.046. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.046)
13. [Release 0.1.052. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.052)
14. [Release 0.1.055. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.055)
15. [Release 0.1.057. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.057)
16. [Release 0.1.059. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.1.059)
17. [Release 0.2. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2)
18. [Release 0.2.000. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.000)
19. [Release 0.2.001. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.001)
20. [Release 0.2.003. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.003)
21. [Release 0.2.038. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.038)
22. [Release 0.2.042. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.042)
23. [Release 0.2.043. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.043)
24. [Release 0.2.046. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.046)
25. [Release 0.2.049. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.049)
26. [Release 0.2.052. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.052)
27. [Release 0.2.059. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.059)
28. [Release 0.2.065. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.065)
29. [Release 0.2.068. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.068)
30. [Release 0.2.071. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.2.071)
31. [Release 0.3. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.3)
32. [Release 0.3.000. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.3.000)
33. [Release 0.3.006. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.3.006)
34. [Release 0.3.013. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.3.013)
35. [Release 0.3.026. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.3.026)
36. [Release 0.3.029. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.3.029)
37. [Release 0.4. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.4)
38. [Release 0.4.000. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.4.000)
39. [Release 0.4.003. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.4.003)
40. [Release 0.4.023. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.4.023)
41. [Release 0.4.027. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.4.027)
42. [Release 0.4.056. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.4.056)
43. [Release 0.4.088. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.4.088)
44. [Release 0.5. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.5)
45. [Release 0.5.001. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.5.001)
46. [Release 0.5.004. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.5.004)
47. [Release 0.5.007. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.5.007)
48. [Release 0.5.024. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.5.024)
49. [Release 0.5.031. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.5.031)
50. [Release 0.5.056. 2019](https://github.com/zrythm/zrythm/releases/tag/v0.5.056)