Both LMMS and FL Studio have years on the market and probably anyone interested in music production knows about them.
FL Studio is quite popular right now and is one of the most loved DAWs by professionals and novices alike.
LMMS unlike FL Studio, is completely free, open source software, so it can be downloaded and used commercially without having to invest a penny.
So we did some research on both tools and now we are ready to give our LMMS vs FL Studio verdict.
LMMS
LMMS is an abbreviation for Linux Multimedia Studio, a free music production program.
With it, you can create and record melodies and beats from a keyboard or MIDI controller.
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It has VST support (through the inclusion of the included VeSTige plugin), which makes it capable of producing complex music.
LMMS runs on Linux, Windows and MacOS operating systems. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit.
LMMS Pros
Unlike FL Studio, LMMS runs on Linux.
It is ideal for beginners, as it is easy to use and comes with tons of ready-to-use instruments and samples.
Its source code is freely available licensed under GPL and available on GitHub.
This is essential, because it allows anyone to edit and extend the software as they see fit.
Its interface is similar to FL Studio. It has in common many windows, such as step sequencer, piano roll, playlist, mixer, etc.
It is a lightweight software, which can be easily run on a flash drive (USB).
Support LADSPA plugin.
You can use your computer keyboard as a MIDI controller.
It is multi-language.
LMMS Cons
The program crashes a lot.
This often happens when loading VST files.
There is no function that allows you to merge or splice tracks in LMMS.
Sometimes you can pitch bend with the Piano Roll editor, but with many instruments you can’t and you are limited to the pitch control in the main plugin interface.
Many third-party effects plugins don’t work.
FL Studio
FL Studio is a full-featured music production program from the Image-Line company.
It is capable of recording sounds from both MIDI keyboard and MIDI pads, as well as microphone inputs, and can export melodies as MIDI files.
The program has several paid editions with prices ranging from $99 the fruity version, $199 the producer version, $299 the signature bundle, etc.
It also has a free version with some limitations, but can be used without time limit.
FL Studio 20 is compatible for Windows and MacOS operating systems. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit.
FL Studio Pros
All the plugins available fulfill their functions, making this an excellent way to learn the theory of mixing for a beginner.
This approach makes FL Studio easy to learn compared to other DAWs.
When purchasing the paid version, Image-Line provides lifetime upgrades to its software.
FL Studio uses drag-and-drop functions, and can usually be learned quickly without any prior knowledge.
It is very complete for live music shows.
User-friendly interface that adapts to screen size.
Its piano roll is an instrument step sequencer.
It is considered one of the most intuitive and flexible tools to quickly create patterns and manipulate all aspects of each note.
It supports VST / VSTi (v2, v3) Wav, Aiff, Rex, Acid, Apple Loop, Ogg, Mp3. It also accepts almost all video formats, including Mov and Mp4.
It can import and export 32-bit audio.
It is a powerful sound editor. It allows you to record and edit samples, sound effects and is a very easy way to create sample packs and sound libraries.
FL Studio Cons
Audio recording is not good as in other digital audio programs.
The color scheme of the GUI may not appeal to all users.
They use a lot of dark and similar color for the GUI.
Most of the controls are hidden.
For example, the mids, bass and treble are not as explicitly visible as they should be.
Always save before loading a new VST or doing anything important: FL is prone to crashes.
FL Studio vs LMMS verdict
Our verdict is that both are winners and can complement each other.
FL Studio is a very complete and perfectly functional DAW for any project you are planning to work on.
It is compatible with a wide variety of plugins that drastically increase your creative possibilities.
In addition, it is easy to find a huge amount of tutorials about every possible doubt you may have.
On the other hand, I recommend LMMS for Linux users or for those producers who do not have the resources to invest in a paid DAW.
But if you are a follower of VILARCORP you will know that FL Studio is my favorite DAW and I will continue to recommend it as the most user-friendly and powerful DAW I have ever used.
I recommend FL Studio without hesitation, even in the free version it is well worth it.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours, the important thing is not which DAW you choose but learning how to use it and having a good time while using it.
