Don't get me wrong: Sonora isn't a rip-off of Ableton Live. It's a completely new program, started from scratch, free and open source, so that everyone can produce music.
It looks like Live on purpose. I want people to get up to speed without having to learn a new program. And although it can open Live projects, that's not what I recommend it for. Start new music with it.
It moves fast, and it's built around what producers have been asking for forever: built-in collaboration over the internet, built-in AI with an architecture made for agents, and instruments that would otherwise cost a lot. Delta updates keep the improvements coming.
If you're a professional, or you have the money, go ahead and buy Ableton Live. It's amazing software, and you'll get support. Otherwise, try Sonora, and help me make it better.
Why Sonora exists.
Making music shouldn't depend on what you can afford. Sonora is a studio anyone can download, use, read and improve.
Original code, all the way down.
From scratch in C++
Sonora's audio engine, devices, instruments and interface are its own code, built with the open-source JUCE framework for audio and Skia for drawing.
Interoperable, not copied
Sonora opens Live sets by reading the documented file format. It contains no Ableton code, presets, samples or fonts, and every screenshot on this site is Sonora's own interface.
Open source
Everything is published under the GNU AGPL-3.0-or-later. Anyone can read it, build it, and keep it alive.
Your music stays yours
No account, no telemetry. Your projects stay on your Mac unless you choose to share a session.
Build it with us.
Sonora is meant to grow as a community of music enthusiasts. Try it, report what breaks, and suggest what's next.