What works today, and how well.
We'd rather tell you exactly where Sonora stands than promise that everything works. This page is updated with each release.
Where Sonora runs
The Mac is home. Windows and Linux builds exist, but they are even earlier than the Mac version.
| Platform | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon | Main platform (alpha) | Metal drawing, VST3 and Audio Units, automatic delta updates, collaboration and the assistant. |
| macOS on Intel | Not supported | The graphics library Sonora uses is built for Apple silicon only. |
| Windows x64 | Early alpha build | Installer built automatically and barely tested on real machines. The interface draws on the CPU, there are no automatic updates, and the installer isn't code-signed yet, so Windows will warn about an unknown publisher. |
| Linux x64 | Early alpha build | AppImage and .deb, tested by installing on Ubuntu 24.04 and starting the app. The interface draws on the CPU and there are no automatic updates. Audio hardware and plug-ins are not yet qualified. |
Third-party plug-ins
| Format | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VST3 | Supported | The main format. Plug-in state is saved with the project and restored. |
| Audio Units | Supported (macOS) | Hosted through the same plug-in layer. |
| VST2 | Not supported | The VST2 SDK can no longer be licensed. |
| Intel-only (x86_64) plug-ins | Not supported | Sonora runs natively on Apple silicon and can't load Intel-only plug-ins. |
| CLAP, ARA 2 | Planned | On the roadmap. |
Sonora Prism is also available as a VST3 plug-in for Apple silicon Macs. See Download.
Possible, but not the main idea.
Sonora can open sets saved by Ableton Live 12, edit them and save them back. That's handy for bringing an idea or a loop over. But Sonora is made for starting new music, and an existing set may sound different or be missing devices, so we don't recommend it as a way to keep working on finished Live projects.
Opening
A library of 65 real-world sets, from sketches to 50-track productions, opens on every build.
Saving
Untouched sets re-save to identical XML, and edited sets were checked by opening them in Live 12 again.
Nothing is thrown away
Data Sonora doesn't understand stays in the file when you save. A load report lists everything Sonora skipped.
Extras stay in Sonora
Linked clips, hidden or deactivated tracks and Sonora's own instruments are stored in a form Live ignores. Live opens the set, but doesn't play Sonora's instruments and drops these extras if it saves the set.
Sonora reads and writes the set format only. It doesn't use any part of Live, and you don't need Live installed. Samples from Live's own library are found only if that library is on your Mac.
Native device status
When a set uses a built-in device, Sonora runs its own implementation if it has one. These are original code: they may not sound identical to the device with the same name.
| Device | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EQ Eight, Utility | Native | Complete controls. |
| Simpler | Native | Classic, 1-Shot and Slice modes, filter, LFO and envelopes. |
| Racks (Instrument, Drum, Audio Effect) | Native | Chains, key, velocity and chain-select zones, macros. |
| Reverb, Delay | Native | Complete parameter sets. |
| Impulse, Echo, Compressor, Limiter, Auto Filter | Native, early | Play back and edit. |
| Redux, Tuner, Gate, Auto Pan | Native, early | First versions. |
| Arpeggiator, Note Length, Velocity | Native, early | MIDI effects run before the instrument. |
| Max for Live devices | Not supported | Kept in the file and listed in the load report. A few common ones, such as a loudness meter, have a native stand-in. |
| Other built-in instruments and effects | Not yet | Kept in the file and listed in the load report. A missing instrument can play a placeholder sound so you still hear the part. |
An honest comparison
Only facts you can check. We don't compare sound or speed.
| Sonora | Ableton Live 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Source code | Open, AGPL-3.0-or-later | Closed |
| Account to use the app | None | Ableton account to authorize |
| Real-time co-editing of a project | Built in (alpha) | Not built in |
| Built-in AI assistant | Yes, bring your own provider | No |
| MCP control by external agents | Built in | Third-party remote scripts |
| Linked (alias) MIDI clips | Built in | Max for Live workaround |
| Retroactive capture | MIDI and audio | MIDI only |
| Strip Silence | Built in | Third-party extensions (12.4.5 Suite beta) |
| Rebind menu shortcuts in the app | Yes | No (Key Map assigns keys to controls) |
| Hide tracks, and deactivate them to free CPU | Both | No (the track activator mutes) |
| Linux | Early alpha build | No |
Checked against Live 12.4 documentation and public forums in October 2026. Live is updated often: if a row is out of date, open an issue and we'll fix it.
Where Live is ahead, by a lot
- Maturity: a finished, polished product with years of documentation and professional support. Sonora is an alpha.
- Max for Live and its huge ecosystem of devices.
- The full set of built-in devices, and sound content in Packs.
- Hardware integration such as Push, and Ableton Link.
If you're a professional, or you can afford it, buy Ableton Live. It's amazing software and you'll get support with it. Sonora is for everyone else, and for anyone who wants to help build something open.