Stargate DAW for MAC
Free, open-source music studio for Mac: a digital audio workstation with its own instruments, effects, wave editor and pattern-based workflow.
Stargate DAW Overview
Stargate DAW is a free, open-source digital audio workstation for making music on a Mac. It comes as one package with a pattern-based sequencer, its own instrument and effect plugins and a basic wave editor, so you can start a track without installing anything else. The project says its focus is on unique and innovative features, especially for EDM production.
Stargate is licensed under GPL-3.0 and also runs on Windows and Linux. There are separate Mac downloads for Apple Silicon and Intel. Version 24.02.2 fixes a hardware dialog problem that stopped Stargate from being used on some computers. CPU efficiency is a main goal: the project's recommended minimum hardware is a Raspberry Pi 4 or a 15-year-old dual-core laptop with 1 GB of RAM and a 720p display.
Some honest notes for Mac users. The project does not pay for Apple's Developer Program, so macOS warns about an unverified developer, and its install guide explains how to open the app. Stargate cannot ask for microphone access by itself: to record the built-in microphone, you start it from Terminal and give Terminal the permission. A Mac firewall may also need rules for its two local connections. The design deliberately leaves out VST plugins, and the project describes itself as largely a one-person effort.
Key Features
Stargate DAW puts a complete music setup in a single app.
- Pattern-based workflow: build songs from patterns in the sequencer.
- Built-in plugins: a full suite of instruments and effects.
- Wave editor: basic audio editing inside the app.
- Track routing: a routing matrix with easy sidechaining.
- Modular mixer: mixer channels are plugins, chosen per track send.
- All in one: no additional software needed to make music.
- Low CPU use: made to run well on modest hardware.
- Hardware support: audio and MIDI through Portaudio and Portmidi.
What’s New in Version 24.02.2
Stargate DAW 24.02.2 is a small fix release.
- The hardware dialog now ignores audio device names that cannot be decoded to UTF-8, which had stopped Stargate from being used on some computers
Stargate DAW FAQ
Is Stargate DAW free?
Yes. Stargate DAW is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.
What is Stargate DAW for?
It is a digital audio workstation for making music, with a focus on unique features, especially for EDM production.
Does it run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. There are separate Mac downloads for Apple Silicon and Intel.
Why does macOS warn about an unverified developer?
The project does not pay for Apple's Developer Program. Its macOS install guide explains how to open the app after dragging it to Applications.
Can Stargate DAW record from the built-in microphone?
Not directly, because the app cannot request microphone access. The project's workaround is to start Stargate from Terminal and grant Terminal access to the microphone.
Does Stargate DAW support VST plugins?
No. The project's design principles deliberately leave VST support out and rely on its own instruments and effects.
Do I need other software to make music with it?
No. The project describes it as everything you need in a single package, with no additional software to install.
Will it run on an older computer?
The project recommends at least a Raspberry Pi 4 or a 15-year-old laptop with a dual-core CPU, 1 GB of RAM and a 720p display. It also warns that some very old Intel Macs running unsupported macOS versions can crash.
Why does Stargate DAW need firewall rules?
Its interface and audio engine talk to each other over local UDP connections. The project notes that the Mac firewall, if enabled, may block them and need rules for stargate (31909) and stargate-engine (31999).
Where does the Stargate DAW download on stargate-daw.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official Stargate DAW releases page at https://github.com/stargatedaw/stargate/releases/latest. stargate-daw.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.