OMNi is a free Rust-based DAW with native AI sample generation, out now in alpha

OMNi is a free DAW written entirely in Rust, and its alpha (v0.1) is out now for Windows and Linux. Developer Tomasz Głuc claims 2 firsts: it’s the only DAW built fully in Rust, and the first with native AI sample generation and image-to-sound synthesis built in, as Bedroom Producers Blog reported on August 3, 2026.

Free DAWs usually mean stripped-down starter kits. This one ships 14 synth engines and 16 effects in its first public build.

How OMNi’s AI sample generation works

The headline feature runs on ElevenLabs. You type a prompt, set the length, dial in prompt influence, choose looped or one-shot, and hit Create. The sample lands in your project a few seconds later. A built-in sampler with slicing and multiple time-stretching modes handles everything after generation.

The second AI feature is stranger. Iris, one of the built-in synths, does image-to-sound spectral synthesis powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash. Feed it a picture, get a playable sound. The idea has floated around experimental tools for years, and this puts it natively inside a DAW.

ElevenLabs keeps landing inside other companies’ products. FL Studio added an ElevenLabs sample generator this year, and the company’s own tool stack keeps expanding past voice.

OMNi’s 14 synths, 16 effects, and plugin support

The built-in instruments go deep for an alpha. PolySynth alone offers 16-voice polyphony, 31 oscillator shapes, 10 filter models, a JUNO-style chorus, and over 140 automatable parameters. The lineup includes physically modelled acoustic instruments (piano, violin, flute, harp), the TOMiC Drum Synth, a Bass Synth, and Scratch Deck.

The 16 effects cover the essentials: an f64-precision EQ, compressor, true-peak limiter, algorithmic and convolution reverbs, multiband dynamics, plus odder tools like Granular Clouds and a Model Resonator. An FX parameter sequencer adds precise, patterned variation. For third-party plugins, OMNi supports CLAP, VST3, and LV2.

Under the hood, the Rust build uses a lock-free architecture designed to prevent audio dropouts. Stability is the whole pitch: Rust’s memory safety aims at the crashes and glitches producers accept as normal.

Where OMNi runs, and what’s missing in the alpha

OMNi is standalone on Windows and Linux, with no macOS version announced. Linux support is a genuine rarity, and Mac producers are out of luck for now. It’s also an alpha: expect rough edges, missing demo content, and fast-moving updates. Download it free at omnidaw.com.

The bigger picture: DAWs are becoming the delivery layer for AI audio. Landr bought Reason Studios to own the production workflow, and now a solo developer ships generation inside a free DAW on day one.