LivePlay review
A capable open-source soundboard for cue-driven live production.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
LivePlay is a free, open-source desktop application for playing audio cues during live shows. It is aimed at sound operators in theatres, conferences, houses of worship, AV installations, and other live events. Playlists and nested cue lists organize productions, while cart buttons, keyboard shortcuts, MIDI controllers, clicks, and taps provide triggering options. Windows, macOS, and Linux support makes it suitable for teams working across those desktop platforms.
Its strongest area is depth for cue-based playback. LivePlay includes fades, transitions, looping, automatic advance, waveform trimming, normalization, and real-time metering at the per-cue, channel, and master levels. Multi-device audio routing supports more involved signal setups, while SMPTE LTC timecode output, automatic ducking, and loudness targets extend the application beyond basic sound-effect triggering. YouTube and MIDI are listed integrations, and remote operation is available over HTTP/WebSocket with LAN discovery. A separate stage-side audio server can be controlled over a local network.
The trade-off is focus. LivePlay is better suited to planned live-show playback than to a simple board of occasional sound effects, so its deeper cue, routing, timing, and loudness controls may be more than a casual operator needs. Its open-source model keeps the product free and avoids a paid-tier decision, but it does not provide a commercial plan structure for teams specifically seeking one. Choose LivePlay when a production needs organized cues, multiple triggering methods, audio control, and platform flexibility. Consider another soundboard when the priority is a narrower, simpler workflow for casual effects.
LivePlay pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Runs free on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Supports nested cue lists, carts, hotkeys, MIDI, fades, and looping
- Adds metering, routing, timecode, ducking, and remote operation
- Where it doesn't
- Its workflow is focused on cue-based production rather than casual effects
- Remote operation centers on HTTP/WebSocket and local-network control
- There are no paid tiers for teams seeking a commercial plan structure
LivePlay fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update