Knowing how to mix vocals, arrange melodies, and enhance your tracks using digital software is as essential as being talented in music creation and recording tracks from scratch. Many seasoned producers typically use professional audio editing software, but these can cost anywhere between a few hundred to several thousand dollars. And if you’re just starting out, they might not be the best way to go. After all, you’re going to have other expenses, including some musical instruments and possibly even a new laptop that can handle the workflow requirements of music production.
Luckily, you don’t have to burn a hole in your pocket just to start producing your own music, because there are some decent music production software options that are completely free. While you gain more experience and save up money for professional DAWs like Ableton Live and FL studio, check out our shortlist of the best and most popular ones that won’t cost you a thing.
What is the Best Free Software for Music Production?
Whether you’re interested in learning how to become the next best music producer or simply want to clean up an audio file, these free versions of music production software offer basic audio editing tools, enhancements, and so much more.
GarageBand
Compatibility: Mac
GarageBand is a music production tool that’s very easy to use. You can get this on any Apple computer or laptop for free, and as with most of the company’s applications, it should be pretty easy to understand its basic functions thanks to its user-friendly interface. This popular digital audio workstation has certainly come a long way since it was first released in 2004, and its only major downsides for producers are its inability to export MIDI files and control external hardware via MIDI. Nonetheless, it offers beginners and advanced music makers more than enough to produce music for personal and commercial use.
It can load up to 255 different tracks, including vocals and instruments that you can record directly on the application. Other functions include changing the audio timing and a virtual drummer for instant percussion. It allows only 2 layers of effects for each track and currently doesn’t allow any changes in song tempo.
This music-making software offers an option to transfer files to Apple’s professional digital audio workstation, the Logic Pro X.
Check out GarageBand interface below:
Audacity
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
Audacity is a popular open source, cross-platform audio editing tool that is well-loved for its simplicity and compatibility with not only with Windows and Mac but Linux as well. It’s not a full-scale digital audio workstation, but it is often compared with the newer GarageBand in terms of popularity and usability. Until you decide to shell out money for more advanced DAWs, you’ll find yourself using either of the two.
As one of the best free music production software options out there, it allows audio manipulation—you can edit your tracks; process your audio files; and export them as MP3, WAV, AIF, and many other formats—and organization of multiple audio bits to produce a coherent final track. It’s also one of the easiest to use, so if you don’t want a complicated program that will help you make basic edits, Audacity is definitely a great choice for creating music for a wide range of applications.
See how Audacity looks like and works in the brief video overview below:
BandLab Cakewalk
Compatibility: Windows 10
After Gibson stopped development on the popular Cakewalk (formerly known as Cakewalk SONAR) digital audio workstation last year, BandLab saved the app in February and made it available for free download.
For those who are finally getting to download Cakewalk for the first time, it’s a complete music production package that offers a full suite of editing tools, aside from providing you with songwriting tools and instruments, a massive supply of MIDI and audio tracks, and advanced mixing and mastering tools to help transform your tracks. Once you’re done, it allows you to share your work directly to SoundCloud, YouTube, Facebook, and other social media sharing sites.
The new Cakewalk is only available for Windows 10 for now, but everybody’s waiting for BandLab’s upcoming developments—which hopefully will include Mac compatibility!
Take a sneak peek at the new Cakewalk by BandLab below:
AmpliTube Custom Shop
Compatibility: Mac, Windows (64-Bit), Standalone App & Plugin (AAX, VST & AU)
The AmpliTube Custom Shop from IK Multimedia is the AmpliTube 4 in its simpler, entry-level form. With the free version, users can model their own guitar rig with 24 models—including three microphones, four amps, five cabs, nine stompboxes, two rack effects, and a digital chromatic tuner.
It’s the perfect software for those who are mostly going to be creating tracks with guitars. Enjoy authentic tones, creative customization (including your microphone choice and placement), and the coveted Custom Shop feature where you can “try before you buy” anything for the expansion of your collection of legit and branded amp models (like Fender, Ampeg, and Orange), stompboxes, and more.
Excited yet? Get a preview of AmpliTube below:
Tracktion T6
Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux (VST, AU and Linux VST)
Traction T6 was actually released a few years ago as a paid software, but it was re-released in September 2017 for free—and it’s the full version. Fortunately, for those who “waited” for it, this free music production tool included everything that was made available to those who purchased it two years ago, making it one of the most relevant DAWs used by beginners and advanced producers today.
One advantage is that it displays everything you need in its main window so you don’t have to switch to different screens for important functions. It also offers an unlimited supply of MIDI and audio tracks, and can host multiple plugin formats (including AU and VST).
If you’re looking for the MIDI-out functionality that GarageBand lacks, Traction T6 proudly offers it. And with scalable sections and a customizable bottom panel, you can personalize your digital workspace and display your desired parameters for a more efficient audio production workflow.
Check out Traction T6 in the video below:
Klevgrand SyndtSphere
Klevgrand’s SyndtSphere hasn’t quite reached the same level of popularity as the first five on this list, but it has certainly stood out with its unique and abstract interface. As a minimalist version of Klevgrand’s Syndt polyphonic synthesizer, this free software serves as one of the most accessible synthesizer programs, with over 70 presets and an intuitive center sphere that you can move around to morph multiple sounds at the same time.
With the SyndtSphere, you can actually trust your ears instead of focusing on visual parameters to produce good music. It might seem a little too simple for experienced producers, but SyndtSphere is one of the best free music software that offers an impressive collection of sounds that will inspire and entertain you—even if you don’t get anything done.
Prepare to be enchanted by SyndtSphere below:
