15 best free music production software for beginners

Music production is a fun activity, but it can be expensive. It costs thousands of shillings to produce a song. From the equipment to recording, mixing, and mastering, you can spend a lot of money before your song is ready for the market. For most people, the alternative is to download and use software programs to produce music on their own. The problem is most of these programs are expensive and complicated for beginners. However, this isn’t the end of the road. There are lots of free music production software out there that you can use to produce your own songs.

You can use free music software programs to record, compose, and create music. This software can offer a more natural way of composing and performing music in many ways. People use them as an alternative to traditional musical instruments. But if you are a beginner, what is the easiest music production software to use?

Choosing free music production software

Determining the most straightforward music production software for beginners is challenging. Most of these programs were initially developed for professional music producers. Other programs have complex interfaces, features, and buttons that can get you overwhelmed. An excellent free beat making software should meet the following factors.

• Ease of use – Do not download a program with a long learning curve.
• Availability of tutorials – Not everybody has a good background in technology or software programs. Your ideal application should be accompanied by tutorials to show you how to use some of its features.
• Integration – The software should integrate with things like scripts and third-party plugins.

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List of 15 best music production software

So, what is the best music production software for beginners and what software do music producers use? Here is a look at such programs.

1. FL Studio

FL Studio is a comprehensive music production software program. It has everything a beginner needs to get started with producing high-quality music. With this music maker software, you can arrange, compose, edit, master, mix, and record professional music. The program comes with many intuitive features that include:

• Sound library with a comprehensive list of sounds and instruments for creating music
• Effects and plugins to enable you to delay or reverb your music
• Step mode allows you to generate sequencing and patterns in seconds
• Integration with other third-party plugins to ease the music production process

FL studio is a stable software program that can help you to produce excellent music. It is free to use although users cannot reopen saved projects unless they buy the full version.

2. Tracktion

Tracktion is a free digital audio workstation (DAW) for recording and editing music. It is a simple entry-level music production software with powerful features. The program is the best for beginners who want to get used to the technology of music production. Top features of the software include:

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• Supports VST, AU, and Linux plugins
• Works well with unlimited audio tracks and MIDI
• Synchronizes video with audio
• Latency management to make recording a musical performance easy.
• Shows previews while editing

The latest version of the software, Tracktion 7, comes with a user manual and tutorials to get you started.

3. Ableton Live

Ableton Live is a software digital audio workstation and music sequencer. Unlike other similar programs, it has a design that makes it the best for live performances. You can also use it to arrange, compose, master, mix, and record audio. DJs use it because it has a suite of features and controls for crossfading and beatmatching. Top features of the program include:

• Unlimited Instruments, MIDI effects, and Audio effects per project
• Time signature changes
• Nondestructive editing with unlimited undo
• Multiple automation lanes
• Multitrack recording up to 32-bit/192 kHz
• Real-time time-stretching and advanced warping

Most people ask the question, can you get Ableton for free? Ableton Live is available for free from the official website. The premium version is available to try for free on the platform.

4. LMMS

LMMS is a DAW application program. You can use it to produce music by synthesising sounds and arranging samples. Also, you can combine the features of sequencers and trackers, and play on a MIDI keyboard. LMMS is an open source music software program. Top features of the software include:

• Built-in visualisation and spectrum analyser
• Bundled parametric and graphic equalisers
• Built-in bass enhancer, compressor, delay, distortion, limiter, and reverb
• Piano Roll Editor for beautiful tuning chords, melodies, notes, and patterns

With the LMMS software, you can automate, compose, mix, and sequence songs in one interface. Also, you can consolidate instrument tracks using their intuitive Beat+Bassline Editor.

5. Ardour

Ardour is a DAW and hard disk recorder application. It is a music software program designed for both beginners and professionals. The program is one of the few that supports exporting parts of or whole sessions. You can also import audio clips into your current sessions. Ardour supports over 30 audio file formats. Top features of the software include:

• Flexible recording
• Unlimited multichannel tracks
• Vertical stacking mode to display overlapping regions
• Anything to anywhere routing system
• VST plugin support

Ardour is a full version music production software program available for free. You can use it for non-linear and non-destructive editing with unlimited redo or undo. It also has thousands of built-in plugins for your daily music making needs.

6. GarageBand

GarageBand is a DAW for iOS and MacOS. You can use it to create music and podcasts using your iPhone or Mac computer. Its music creation system enables you to create multiple tracks with pre-made loops, MIDI keyboards, voice recordings, and a range of instrumental effects. Top features of the software include:

• Powerful synths with shape-shifting controls
• Sound library for adding packs of loops, presets, and instruments
• Beat sequencer

With GarageBand, you can edit your performances right down to the decibel and note. It can help you to fix rhythm problems and finesse your sound using audio effect plugins.

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7. Audacity

Audacity is a recording application software and digital audio editor. It is an application that allows you to record audio files from multiple sources. You can use it to post-process things like podcasts. Also, you can add different effects such as trimming, fading, and normalisation. Professional music producers use it to record and mix full albums. Top features of the software include:

• Sound quality that supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit
• Import, export, edit, and combine audio files
• Digitize recordings from other media
• Real-time preview
• Spectrogram view mode for visualising and selecting frequencies

If you are asking yourself what's the best software for making beats, consider Audacity. The software is free, open source, and has all the features you need to make great music.

8. MULab

MULab is an inspiring DAW and music studio for both professionals and beginners. It features an integrated effect engine and top-quality modular synth to ease music production. The software is a rock-solid program designed to create, edit, and record your music. Its top features include:

• Top-quality support for audio and MIDI VST plug-ins
• Versatile Step Sequencer and Arpeggiator
• Streamlined and versatile mixing desk
• Integrated world-class synths, samplers, and effects
• Automatic mono/stereo handling

MULab is excellent for beginners because of its streamlined, user-friendly interface and workflow. With extensive drag-drop support, you can start making creating music in an instant.

9. Jeskola Buzz

Jeskola Buzz is a modular software music studio environment. Its plugin architecture allows you to route audio files from one plugin to another in many ways. You can use it to manipulate signals by effects like delays, distortions, mastering, and filters. Top features of the software include:

• Supports MIDI
• Full VST support
• Plug-in delay compensation
• Automatic backup function

Jeskola Buzz comes with hundreds of free instruments and effects machines. It also offers support for advanced automation and peer control. The software is free to use

10. BandLab

BandLab is an all-in-one, easy-to-use, social music creation platform. The software features everything you need to create music and share with others. It has an extraordinary set of mobile audio interfaces suitable for aspiring producers. Its top features include:

• Mix Editor for developing songs
• Multiple virtual instruments such as drum kits and pianos
• Guitar or Bass Amp Simulation
• Universal FX and presets
• Import or record live audio

BandLab is a free online DAW. You can create music from virtually anywhere and store your creations in the cloud.

11. Studio One

Studio One is a DAW application that allows you to create, master, mix, and record music and other audio files. The app is easy to use, seamless and combines an advanced music production process to allow you to create excellent songs. Its top features include:

• Detect chords automatically
• Harmonic Editing to overcome creative blocks
• Plug-in integration for external processors
• MIDI support

Studio One is an excellent modern tool for producing music. It has everything you need in a single window to create any music you wish.

12. Cakewalk

Cakewalk is a MIDI sequencer and a new standard for recording music. It features an interface that eases music production, has a smooth workflow, and boasts of advanced technology. You can use it to compose songs using creative instruments and songwriting tools. Some of its features include:

• Unlimited tracks including audio, MIDI, and auxiliary tracks
• Studio quality effects
• Powerful EQ to tape and console emulation
• Supports the most efficient, stable, and accurate plug-in format

Cakewalk and all its features are available to download for free

13. Podium Free

Podium Free is a modern DAW that supports editing of audio, recording, and MIDI. It hosts multiple effect plugins and VST instruments that make music production easier. The program is a freeware edition of the Podium premium software. Its features include:

• Tutorials and demo videos for using the freeware
• MIDI interface
• Surround-sound playback
• Full VST support

Podium Free offers a comprehensive MIDI and audio multitracking environment. It is an excellent freeware for beginners who want to get started with music production.

14. DarkWave Studio

DarkWave Studio is a DAW for creating music. The software supports VST plugins and an array of musical instruments. Some of its features include:

• Virtual Studio
• Pattern Editor
• Sequence Editor
• Multitrack Hard Disk Recorder

DarkWave Studio can help you to line up patterns and select and edit digital music. You can download music making software for free.

15. Reason

Reason is a DAW for creating and editing music. You can also use it to create audio files such as podcasts. It emulates a format of hardware signal processors, synthesisers, mixers, samplers, and sequencers. Its top features include:

• Contains an arsenal of instruments.
• Multiple reverb models.
• Synchronous’ modulation effects.

Reason is one of the best music production software programs for beginners. As a beginner, you will find it easy to use the software to create, mix, and finish your music. The software is free for a 30-day trial.

Making music is not easy. The whole activity takes time, effort, and learning. If you do not have the right resources, it can be expensive. With free music production software, you can get in the flow fast and start producing excellent music. Consider the above software programs if you want to get started.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke

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