Best Mac music production software Looking for the best Mac music-production software? We compare the best alternatives to Apple's free music-making app GarageBand, including Logic Pro X, Ableton. Take a look as we compare digital audio workstations like Ableton Live, GarageBand and Apple Logic Pro X, FL Studio & more. It’s one thing to get your music onto streaming platforms and into people’s speakers, but it’s another entirely to produce it from scratch using music production software. If you’re looking to lay down your musical ideas into tangible, fully-formed tracks, you. Best Mac music production software Looking for the best Mac music-production software? We compare the best alternatives to Apple's free music-making app GarageBand, including Logic Pro X, Ableton. May 28, 2014 This video is unavailable. Watch Queue Queue. Watch Queue Queue. Apr 13, 2019 You can start with the best music production software for EDM. Studio One from PreSonusis here to bring all of those musical ideas into reality. Every production and editing feature you could possibly want is available with this program. No longer will talented individuals have to curb their musical talent.
The momentous surge of the Internet has transformed the music production landscape in ways aplenty. Gone are the days when a budding musician had to depend on a music label for crafting some sublime music. Now anyone can create beautiful melodies confined in the realms of their home and put out their songs for the world to marvel at. Thanks to modern music production software, creating music has become so ridiculously easy! However, getting hold of a decent music production tool can be a daunting task. Especially when there are so many expensive software lingering on the internet. So, how can an aspiring songwriter find and download a decent free music production software? By going through our list of the best free music production software for beginners, of course!
How To Choose The Best Free Music Production Software For Beginners?
The free programs or DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that we have handpicked offer an abundant collection of free synths and VSTs that are compatible with a modern OS, be it Mac OS X or Windows (7, 8, 8.1), and Windows 10. For selecting a suitable music creation program, do give credence to the responsiveness of the user interface as well as ease-of-use. Luckily, all the programs in our roundup of the best free music production software meet all the aforementioned criteria.
No matter if you are seeking a powerful all-encompassing DAW, a robust synth + electronic drum machine or a free sampler program, all the programs mentioned in our list will make it easier to select what you’re scouting for. You can also download the full version of these goodies for free! So, are you ready to find out the best free music production software for beginners? Let’s get started.
Note: If you are a budding hip-hop, or EDM producer, you might as well want to check out our roundup of the best free beat making software for Windows and Mac.
1) Tracktion 6 [For PC & Mac]
If you are seeking a full-fledged DAW that delivers the goods no matter what genre of music you create, Tracktion 6 is a behemoth that can’t be overlooked. For starters, it supports loads of AU plugins as well as VSTs that can be further enriched through Tracktion’s brilliant automation tool which allows users to automate any parameter on a plugin.
In fact, it won’t be a hassle to sift through hundreds of plugins thanks to a nifty plugin management system. Coming onto the intuitive single-screen interface, any novice can learn the ropes of song composition, recording, editing, mixing and mastering with ease and grace in no time.
Some of the highlights of Tracktion 6 comprise: beat time correction tool kit, Z-Plane’s elastique pro time-stretch algorithm, tape-style start/stop effects, a robust “super comp” audio compiling tool, and Warp-time audio editing features. All together, Tracktion 6 is a formidable workflow-oriented tool for music production.
2) GarageBand [For Mac]
GarageBand has been a staple of Macs since time immemorial, and still remains one of the best free music production software for beginners who want to create some great sounding music. What’s more, the GarageBand UI seems very smooth and responsive wherein you can rack up to 255 tracks, add a virtual session drummer and suss out hundreds of AU plugins, electronic synth pads, guitar and drum loops.
In fact, GarageBand also offers a realistic array of amp emulators traversing genres such as Indie, Grunge, Classic Rock and Metalcore if you are into guitar-based music production. So much so, you can also revel in presets for guitar, voice, and percussion sounds to create, record, edit and share your sick tunes worldwide.
What’s more, GarageBand is a brilliant stepping stone for beginners who, once they have honed their skills, can get hold of the elder brother of GarageBand i.e. Logic Pro for more advanced music production features.
3) Reaper [For PC & Mac]
To be precise, Reaper is not intrinsically ‘free’, but the weird part is you can still use it. Makes sense? Well, Reaper offers a 60-days trial period, but you won’t be coaxed to shell out the nominal $60 fee for full access after that period is over, so you can use it all you want. Reaper proffers powerful MIDI routing to multiple media formats at any bit depth and sample rate. Not to mention, a crafty Notation Reader for reading and writing music, and real-time FX processing. Also, Reaper is pretty efficient for users with low spec computers since it doesn’t hog the memory. Besides, it can even produce songs with over 100 layers of audio tracks in the mix.
But, the real novelty factor for Reaper is its seamless integration of third-party VSTs, AU plugins, MIDI plugins, real-time pitch shifting, auto plugin delay compensation, real-time stretch, et al. Also, the number of customization options that Reaper offers are very impressive, in the sense, that it empowers every user to craft music whichever way they want. What’s more, you can revel in ReSurround for spatial visualization and process stereo and multichannel audio (up to 64 channels).
Novices will find the customizability of Reaper’s drag and drop layout very enticing considering its outboard windows can be docked, shown, or hidden on a separate monitor. Also, it is very easy to overdub, record multiple takes and loops, or punch in and out thanks to simple resizing, trim, and glue tools which promise a lot of accessibility to beginners.
4) Ableton Live 9 Lite [For PC & Mac]
Despite being a limited edition suite, Ableton Live 9 Lite is one of the best free music production software for beginners to fiddling with. You can use up to eight recording tracks on the lite version for MIDI sequencing and harness an eclectic collection of SFX (drum sampler, EQ, delay, chorus, reverb, compressor, etc.) as well as AUs and VSTs to create professional-quality audio.
Moreover, you can even pair up MIDI equipment such as keyboards with Ableton Live Lite 9. What’s more, it is also compatible with the Export live set feature of many iOS apps so that you can play your EDM set on the go, anywhere.
Beginners will find Ableton Live 9 Lite’s fast and intuitive workflow-based interface fairly easy to write and record music with as well for producing their own songs. Some other spellbinding features of Ableton Live 9 include Analog-modeled filters designed on the lines of vintage hardware models, inbuilt slicing and warping capabilities, and more.
5) LMMS [For Mac & Windows]
If simplicity of interface were to be the sole criteria for choosing a DAW for beginners, then LMMS takes the crown. It’s still suitable for all levels of electronic music producers, but there is something “familiar” about the layout that hooks you right in. LMMS boasts five editors for creating melodies (Song Editor), an FX editor for your own mixes apart from a Beat + Bassline Editor for rendering those groovy beats.
LMMS also has a gamut of instrument synthesizers (including emulations of Roland TB-303), and native multichannel support for Soundfont for quality instrument patches and banks. Moreover, LMMS is renowned for its compatibility with other DAW files and support for drop-in VSTs and LADSPA plug-ins with which you can incorporate a multitude of extra effects into the music track.
Of course, you can also use the usual fare: piano-roll editor, inbuilt compressor, distortion and bass enhancer, limiter, delay, reverb, and spectrum analyzer. Lastly, you can export your files into WAV, MP3, and AIFF formats as well as import MIDI files from different music production software such as Hydrogen.
6) DarkWave Studio (For PC Only)
A slick alternative for PC users, DarkWave Studio doesn’t consume much storage space, but it is a powerhouse of rich features such as Pattern Editor, Virtual Studio, Multitrack Hard Disk Recorder and Sequence Editor. We were very impressed with the Sequence Editor which allows users to line up patterns that can be played in any arrangement. In fact, you can also mix all the track patterns together.
DarkWave is also renowned for supporting all kinds of ASIO audio drivers and VSTs that provide a variety of instruments to choose from on its slick drag and drop interface. What else injects DarkWave Studio into our roundup of the best free music production software? DarkWave Studio includes 19 different plugins which can be harnessed to add virtual effects to your tracks. However, some beginners might find DarkWave a little bit complex viz-a-viz dealing with many separate windows and menus.
7) Ardour [For Mac & PC]
Ardour is a unique DAW that piqued our interest in many ways. For starters, it supports a large swathe of VSTs, AU plugins, FX plugins which are pivotal for audio enhancement in every DAW. The USP, herein, lies in Ardour’s ability to automate parameters within the plugins.
In fact, the mixing console of Ardour is one of the best in the industry in terms of flexibility and ease-of-use thanks to a well-defined and soothing interface that hardly looks like a hotchpotch of random widgets and buttons.
Also, Ardour is a non-linear editor (with virtual stacking for showing overlapping regions) like some programs on our list of the best free music production software for beginners. Which means that multi-track MIDI editing becomes an easy affair. Moreover, Ardour can also be used to edit the soundtrack of a video with a frame-by-frame timeline of the video displaying by the side in a separate monitor window.
8) Hydrogen [For Mac Only]
For those budding musicians who are on a tight budget, but yet seek a nifty program with a modular interface to create beats, Hydrogen fits the bill just right. It is a great free option for creating and customizing your rhythm-based songs. Although Hydrogen is not riddled with as many features as some expensive DAWs on the market, it gets the job done especially if your sole focus is on sampling drum beats.
Don’t be fooled by its limited features, Hydrogen is an advanced drum machine that comes loaded with a pattern-based sequencer which can blend in hordes of patterns into a song. There is also a sample editor with cut and loop options as well as advanced tab tempo, time-stretch and pitch corrector. Of course, there is MIDI input support and rendering options available for formats such as AIFF, WAV, FLAC, OGG, et al.
9) MULab [For Mac & PC]
If you are on the lookout for a top-notch modular synth and effects engine, MULab is a surefire no-brainer and one of the best free music production software for beginners looking to create, record, edit and render multi-track audio and EDM tracks. The modular interface of MULab is flexible enough to support audio, MIDI playback and automation parts. Coming onto the programmable synths and drums, you can harness the MuSynth workhorse synth/sampler (a library of world-class synths) and MuDrum module for tweaking sampled drum loops.
MULab’s intuitive visual routing options including a streamlined and versatile mixing desk making it a cinch for you to carry out edits that are normally complex and time-consuming. For instance, its automation parts let you swiftly automate any parameter, as well as provide auto mono/stereo handling. Some other highlights include an arpeggiator, step sequencer, and many more.
10) Audacity [For Mac & PC]
What would a lineup of the best free music production software for beginners be bereft of a mere mention of Audacity? It is compatible with a plenty of VSTs and boasts some features (pitch corrector, delay) that are essential for a beginner learning the ropes of audio production. Also, Audacity is a multitrack audio editor with options to edit mono and stereo files separately. Sporting a simple and easy-to-pick-up interface, Audacity can invariably process audio files, edit samples, songs, and export files into numerous formats such as WAV, MP3, AIFF, FLAC, etc.
However, unlike other programs(DAWs) in our list of the best free music production software for beginners, Audacity is actually an open-source digital audio editor, not a digital audio workstation (DAW). Its primary pursuit is to manipulate audio data instead of helping users organize loads of different audio waveforms into a coherent mix. Also, it lacks many features that can be found in a full version DAW. On the bright side, you can at least download and set it up quickly.
And…that’s a wrap! Did you like our roundup of the best free music production software for beginners? Did we miss out on any great software that you know of? Sound off in the comments and don’t forget to download full version of these beauties.
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BEDM is a lifestyle. It’s a way of feeling and allowing your body to move. All over the world, there are musicians and producers desperate to introduce their music to the rest of the planet. But they’re not sure where to start. You can start with the best music production software for EDM.
Studio One from PreSonus is here to bring all of those musical ideas into reality. Every production and editing feature you could possibly want is available with this program. No longer will talented individuals have to curb their musical talent. With this software, you can easily create and share your music with the world.
Check out this simple guide to Studio One and how it can get you started on your production journey.
PreSonus Studio One
PreSonus Studio One has revolutionized computer-generated music production by making the entire process easier and more sonically profound. It’s single screen interface system allows you to work on a variety of tracks while giving you a selection of instruments and editing tools. You have complete control over the music you create.
The first version of Studio One was released in 2009 but it has undergone multiple upgrades since then. The current edition, Studio One 4, came out in 2018. It incorporates all the best features of the original while including more advanced tools with newer, better technology.
The mission from PreSonus is simple. Studio One was designed to make music production as easy as possible and still ensure the best sound quality. At the end of the day it’s the music that matters, and these programs guarantee music that will put a beat into anyone’s step.
Studio One Professional & Artist
Studio One Professional has all the features you could hope for in EDM production software. It boasts 64-bit resolution and supports a sampling frequency of 384kHz (many systems still only support half this figure, 192kHz). It also has many different features, such as Harmonic Editing and Chord Track manipulation. All of these aspects combine together so you can create state of the art music that is powerful and unique.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you can try Studio One Artist which is considerably cheaper than Professional, but doesn’t include as many benefits. Although it also supports a 384kHz sampling frequency, it only has 32-bit resolution. This still means the sound quality is sharp and pristine, but it’s not quite as clear or accurate (although 99% of people out there would struggle to hear the difference between 192kHz and 384kHz).
Studio One Artist also has limited editing features and doesn’t include the video playback option. But for the price you pay, it’s an incredible software program that still gets the job done.
Who Is This Product For?
Anyone who is passionate about creating music can benefit from using Studio One. Whether you’re a beginner or you’re accustomed to using computer software for producing music, you’ll find Studio One incredibly useful and versatile. It’s also considered the best music production software for EDM, so if that’s a genre you enjoy dabbling in, you’ll find that Studio One’s quality will give you everything you need.
Due to Studio One Professional’s wide variety of editing features, it may be a bit complicated for beginners to use at first. Although the main interface is simple, many of the unique benefits may not be used as they are intended. On the other hand, if you’ve been making music for a while using computer software, not only will it be extremely easy to use, but you’ll be awed by how much you can do with this system.
As someone just starting out, it’s recommended that you get used to Studio One Artist at first. It’s much simpler to use and has fewer features so you won’t get too caught up in the details. Once you’re accustomed to the system, you’ll have more freedom to explore your artistry and make the kind of music that you’ve always wanted to.
Studio One Artist is also an ideal option if you’re on a tighter budget. It’s much cheaper than Professional but still has outstanding quality. Your passion for producing music doesn’t need to be restricted simply because you currently don’t have the funds.
What’s Included?
Studio One products are available as digital downloads, so you don’t even need to purchase a physical box. When you buy the download, you’ll be given the codes to install the program successfully on your computer. It’s important to note that the program only runs on 64-bit operating systems (luckily most computers these days are now completely 64-bit).
If you do decide to buy a physical product, the Studio One box will include an installation disk and user’s manual. This makes it easy to install the software on your computer, and you can always use the disk again in the future if you need to.
Best Music Production Software for EDM – Overview of Features
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All Studio One products have the following features:
Intuitive Single Window Work Environment: Makes music production easier with a drag and drop function as well as multi-touch support
Unlimited Audio and Instrument Tracks: Allows you to completely control your productions due to the variety of creation and editing features, and as well as musical instrument simulations.
Impact XT and SampleOne XT: Assists you in creating massive beats and also allows you to create and edit samples.
Patterns: Let’s you mimic drum sounds and melodies pristinely using a drum machine/sequencer style user-interface
Presence XT: Allows you to playback instrument samples
Mai Tai Polyphonic Analog Modeling Synth: Assists with matrix modulation and character morphing.
Artist-only Features
32-bit Floating Point Resolution: Allows you to create music to a high-quality audio standard
Features found with Studio One Professional
64-bit Resolution: Results in extremely high-quality sound reproduction.
Scratch Pads: Allows you to test different musical arrangements with ease.
Arranger Track: Allows you to cut, move, copy and paste different pieces of tracks around your arrangement – so you can get the exact sound you’re looking for.
Harmonic Editing: Gives you control over chord manipulation so you can create and change the chords, substitute complex ones for simpler ones, and structure chords more efficiently.
Chord Track: Assists you in deleting chords instantly as well as detecting chords from other audio or instrument tracks.
Chord Selector: Allows you to experiment with new chords so you can get out of a creative rut.
MIDI Controller: You can change chords in real time so you can try out different examples of how they can follow each other.
Pipeline XT plug-in: Gives you the opportunity to add other hardware processors to your session.
Printable Notation: Lets you print lead sheets so you can play your music on real-life musical instruments.
Tutorial
Using Studio One is really easy and only involves three different processes: Start, Project and Song. Once you’ve mastered each step, you’ll be creating breathtaking music in no time.
Step One: Start
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Start is where your music begins. It allows you to set up new projects as well as create parameters for whatever you’re working on. This page is also where you can find any new updates so you can always get the maximum out of the program. It will also give you extra tips on how to use the other two stages, so you can use every feature to it’s fullest.
Step 2: Song
Once you’ve set up everything in the Start page, you’re ready to begin making music. The Song page is where you’ll start putting everything together from arrangements, instruments, effects and recordings. As you go along, this page also allows you to edit your music so you have complete control over it’s direction.
Step 3: Project
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The Project page is all about final production. This is where you work on making your music fit for commercial release, whether it’s burning a CD or prepping it for digital copies. It’s linked to the Song page so you can constantly jump between them to change your masters or stems until you’re satisfied with your final production.
It’s important to note that Studio One Artist doesn’t include the Project page – this feature is only available in Studio One Professional. But this doesn’t limit your music creation as you still have complete control over the production process. If you want more information on how to use your Studio One program efficiently, you can check out this video.
Additional Extras for Music Production
Unfortunately, although Studio One is excellent software when it comes to creating EDM, you’ll still need an audio interface if you want to record real instruments or vocals. If you’re looking for a recording system to do this, you can try the Studio 24 or the AudioBox iTwo (both also from PreSonus) – these include everything you need to record, including headphone jacks, monitor outputs, and microphone inputs.
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Studio One also doesn’t include any headphones which you might feel are necessary in order to create high-quality music. In this case, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones are an ideal option to include with your purchase. They are an excellent pair of headphones – ideal when it comes to EDM production.
If you prefer to work with a keyboard for music production rather than a computer interface, you can always try the Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII. This has a variety of features that lets you have more hands-on control of your music creation process.
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Final Thoughts
It’s believed that music can change the world. With Studio One from PreSonus this gets closer to reality. The Project feature in Studio One Professional makes it easier than ever to share your music with the world. You also have incredible creative control when it comes to producing your own music.
If you simply want a more affordable way to make your own music, or you’re just starting out, you should consider Studio One Artist. It also guarantees high-quality music production while still being within a tighter budget.
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There’s a reason Studio One is the best music production software for EDM. It’s down to the powerful, moving music that you can create with this program. Are you ready to bring life back to the dancefloor? With Studio One, you can.