Making music doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. There are many ways to produce music without having to spend a single penny. The only prerequisite being that you have a computer, tablet or mobile device. Here’s a list of some of the best free music making software available today.
Garageband (Mac, iOS)
Available on iOS and Mac, this free DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) packs a punch and is a surprisingly capable piece of software considering the grand old price of $0. A stripped down version of the professional DAW Logic, Garageband is perfect for recording ideas, laying down MIDI tracks and mixing projects. Some musicians have even gone as far as to release full albums recorded entirely using this piece of software.
Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux)
One of the most popular open source music programs of all time. Audacity has been around for what seems like forever and every year it gets a little bit better. Available on Windows, Mac and Linux, this multi-track recorder and editor is a great starting place for anyone looking to get into recording their own music.
Tracktion T7 (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Tracktion’s T7 DAW is dubbed The World’s best fully featured, completely unlimited free DAW for all music creators. And it’s hard to disagree. Although there is a bit of a learning curve at first, once you get to grips with the software you will discover a very powerful DAW that is compatible with VST plugins and even video files. On top of that you get an intuitive single screen user interface and an unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks. If you want to record, edit, mix and share your music with ease, then this is the DAW for you. Tracktion’s T7 DAW is available on Mac, Linux and Windows.
MuLab (Windows, Mac)
A relatively unknown DAW, MuLab is a fantastic free package that offers a professional level of quality for free. With its user-friendly interface and efficient sound engine, MuLab comes with a host of features including an integrated top quality modular synth, an effects engine and a built in drum module. With an active community and lots of tutorial videos across the internet, this DAW might just be the best of the bunch.
So there we have it. Some of the best free DAWs around today. Of course, if you really wanted you could try them all out and see which one Is the best fit for you! If you think we’ve missed any amazing free DAWs then please get in touch or comment below. Thanks for reading!
Be sure to check out Making Music For Free – The Ultimate Resource. A guide for musicians and music producers looking to get started creating music.
