Free music-making software is a great idea if you like the sound of getting musically creative on your computer without the financial outlay. Programs designed to help with the music creation process can be outrageously expensive, but they are the sot of tools that people use to make a living. That said, there is an impressive selection of free music-making software out there that will serve as a great introduction to what's possible without putting a strain on your pocket.
You might be surprised at the quality that's to be found here. Given the price tags often attached to music production software, you'd be forgiven for expecting free tools to cut too many corners to make them worth bothering with. Thankfully, opting for free music-making software need not mean making huge compromises.
One tool to track issues & release great software. Try Jira for free. I used GarageBand for quite a while and it is very easy to use. I started with this program because I wanted to focus primarily on composing and not racking my brains to learn technology skills. I upgraded to Logic Pro X as it is. MusicStudio is an app that lets you play to create music. Instead of composing in the traditional manner, you simply perform and record. The app features a multitrack editor and full MIDI support. Audacity is an cross-platform open source audio editor that works on the Mac, as well as Windows and Linux. As an audio editor it’s most often used for simple one-track editing jobs, though it does have multi-track capabilities.
In this roundup of free music-making software, we take in tools that are suitable for beginners, as well as those more suited to those who are more seasoned. The selection spans Windows, macOS and Linux, so you'll find something to help you with your creative ventures no matter what platform you're using.
1. Apple GarageBand
Here are 15 free music production software programs ( Digital Audio Workstations ) that are open source and free to download. We have included free music software for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Ubuntu. Do not expect the best MacBook Pro for music production at a cheap price. Generally, the more expensive the computer is, the better it will perform. This is not to mean that you cannot get cheap laptops for music production. You actually can. The Mac Mini is one of the best budget Mac.
Compatibility: macOS 10.11 or later
Apple’s long-standing digital audio workstation has come a long way since we first saw it in 2004, and although it still lacks a couple of key features (such as MIDI export and the ability to control external hardware via MIDI), GarageBand offers more than enough to get you going.
Apple has done a very good job at creating the perfect gateway drug into music production, and a clear path to Logic Pro X (Apple’s fully-functional professional DAW) is plain to see.
Shared features include Drummer, the seriously easy to use groove-maker, which includes multiple genres styles, easy controls and a ton of pattern and fill variations. You’re also treated to content from the Apple Loops sound library. And to further ease the transition, a familiar interface to Logic.
Although limited to 255 tracks per song, GarageBand is an immensely powerful and easy to use DAW that seems to be getting better with age.
2. Tracktion T7
Compatibility: macOS/Windows/Linux (VST, AU and Linux VST)
The folks at Tracktion seem to have hit on a rather canny business model by releasing older versions of their DAW for free, with nothing taken out.
Best Music Composition Software
The convention seems to be to make the version two iterations before the current one available to download without charge. You might not get all the latest features, but you'll receive an update each time the company updates its flagship DAW, which it does almost yearly.The latest version to have its price tag shaved off its Tracktion T7.
Every section is scalable, so you can adjust to suit your workflow and the bottom panel changes to to display whichever parameters you've selected elsewhere on the screen.
Tracktion T7 also features an unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks, all depending on your hardware capabilities of course, and is able to host multiple plugin formats including VST and Audio Units.
Note that Before you can download the software, you’ll be prompted to enter an email address and password to create an account. When you run the software for the first time after installing it, you’ll see a notification that it’s running in demo mode, but don’t worry – click ‘Unlock…’ then enter the address and password you set earlier, and all the features will become available.
3. AmpliTube Custom Shop
Compatibility: macOS/Windows (64-bit only). Standalone app and plugin (AAX, VST and AU)
AmpliTube Custom Shop from IK Multimedia might be a cut-down version of AmpliTube 4, but it's still a fully functional guitar rig modelling application. This free version comes with 24 models including a digital chromatic tuner, nine stompboxes, four amps, five cabs, three mics and two rack effects.
There’s plenty to keep any guitarist happy when recording directly into their laptop – not least the fact IK Multimedia has secured official guitar amp models from such giants as Fender, Ampeg, Orange, Mesa Boogie and many more.
AmpliTube's tones are authentic and there's an impressive level of customization available (including choice of microphone and mic placement), but perhaps the biggest boon is the Custom Shop feature.
Okay, so at this point you're going to have to start shelling out some cash if you want to expand your collection of amp models, stompboxes and cab sims. However, the 'try before you buy' scheme is a welcome one.
4. Klevgrand SyndtSphere
Compatibility: macOS/Windows (VST and AU)
Klevgrand may not be a household name, but the Stockholm-based production company has certainly carved a name for itself with a slew of fine-sounding instruments featuring some rather esoteric interfaces.
SyndtSphere is no exception, and is one of the more accessible software synthesizers out there. Loaded with over 70 presets, the big fun here is the way you can morph between sounds using a nifty sphere-like object at the centre of the app.
More seasoned producers needn’t be be put off by the beginner-friendly feel; SyndtSphere has an impressive array of sounds lurking within. The unique morphing function allows for some rock-solid sound design, but you may find yourself playing around with it for ages before getting anything done.
5. BandLab Cakewalk
Compatibility: Windows
Cakewalk – formerly known as Cakewalk SONAR, was one of the first ever digital audio workstations, but its owner Gibson halted development last year. Luckily for music makers, cloud music creation platform BandLab snapped the software up in February, and has made it available to download free.
Cakewalk is a complete music production package, with creative songwriting tools and instruments, advanced mixing and mastering tools, unlimited MIDI and audio tracks for your own recordings, and a full suite of editing tools. Once you've finished, you can publish your work directly to SoundCloud, Youtube, Facebook and many other sites.
It's a pity it's only available for Windows 10 at the moment, but we'll be interested to see where BandLab takes Cakewalk in the future.
Need to get your music library in order? Check out the best free music players
The Mac is a great tool for writers, with a plethora of software available for any kind of writing. It doesn't matter if you're a student spending long nights on your big paper, a journalist writing up your latest scoop, or a novelist furiously typing away on your next opus — there's an app for you on the Mac.
Ulysses
Ulysses offers a full array of tools for writers of any kind. This app is easy to pick up and start using but offers a wide array of customization options for everything from writing to exporting. Choose to work in Markdown or create your own markup style. With Ulysses, you can also create your own writing environment with everything from background colors to fonts. When it comes time to publish, you can export your work in a variety of formats, including plain text, DOCX, and ePub. You can also publish your work to WordPress sites and Medium.
Your projects all sync with iCloud between Mac, iPhone, and iPad, with Dropbox support also available. The app also recently added support for Touch ID to keep your documents safe.
$44.99 - Download Now
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iPhone and iPad, $24.99 - Download Now
Byword
'Simple but effective' is the best way to describe Byword. With this Markdown-focused writing app, you start with a blank document and just write. It's a minimalist app with only a few settings to fuss with, and Byword really only cares about getting you writing. Your documents sync between Mac, iPhone, and iPad using iCloud Drive, though you can also store them in Dropbox.
When it comes to publishing, you've got options for PDF and HTML. You can also post what you've written to blogging services such as Medium, WordPress, Tumblr, and Blogger, or you could send your document to Evernote.
$11.99 - Download Now
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iPhone and iPad, $5.99 - Download Now
iA Writer
iA Writer's gone through quite a few changes over the years. Where the previous Pro app tried to break down your writing into a flow between notes and writing and editing, the modern iA Writer focuses on having your write in plain text, with full Markdown support. That's not to say that there aren't advanced features, however, as there are quite a few. Syntax Control breaks down your writing to show you the structure, highlighting adjectives, nouns, conjunctions, and more. Link to other documents in iA Writer to combine them into a single project, or link to images or spreadsheet files to see them in iA Writer's Preview screen in a number of different templates.
Like other apps on this list, iA Writer lets you publish to blogs, in this case, WordPress and Medium. You can also export your work in Markdown, PDF, HTML, and Microsoft Word.
$9.99 - Download Now
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iPhone and iPad, $3.99 - Download Now
Scrivener
Scrivener is nothing short of a full-featured suite of tools for writers. Novels, scripts, essays, research papers, it doesn't matter, because Scrivener supports all of them. Organize your ideas on digital notecards and lay them out on the corkboard to see how your work fits together. Import images, PDF and other media you've used as research to refer to it later. Keep your work segmented for easier organization and edition, while maintaining its structure with the Binder. And each part of the app can be customized to create the exact writing environment that you need. It's actually hard to encapsulate just how many options Scrivener gives you.
When you're done, compile your project into a single document, and export in formats like DOC, rich text, PDF, ePub, Kindle, and even export for other apps like Final Draft. Away from your Mac? You can also check out Scrivener for iPhone and iPad, which lets you work on your Scrivener projects no matter where you are.
$44.99 - Download Now
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iPhone and iPad, $19.99 - Download Now
Blogo
Blogo is a standout amongst our selections here because while many of these apps allow you to publish to the web, that's Blogo's explicit purpose. Open up Blogo and sign in to your WordPress, Blogger, or Medium account and start writing those hot takes. Manage everything from your post's title to its tags, preview your posts, and images. Write in Markdown or rich text, insert inline HTML and code blocks, and keep track of your writing goals. You can also perform some basic photo editing, cropping and resizing photos, and even adding effects and filters.
While Blogo is free up front, you can subscribe to Blogo Pro for $2.99 per month (or $24.99 for a year) to get access to more advanced features. You'll be able to add as many accounts as you want, get access to the Media Search feature to easily find videos, images, GIFs, and more, and on certain accounts, you can even moderate and reply to comments.
Free - Download Now
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iPhone and iPad, Free - Download Now
Bear
A relatively new app compared to the rest of the list, Bear might seem simple, but it offers a great deal of flexibility for handling text. It's true that Bear is good for both notes and todo checklists, but it's support for Markdown, a variety of themes, and simple organization makes it a great tool for many different kinds of writing. Add images, files, code blocks, and more to spice up your work and give it more context.
In terms of options, you've got few. Choose how to sort your documents, pick a theme, pick your font, and even control fine-grain details such as font size, line height and width, and paragraph spacing. Subscribe to Bear Pro for $1.49 per month in order to sync your documents between Bear for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Free - Download Now
Best Music Creation Software
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Best Free Music Composition Software For Mac
iPhone and iPad, Free - Download Now
Pages
Best Free Music Writing Software For Mac
Apple's own writing app, Pages lets you create all sorts of documents. There are more than 60 templates in Pages, covering just about every kind of writing, from short essays to research papers. There are even templates for items like business cards and flyers. You can add images and shapes, layout your documents in different styles, and more. You can also secure documents with Touch ID if you have one of Apple's 2016 MacBook Pros with Touch Bar.
Best Music Composition Software For Mac
Pages also makes it easy to collaborate with other people. Multiple people, whether they're on macOS, iOS, or even Windows thanks to iCloud.com, can collaborate on a document at the same time. You can share collaborative documents publicly or with specific users, see who is in the document at any given time, and follow their cursors as they edit the project.
Free ($19.99 for pre-October 2014 Macs) - Download Now
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iPhone and iPad, Free ($9.99 for pre-September 2014 iOS devices) - Download Now
Free Music Composition Software
Your favorites?
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What is your writing app of choice on your Mac? Do you use one of these or something else? Let us know in the comments.
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