7 Free Music Programs: Achieving Professional Recordings on a Tight Budget

1. Free vs. Paid Music Programs
2. What are the best free music programs?
3. Conclusion: Music production has never been this easy

Gone are the days when musicians had to either have a label or a gigantic budget to make professional recordings. Free music programs (also known as Digital Audio Workstations, or DAWs) like GarageBand and Ableton Live Lite offer hobby musicians an easy entry into music production. In this post, we'll take a look at the seven best free music programs.

Free vs. Paid Music Programs

The fundamental difference between paid and free music programs lies in their range of functions. Whether a freeware music program is sufficient for your purposes depends entirely on what you plan to do with it.

A free DAW is a good choice if you want to:

• dabble in music production using a simple music program
• you only have a limited budget available
• you can cope with a limited range of functions, for example, by doing without a host of virtual instruments and plug-ins.

For those who are serious about music production, however, there is no getting around paid music software. But that doesn't mean that there are also numerous freewares whose features are completely sufficient at the beginning of your journey. If you then want to delve deeper into the subject, most free music software offers upgrade options.

One more tip for those using a DAW for the first time: At the beginning, it's advisable to fall back on the same music programs as your friends and colleagues. This not only simplifies getting started, but also sharing projects.

What are the best free music programs?

1. GarageBand

GarageBand on OMR Reviews

Apple's free music program GarageBand is included with all macOS products. So as a Mac user, you can get started right away. The DAW is considered one of the best beginner software, which you can think of as a slimmed down version of Apple's flagship Logic Pro X. GarageBand scores with its ease of use and intuitive design. And despite being freeware, GarageBand has numerous virtual instruments, MIDI functions, and plug-ins that make mixing and mastering easier.

GarageBand Features

• Ideal for beginners, thanks to simple user interface
• Numerous software instruments, sampler and plugins included
• AI Drummer
• Besides Mac, you can also use GarageBand on other iOS products like the iPhone or iPad
• Compatible with AU plugins
• Easy switch to Logic Pro X possible
• Integrated learning functions for guitar and piano
• Operating system: macOS

GarageBand Prices

As already mentioned, GarageBand is completely free and already included on your Mac. Logic Pro X comes into consideration as a paid upgrade.

For more information on GarageBand Prices and user reviews with pricing reference, check out OMR Reviews.

GarageBand Alternatives

GarageBand doesn't meet your expectations? Don't worry - at OMR-Reviews there are numerous free and paid GarageBand alternatives waiting for you.

2. Ableton Live Lite

Ableton Live on OMR Reviews

If you're looking for software for producing electronic music, you can't get around Ableton Live. With Ableton Live Lite, you get access to a slimmed-down version of Live, which is included with some MIDI keyboards and audio interfaces. The DAW offers the usual unique session view, which makes using loops for your compositions a breeze. Furthermore, you receive useful features like Pitch Shifting and Time Stretching.

Ableton Live Lite Features

• Up to four inputs and outputs simultaneously
• Unique interface & comprehensive MIDI functionality
• 16 tracks from a combination of MIDI and audio channels
• Pitch shifting and time stretching functions
• Small sound library as well as some effect plugins
• Operating System: Windows, MacOS

Ableton Live Lite Prices

Ableton Live Lite is the free version of the popular music program. If an upgrade is an option for you, take a look at the additional Ableton Live Prices.

Ableton Live Lite Alternatives

Ableton Live Lite doesn't meet your expectations? Don't worry - at OMR-Reviews there are numerous free and paid Ableton Live Lite Alternatives waiting for you.

3. FL Studio in the Trial Version

FL Studio on OMR Reviews

A disclaimer beforehand: FL Studio is technically not free. However, the software can still be used for free in a trial version - and this without time limit and with full range of functions. The only fly in the ointment: in this trial version saved projects can't be loaded - to access older sessions, you consequently need an upgrade to the paid version. Nevertheless, the DAW is definitely worth a look: FL Studio probably offers the most accessible user interface of all DAWs, making the programme especially popular with beginners. In particular, with the ubiquitous Step Sequencer, beats can be made in no time at all. It's no surprise then that FL Studio is one of the most popular DAWs, especially in the hip hop area.

FL Studio Features

• Intuitive Step Sequencer
• Full range of functions in the unlimited trial version
• Huge sample and instrument library on board

FL Studio Prices

If you want to upgrade from the trial version to the paid version of FL Studio, you can do that starting from a modest 94 €. In the most extensive version, the program costs 479€. Particularly gratifying: once paid, you get free updates of the latest versions of FL Studio for life.

FL Studio Alternatives

FL Studio doesn't meet your expectations? Don't worry - at OMR-Reviews there are numerous free and paid FL Studio alternatives waiting for you.

4. Pro Tools

Pro Tools on OMR Reviews

Pro Tools has become the standard in recording studios worldwide. For those who want to test the professional DAW, the manufacturer Avid offers Pro Tools First, a beginner version. This includes some of the high-quality features that characterize the music program, including several plug-ins for mixing your songs, virtual instruments, and MIDI functionalities. Deductions you have to make, however, in the area of available tracks. For example, you can only record up to 16 audio tracks and use a maximum of 16 virtual instrument tracks per session. Likewise, only four tracks can be recorded simultaneously.

Pro Tools Features

• Up to 16 virtual instrument tracks
• Integrated loop and sample libraries
• 23 effects and utility plugins included
• Loop recording function
• Numerous beats, loops, and virtual instruments
• Operating system: Windows, macOS

Pro Tools Prices

Pro Tools First is a free music software that eases your entry into the full version. If you're interested in this, you should have a look at the Pro Tools Prices.

Pro Tools Alternatives

Pro Tools First doesn't meet your expectations? Don't worry - at OMR-Reviews there are numerous free and paid Pro Tools alternatives waiting for you.

5. LMMS

LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio) is a music software that allows you to create and mix songs for free. You can control the various VST instruments using a MIDI controller or the keyboard of your PC. It's also possible to choose scales and design chords in LMMS's piano roll editor. This is very useful to speed up your composition process. In addition, the music program only requires 100 MB of storage space. This means that you can store it on a flash drive and take it anywhere.

LMMS Features

• Song editor (sequencer) where you can adjust parameters such as volume and panning
• Beat+Bassline Editor: 16-step sequencer and drum machine for creating beats
• Piano Roll Editor: Main workspace for composing and editing melodies and harmonies
• Automation Editor: Allows you to assign pre-programmed changes to parameters such as pan, volume and FX
• Includes over 20 software instruments and over 20 audio effects
• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux

LMMS Prices

LMMS is a completely free music production program. Therefore, the tool doesn't have all the advanced features that you get from other paid music software.

LMMS Alternatives

LMMS doesn't meet your expectations? Don't worry - at OMR-Reviews there are numerous free and paid LMMS alternatives waiting for you.

6. Ardour

Another DAW is Ardour. It's a feature-rich program that supports the major plugin formats such as AudioUnit and LVit. With Ardour, you can easily record, edit, mix and master audio and MIDI projects. You can also use external hardware synthesizers or software instruments as sound sources. The integrated freesound.org search also provides easy access to thousands of clips and jingles. If needed, you can even import videos and optionally extract the soundtrack from them.

Ardour Features

• Unlimited number of multichannel tracks
• Non-linear editing with unlimited undo/redo
• Comes with a separate video monitor window
• Supports the major plugin formats: AudioUnits (MacOS), VST (Windows & Linux) and LV2 (all platforms)
• Compatible with various file formats such as WAV, AIFF, CAF, BWF, FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis and MP3
• Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux

Ardour Prices

Ardour is an open source music software developed by a team of musicians, programmers, and professional sound engineers. This means that you can download it for free, pass it on to friends, or modify the program itself.

Ardour Alternatives

Ardour doesn't meet your expectations? Don't worry - at OMR-Reviews there are numerous free and paid Ardour alternatives waiting for you.

7. Audacity

Audacity on OMR Reviews

No list of free DAWs would be complete without mentioning Audacity - one of the first of its kind. Admittedly, the software's interface shows this a bit. In addition, while Audacity does meet the classic definition of a DAW, it lacks some features that are standard in today's music programs. For example, Audacity doesn't have any MIDI functions. This means that for example, you have to do without VST instruments, synthesizers, and drum machine plug-ins. Similarly, you only have a limited selection of effects available for sound shaping.

So why should you choose Audacity? For one, Audacity is open-source music software. Technically skilled users can develop their own versions of the program. In addition, Audacity is extremely easy to operate. For quick recordings, such as podcasts or interviews, the features are more than sufficient.

Audacity Features

• Easy operation and simple interface
• Multitrack audio editor and recorder
• Cross-platform usable
• Particularly suitable for beginners and podcasters
• Supports multiple tracks and VST plugins
• Open-source music program
• Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux, Unix

Audacity Prices

Audacity is a free music production program, which you can simply download from the manufacturer's website.

More information about the Audacity Prices and user reviews with price reference can be found at OMR Reviews.

Audacity Alternatives

Audacity doesn't meet your expectations? Don't worry - at OMR-Reviews there are numerous free and paid Audacity Alternatives waiting for you.

Conclusion: Music production has never been this easy

Getting started in music production doesn't have to be expensive - the DAWs mentioned above prove this. Just as a beginner, you're often flooded with numerous features in paid versions that you don't initially need.

If you're using macOS or iOS, GarageBand, one of the best freewares, is already included. If on the other hand, you're looking for a music program for occasional recording and for podcasts, you can get by with Audacity. And thanks to newcomer versions such as Ableton Live Lite, FL Studio, and Pro Tools First, you can already get familiar with more professional software. Which DAW you ultimately decide on, however, always depends on the required functions, your budget and your own taste, particularly regarding the interface.

Haven't you discovered the right DAW yet? Then you should take a look at OMR-Reviews. There you'll find several other free and paid music programs. And thanks to the reviews from our community, you're sure to find the right tool.