Best Free DAWs for Music Production in 2024
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If you are looking to produce music without hurting your wallet you are in the right corner of the internet. Here you will find top best free Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for music production in 2024. Weather you want to Record, edit, mix , or podcast or you just wanna casually make beats in your computer, we gotcha ya!.
We have provided you with detailed features of all the mentioned DAWs along with pros and cons to help you pick the right Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for you. So here is a list of the best free music production software available for free download.
Cakewalk by BandLab
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| Cakewalk |
Cakewalk by BandLab is hands down one of the best free Digital Audio workstations (DAW) out there. It's a pure gem for anyone who wants to make music without spending a fortune. we all know how expensive DAWs are these days. Cakewalk has all the tools you need to create clean, professional songs. And it's not just good-looking software it works just as smooth as it looks.
Features of Cakewalk
Let's see the main features of the Cakewalk in the simplest way as possible.
- Compose: Making songs is a blast with Cakewalk. They've got all sorts of tools and instruments to help you produce your own music.
- Recording: With Cakewalk BandLab you record your audio with top-notch quality and as many tracks as you want.
- Editing: Didn't hit the right notes? No worries! Cakewalk makes fixing things like pitch and timing in your recordings easy.
- Mixing: Making your songs sound amazing is a snap with Cakewalk. You can blend all your tracks together like a pro with its mixing plugins
- Master: Once your music is ready, Cakewalk helps you master your track with some amazing mastering plugins.
- Share: Cakewalk lets you share your songs directly to platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud.
- Easy to Use: The Cakewalk user interface is very easy to use, you don't need to stress about how to figure out things
- Loads of Tracks: You can have as many tracks as you want in your projects. Whether it's audio, MIDI, or something else, Cakewalk has you covered.
- Great Sound Quality: Cakewalk uses the best audio tech around, so your music will always sound great.
- Effects: Improve your beats with effects like reverb and compression and more.
- VocalSync® Audio Alignment: This nifty feature helps you line up your vocal tracks perfectly, saving you time and effort.
Like any other Digital Audio Workstation Software Cakewalk by Bandlab has its on sets of strength and weakness.
Pros:
Free to Use:
Cakewalk by BandLab doesn't cost a penny, which is great for producers on budget
Flexible:
Whether you prefer traditional staff notation, piano roll, pattern view, or Matrix view for live performance, Cakewalk has all the options covered.
Powerful Pro-Channels:
The Pro-Channels offer excellent control over audio, similar to industry-standard software like ProTools and Cubase.
Familiar Workflow:
If you're used to working with other DAWs, you'll find Cakewalk's workflow quite similar, making the transition smooth.
Efficient Editing with Keyboard Shortcuts:
Quick editing is made easy with the abundance of keyboard shortcuts available.
Updates:
With over two decades of continuous development, Cakewalk is a reliable and trustworthy software.
Cons:
Lack of Real-Time MIDI Automation Control:
Cakewalk could benefit from a dedicated LFO for controlling MIDI automation in real-time.
Hidden Effects in UI:
Some effects may be hidden from the UI, requiring manual addition to the VST folder scan path, which can be inconvenient.
Removal of Synths and Effects:
Some great synths and effects from Sonar Platinum were removed during the transition to Cakewalk by BandLab.
Limitation on Pro-Effects Usage:
The limitation of using only a single instance of a Pro-Effect on each Pro-Channel can be frustrating.
No Built-in Synths:
Cakewalk doesn't include any synths as part of the installation, requiring users to rely on external VST instruments.
Cakewalk by BandLab is a great music production software/ DAW that's completely free. It's really easy to use and has all the tools you need to make awesome music. Whether you're writing, recording, editing, mixing, or sharing your songs, Cakewalk has everything you need. While it's not perfect and has a few quirks like limited MIDI control and hidden effects, its strengths like its flexibility and regular updates make it a popular choice for musicians everywhere.
GarageBand by Apple
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| Garageband |
Garageband is a powerful music production software developed by Apple. Garageband is only available for macOS, iPad, and iOS platform users. It comes pre-installed. Garageband is suitable for music production, beat making a podcast or any audio related task that needs editing later.
Let's see the main features, pros and cons of GarageBand.
Features:
Simple User Interface: GarageBand has a simple user friendly interface that makes it easy for beginners to start producing music straight away.
Virtual Instruments/VST plugins: GarageBand comes with many virtual instruments like a Virtual analog synthesizer, Keyboard, Drums, Smart Guitar, Smart Bass, Smart Strings, World, Drummer, Sampler with other effect plugins.
Loop Library: It comes with an inbuilt library of loops and samples that you can use to make some sick beats.
Multi-Track Recording: GarageBand supports multi-track recording, meaning you can layer them for complex music production.
Effects: It has amazing effects and filters like reverb, echo, distortion, and compression some of them are; Tape delay, De-esser, Gate/expander, etc
MIDI Support: You can connect your MIDI keyboards and controllers to GarageBand to use any virtual instruments of your choice and record MIDI on them.
Podcast: Garageband has major features like recording, editing, voiceover recording, and sound effects for podcast
Pros:
Free: GarageBand comes pre-installed on Mac computers, so you don't need to pay for any additional software to get started in your music production journey
User friendly UI: Its simple and easy to use interface and tutorials make it a great choice for people who are new to music production. Anyone can pick up the mechanics of the GarageBand quickly.
Flexible: GarageBand can be used to create a wide range of music genres and styles, from rock and pop to electronic and hip-hop and many more.
Connectivity among Various Apple Devices: Users can easily transfer projects between GarageBand on Mac and GarageBand for iOS devices like iPhones and iPads.
Updates: Apple regularly updates GarageBand with new features addon and improvements, so you can always update the software and stay up to date.
Cons:
Limited Features Compared to Professional music production Software : GarageBand doesn't have as many advanced features as professional music production software like Logic Pro.
Available for Mac only: It's only available for Mac computers, so if you have a Windows computer, you won't be able to use it
Resources Demanding: GarageBand is Resource Intensive it can be demanding on your computer's resources, especially if you're working with a lot of tracks and effects
Limited Mixing and Mastering Tools and Plugins: GarageBand has Limited Mixing and Mastering Tools. While GarageBand has decent mixing and mastering plugins, they may not be just enough for more advanced users who want to do the professional level of mixing and mastering
Sample quality: The quality of the inbuilt loops and samples in GarageBand are of poor quality.
To wrap things up, Overall GarageBand is a great choice for beginners and casual beat makers , producers, or podcasters who want a simple and affordable way to create music on their Mac computers straight away. But Serious producers might need to look elsewhere for other options as GarageBand has some limitations that can limit the users from creativity and get professional result in production.
LMMS
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| LMMS |
LMMS, or Linux MultiMedia Studio is an open-source free DAW, lets you make music on your computer. You can create melodies, beats, mix sounds, and arrange samples easily. It comes with several built-in instruments.
LMMS is a music production software for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It's simple to use and has a modern interface. You can play instruments, samples, and plugins using your computer keyboard or a MIDI keyboard.
LMMS comes with lots of ready-to-use content. It includes instrument and effect plugins, presets, and samples. You can even use VST plugins and SoundFonts. Here are its main features:
Core Functionality:
- Create music on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- Sequence, compose, mix, and automate songs easily.
- Play notes with a MIDI or typing keyboard.
- Edit instrument tracks with the Beat+Bassline Editor.
- Adjust patterns, chords, and melodies using the Piano Roll Editor.
- Customize track-based automation.
- Import MIDI files and projects from Hydrogen.
Musical Instruments:
- Supports 64-bit VST instruments (with a bridge for 32-bit on Windows).
- Includes 16 synthesizers, like emulations of classic chips like the Roland TB-303 and Nintendo NES.
- Features ZynAddSubFx, a powerful plugin for synthesis.
- Supports various sample formats for high-quality instrument patches and banks
Effects Mixing:
- Supports LADSPA and VST effect plugins.
- Comes with built-in effects like compressor, limiter, delay, reverb, distortion, and equalizers.
- Includes visualization tools like spectrum analyzer.
LMMS provides a range of tools for creating music, from composing melodies to mixing and mastering tracks. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy for beginners to get started, while its powerful features cater to the needs of advanced users.
Pros:
- Cross-platform compatibility (works on Windows, Linux, and macOS).
- User-friendly interface.
- Support for MIDI and VST plugins
- Bundled with a variety of plugins, presets, and samples.
- Supports MIDI keyboards and typing keyboards.
- Powerful editing tools for fine-tuning music.
Cons:
- Might be overwhelming for beginners due to its many features.
- Limited support for some older plugin formats.
- Requires some learning curve to fully utilize its capabilities.
- LMMS can't record Audio
- Limited technical support: As a free and open-source software, LMMS doesn’t offer dedicated customer support, which means users may need to rely on online forums or user groups for assistance.
- Inconsistent stability: Some users have reported stability issues with LMMS, including crashes, glitches, and bugs.
LMMS is a powerful music production software suitable for both beginners and advanced users. Like any other music production software weather paid or free it has its own pros and cons. With its range of features and compatibility across different operating systems, it's a great choice for anyone looking to produce music on their computer. Whether you're composing melodies, mixing tracks, or experimenting with different sounds, LMMS offers the tools you need to bring your musical ideas to life.
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WAVEFORM FREE BY TRACKTION
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| Waveform |
If you've always wanted to produce music but didn't know where to begin, give Waveform free a try and see how it surprises you. Tracktion Corporation developed Waveform. It's a basic yet powerful music production software that allows you to create some heat directly on your computer.
Waveform supports all major operating systems, including MacOS, Windows, and Linux. You can download and use any other VST plugin that supports waveform.
Waveform allows you to record, edit, mix, and master your music for free. Waveform Free also supports video files, which is a really fantastic feature. So, whether you're creating music for a movie or animation production, you're covered.
Waveform free may not include all of the functionality found in the commercial version of the software. But what more can you expect from a free edition of the software? Furthermore, it includes all the necessary tools, plugins, and packs to help you get started on your music producing journey.
If you think you want more from Waveform, you may upgrade from Waveform Free to Waveform Pro for a very reasonable price, which will be worth every penny.
Waveform free, like any other Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), has both good stuff and not so good stuff. Let's look at some of the pros and cons of waveforms.
pros:
- Works with VST plugins and ReWire, allowing you to simply add more functionality.
- It's entirely free and performs an excellent job.
- Upgrading to the pro edition of Waveform is cheap and easy.
cons:
- If you've used other music software before, it may take some time to adjust.
- It may not include every single feature you want, especially if you're an advanced user.
Waveform Free is a straightforward yet powerful music production software developed by Tracktion Corporation. It is compatible with all major operating systems and supports VST plugins, it has every tools for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering music for free. While it may lack some advanced features, upgrading to Waveform Pro is an affordable option. Waveform Free will remain favourite among producers communit for both beginners and experienced music producers.
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More info https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-freeAUDACITY
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| Audacity |
Audacity is one of those software that needs no introduction. Launched in 2000 and has been downloaded over 200 million times. Since then Audacity has been holding its ground for decades, becoming one of the most popular free audio processing software. Yes, I said audio processing software not Digital Audio Workstation. Every one of us has at least tried audacity once in our lifetime. When it comes to recording and editing the audio Audacity is the real OG in the game.
Audacity is available for free download for Windows, MacOS, and Linux Operating systems. Audacity does not have any mobile app yet.
Let's look at some of the main features of Audacity as mentioned on their official website:
Features
- Record live with a microphone or mixer.
- Edit your tracks fast with intuitive tools, including cutting, pasting, and smooth volume mixing.
- Perfect your audio with more advanced effects:
- Reduce background static with noise reduction tools.
- Adjust tempo without altering pitch or vice versa.
- Alter frequencies with equalizers, high and low-pass filters, and more.
- Reduce or isolate vocals in stereo tracks.
- Add energy with distortion, echo, reverb, and more effects.
- Import, export and convert files in every popular audio format, including mp3, m4a, AIFF, FLAC, WAV and more. You can even combine clips from multiple formats into the same project.
- Take your editing to the next level with an extensive selection of third-party effects plugins, designed by the Audacity, open-source community.
- You Visualize and analyze your audio clips in a waveform, Spectrogram view.
Pros:
Audacity is open-source and free to use. Its user-friendly interface makes it ideal for novices.
Audacity provides various audio editing features, such as noise reduction, equalization, compression, and more.
Audacity can run VST3, LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST, and Audio Unit plugins.
Audacity supports a variety of audio file formats, including WAV, AIFF, MP3, and FLAC, making it simple to import and export audio files.
Audacity is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Cons:
Audacity is a great audio editor or audio processing software but not a fully featured Digital audio workstation
it lacks and doesn't have advanced features for music production, such as MIDI sequencing, virtual instruments, and automation.
There are no pre-installed effects or virtual instruments in Audacity.
Audacity doesn’t have customer support.
In conclusion, Audacity is blurring the line between an audio editor and a DAW. It can do more than just edit audio, including options like non-destructive editing and real-time effects. However, it lacks some DAW features, like as MIDI editing and virtual instruments. While it is not a full featured DAW, it is an extremely capable audio processing software.
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