Knowing how to mix vocals, arrange melodies, and enhance your tracks using digital software is as essential as being talented in music creation and recording tracks from scratch. Many seasoned producers typically use professional audio editing software, but these can cost anywhere between a few hundred to several thousand dollars. And if you’re just starting out, they might not be the best way to go. After all, you’re going to have other expenses, including some musical instruments and possibly even a new laptop that can handle the workflow requirements of music production.

Luckily, you don’t have to burn a hole in your pocket just to start producing your own music, because there are some decent music production software options that are completely free. While you gain more experience and save up money for professional DAWs like Ableton Live and FL studio, check out our shortlist of the best and most popular ones that won’t cost you a thing.

Even more bad news: Ableton is not a free music production software at all. While Ableton Live 9 used to have a Lite version that could be downloaded free, Ableton Live 10 starts with an Intro edition at $99 (then Standard at $449, then Suite at $749). The more expensive the version the more effects, instruments, and sounds it contains. Reaper Mac & Windows You must be wondering why does Reaper feature on this list of free music.

What is the Best Free Software for Music Production?

Whether you’re interested in learning how to become the next best music producer or simply want to clean up an audio file, these free versions of music production software offer basic audio editing tools, enhancements, and so much more.

GarageBand

Compatibility: Mac

GarageBand is a music production tool that’s very easy to use. You can get this on any Apple computer or laptop for free, and as with most of the company’s applications, it should be pretty easy to understand its basic functions thanks to its user-friendly interface. This popular digital audio workstation has certainly come a long way since it was first released in 2004, and its only major downsides for producers are its inability to export MIDI files and control external hardware via MIDI. Nonetheless, it offers beginners and advanced music makers more than enough to produce music for personal and commercial use.

It can load up to 255 different tracks, including vocals and instruments that you can record directly on the application. Other functions include changing the audio timing and a virtual drummer for instant percussion. It allows only 2 layers of effects for each track and currently doesn’t allow any changes in song tempo.

This music-making software offers an option to transfer files to Apple’s professional digital audio workstation, the Logic Pro X.

Check out GarageBand interface below:

Audacity

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Audacity is a popular open source, cross-platform audio editing tool that is well-loved for its simplicity and compatibility with not only with Windows and Mac but Linux as well. It’s not a full-scale digital audio workstation, but it is often compared with the newer GarageBand in terms of popularity and usability. Until you decide to shell out money for more advanced DAWs, you’ll find yourself using either of the two.

As one of the best free music production software options out there, it allows audio manipulation—you can edit your tracks; process your audio files; and export them as MP3, WAV, AIF, and many other formats—and organization of multiple audio bits to produce a coherent final track. It’s also one of the easiest to use, so if you don’t want a complicated program that will help you make basic edits, Audacity is definitely a great choice for creating music for a wide range of applications.

See how Audacity looks like and works in the brief video overview below:

BandLab Cakewalk

Compatibility: Windows 10

After Gibson stopped development on the popular Cakewalk (formerly known as Cakewalk SONAR) digital audio workstation last year, BandLab saved the app in February and made it available for free download.

For those who are finally getting to download Cakewalk for the first time, it’s a complete music production package that offers a full suite of editing tools, aside from providing you with songwriting tools and instruments, a massive supply of MIDI and audio tracks, and advanced mixing and mastering tools to help transform your tracks. Once you’re done, it allows you to share your work directly to SoundCloud, YouTube, Facebook, and other social media sharing sites.

The new Cakewalk is only available for Windows 10 for now, but everybody’s waiting for BandLab’s upcoming developments—which hopefully will include Mac compatibility!

Take a sneak peek at the new Cakewalk by BandLab below:

AmpliTube Custom Shop

Compatibility: Mac, Windows (64-Bit), Standalone App & Plugin (AAX, VST & AU)

The AmpliTube Custom Shop from IK Multimedia is the AmpliTube 4 in its simpler, entry-level form. With the free version, users can model their own guitar rig with 24 models—including three microphones, four amps, five cabs, nine stompboxes, two rack effects, and a digital chromatic tuner.

It’s the perfect software for those who are mostly going to be creating tracks with guitars. Enjoy authentic tones, creative customization (including your microphone choice and placement), and the coveted Custom Shop feature where you can “try before you buy” anything for the expansion of your collection of legit and branded amp models (like Fender, Ampeg, and Orange), stompboxes, and more.

Excited yet? Get a preview of AmpliTube below:

Tracktion T6

Music Production Software free. download full Version Mac Operating System

Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux (VST, AU and Linux VST)

Traction T6 was actually released a few years ago as a paid software, but it was re-released in September 2017 for free—and it’s the full version. Fortunately, for those who “waited” for it, this free music production tool included everything that was made available to those who purchased it two years ago, making it one of the most relevant DAWs used by beginners and advanced producers today.

One advantage is that it displays everything you need in its main window so you don’t have to switch to different screens for important functions. It also offers an unlimited supply of MIDI and audio tracks, and can host multiple plugin formats (including AU and VST).

If you’re looking for the MIDI-out functionality that GarageBand lacks, Traction T6 proudly offers it. And with scalable sections and a customizable bottom panel, you can personalize your digital workspace and display your desired parameters for a more efficient audio production workflow.

Check out Traction T6 in the video below:

Klevgrand SyndtSphere

Klevgrand’s SyndtSphere hasn’t quite reached the same level of popularity as the first five on this list, but it has certainly stood out with its unique and abstract interface. As a minimalist version of Klevgrand’s Syndt polyphonic synthesizer, this free software serves as one of the most accessible synthesizer programs, with over 70 presets and an intuitive center sphere that you can move around to morph multiple sounds at the same time.

With the SyndtSphere, you can actually trust your ears instead of focusing on visual parameters to produce good music. It might seem a little too simple for experienced producers, but SyndtSphere is one of the best free music software that offers an impressive collection of sounds that will inspire and entertain you—even if you don’t get anything done.

Prepare to be enchanted by SyndtSphere below:

Get a music studio for Mac

By now, you probably know what a powerful creative tool your Mac is. It’s definitely hard to beat when it comes to retouching photos, editing videos, and — naturally — making music.

There are, in fact, so many music making apps for Mac that it’s hard to decide which one to get and what’s the difference between them, especially if you’re just starting out. But don’t worry — below is the ultimate guide to help you pick the best music production software currently on the market.

Be a creator with Setapp

The ultimate toolkit for curious folks — Setapp gives you access to 180+ apps for creating music, design, code, and more.

The Best Free Music Software For Mac

It’s important to note that no single music creation software is best for everyone. Needs, experience levels, and preferences tent do differ a lot, so the final choice should be different as well. Having said that, there are a few options that have been winning in their respective categories over the years again and again. Here they are.

GarageBand: The easiest way to start

You don’t have to go far for an introductory experience to music making programs — the GarageBand app is already pre-installed on your system.

GarageBand for Mac is a versatile free music making software for beginners. You can use its tutorials to make your first steps into playing an instrument, record your own music (including your voice), add special effects, and produce complete tracks to upload to SoundCloud or beyond.

If you don’t have GarageBand in your Applications folder yet, download it from the App Store for free. When you open the app, it’ll prompt you to get all the available sounds and effects. The newer version of GarageBand for macOS Catalina and macOS Big Sur covers a fantastic virtual drummer that you can customize to fit your patterns exactly, whether you’re playing rock or hip-hop.

Some downsides to the GarageBand app are essentially reasons why pros don’t use it: at some point you max out its capabilities and need features like advanced crossfades, for example. When you feel that instead of the music making software serving you, you start serving the music making software — it’s probably time to upgrade.

Ableton Live 10: The best music making software ever

At the other end of the music software spectrum is the industry-standard Ableton Live. First released in 2001, Ableton has been honing its music making software for nearly two decades. It’s not only able to record, arrange, mix, and master your music but also be used at live shows to play that music back, right from the same interface.

Bad news: it’s very difficult to learn Ableton on your own if you don’t have any background in music making. Luckily, there’s a large international community of users, so you’ll likely be able to find either a local or online group in your language, which could become instrumental to getting over various hurdles.

Even more bad news: Ableton is not a free music production software at all. While Ableton Live 9 used to have a Lite version that could be downloaded free, Ableton Live 10 starts with an Intro edition at $99 (then Standard at $449, then Suite at $749). The more expensive the version the more effects, instruments, and sounds it contains.

n-Track Studio: A top recording software for Mac

If the gap between GarageBand and Ableton Live is so wide, naturally there would be some music making apps that would try to fill it up. Enter n-Track Studio.

Make music with n-Track Studio

With this simple app, you can take a professional music recording studio to your Mac. No expensive equipment, no fuss.

n-Track Studio is a music making software free of Ableton’s complexities but with nearly all of its power. You can record songs from live instruments or create complex EDM tracks using virtual tools as well, with the help of a massive library of sound effects. What’s more, n-Track Studio features a free MIDI software built right in and doesn’t require a too powerful of a processor on your machine, since its audio engine is optimized for minimum latency, even when dozens of tracks are played at once.

Starting with n-Track Studio is very easy:

1. Click the circled plus icon to create a new track, either blank or armed for recording

2. Right-click on the new track and choose “Add blank MIDI track”

3. Select your instrument

4. Play any progression you like, either using your trackpad or a connected controller

5. Repeat as many times as needed and enhance with other effects

Overall, exploring n-Track Studio is pure pleasure: more freedom than the standard GarageBand without the difficulty and cost of Ableton. Perfect choice!

Make all music sound better with Boom 3D

While selecting the best free music making software is important, it’s equally important to ensure that whatever tunes you create are going to be played appropriately. As most Macs are simply too quiet for all the intricacies of the music software, you need Boom 3D to make it all work.

Boom 3D is a system-wide volume booster and equalizer for your Mac. First, it features a variety of presets to make every genre sound as good as possible, by setting the right midtones, bass levels, and high-pitched notes. Second, it lets you surpass the default volume limit on your Mac to really get the maximum out of your speakers.

Finally, Boom 3D also acts as a nifty little music player that features over 20,000 radio stations from around the world and plays back tracks set in your specific preferences.

So, again, while choosing the best music production software comes down to your level of experience and needs, if you go for a mid-market product like n-Track Studio, you definitely won’t be bored for a long time. Just don’t forget to couple it with Boom 3D for an absolute killer of a sound.

Music Production Software free. download full Version Mac Download

Best of all, n-Track Studio and Boom 3D are available to you absolutely free for seven days during the trial of Setapp, a platform with over 200 apps for your creative self, from music making programs to film editing and drawing. Try Setapp today and unleash you creator spirit. It’s free, so why not at least try?

Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.

Sign Up

Free Software For Music Production