The Ashampoo Music Studio 7 software is quite an affordable all-in-one music suite that can help users record, rip, burn, cut, convert or mix music files as they wish. It also comes with all the comprehensive tools to let you create playlists, organize your music collections or create personalized covers easily. Music Critic was founded in 1998, and publishes album and single reviews, music articles, concert and live band reviews and instrument and equipment guides. We are proud to provide impartial reviews, helping you find new bands and artists and the best musical instruments and equipment for your money.
Last Updated on March 19, 2020 by
If there’s one thing that really gets me going is whensomeone says that you need to have Pro Tools, Cubase… you name it, installed inorder to be a good producer. Macbook air mojave.
The funny thing is that this couldn’t be farther from thetruth.
In order to be a good producer, you need to learn how to properly produce music, the software you use for recording/editing is secondary.
If you don’t have the proper knowledge, acoustic treatment,equipment, and skills, it doesn’t matter if you use the “best” software outthere…
Your mixes will most certainly suck!
So, before I get into the free Audio recording software, there are some things that need to be addressed.
But first, something that is a lot more important than the editing software you use, which is…
Just like with anything else in life, recording, mixing, andmastering are skills that need to be learned… and this takes time.
Think more about which of those skills you are lacking and focus on improving them instead of thinking that you need to purchase Pro Tools simply because someone said so.
If you are excellent at using any kind of software, let’s sayAudacity, do you think that you could achieve the same quality mix on Pro Toolsor Cubase?…
Probably not, right?… At least not until you get used tothose DAWs.
While it might be a good idea to upgrade to some of the moreprofessional recording software/DAWs at some point, I really don’t think thatthis should be a priority.
Lucky for you not only are there dozens of free recordingprograms out there…
But even Pro Tools, Presonus, and other of the big names, have free stripped-down versions of their most popular DAWs.
If you think that you might need a couple courses to improve your skills quickly, then let me recommend the loopmasters website where you can find loads of courses about almost anything music related.
Now that that’s out of the way it’s time to get into thelist of the recording programs…
Note: You might be thinking “Hey, but my computercame with one pre-installed, can’t I use that one?”.
Well, yes and no…
If you own a Mac then it means that you get Garageband forfree, and Garageband is definitely on this list since it’s excellent!
If that’s your case then yes.
If you own a PC, like most of us, then you will absolutelyneed to download another program.
Lucky for you, here’s a list of 10 great ones which not onlyare free, but also work great!
Note: I’ll end the post with the ones I like themost.
Let’s get started…
The whole idea behind Traverso is to make the workflow aseasy as possible.
They achieve this by allowing you to control the entireprogram through mouse+keyboard shortcuts, which I know may sound a littleintimidating at first…
But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to work thatmuch faster.
Some cool features of Traverso are;
Non-destructive audio editing: This allows you to undo/redoas much as you want.
Cut the track into a million pieces, add effects, and more…and the original file will still be intact.
This is a great feature for beginners to have, since you can’treally run into any serious problems.
Burn directly to a CD: Yes, we almost don’t use CDsanymore, but it’s a nice feature to have.
Once you’re done with a project you can burn it directly on-toa CD without even leaving Traverso.
Note: This is not a simple recording program…
It’s actually a full DAW which is quite powerful and thatcertainly is capable of producing professional sounding music.
So, if you like using shortcuts and don’t mind that initiallearning curve, by all means, give Traverso a try.
You can download it here.
Ardour is yet another free DAW/audio recording and editing software that is both aimed at the seasoned producer as well as beginners.
It’s a fully featured DAW, and the whole point behind Ardour is to be the go-to choice for engineers who are on a budget and can’t afford to purchase a premium one.
Just like Traverso, Ardour features non-destructive editingas well as 32-bit float.
Not only that, but contrary to Pro Tools first, Ardour doesn’tput a limit on the number of simultaneous tracks you can use.
It also supports VST, LADSPA, AU, and LV2 formats so thatyou can use your favorite plugins.
Additionally, Ardour runs on JACK which is excellent at handling MIDI without any latency whatsoever.
Lastly, would I recommend Ardour to a complete newbie?
Probably not… and here’s why;
The user interface is a bit more complex than the one onother free recording software out there, like Garageband which is extremelyeasy to use.
However, I’ve you’ve ever worked with a real DAW before, Ardourwill probably be easy to learn, plus it can do anything a premium DAW can.
You can download it here.
Jokosher is one of the most lightweight recording programs you’ll ever find.
It’s not really designed to be able to do any advancedmixing and mastering, like most other programs on this list… https://heresfile514.weebly.com/demo-play-roulette.html.
However, what it lacks in functionality it more than makesup in ease of use.
Not only that, but it was designed to use concepts that musicians are more familiar with than the language used in most audio editing software…
Making it a good starting point!
Even though Ardour may not be as in-depth as some of theother DAWs on this list, it still features all the basic editing tools likesplitting, trimming, etc.
It even comes with a decent number of instruments which can be added to a project.
However, if you want do add extra plugins like Orchestral VST,for example, you will only be able to add LADSPA plugins… which Iknow isn’t ideal.
All in all, Jokosher is a great free tool mainly due to its ease of use… it’s very similar to Garageband in that regard.
If you need to do some simple audio recording, mixing, etc.,or if you want a simple tool for podcasting, then Jokosher might be the rightfit.
You can download it here.
Ohm Studio looks like a regular DAW, or like any other audiorecording software.
But what sets it apart from every other program on this listis not the number of plugins it comes with, or how powerful it can be…
What really sets it apart is that it’s a collaborative recording software.
What this means is that you can give access to otherpeople and they can simultaneously work with you in real time on thesame project.
The reason I included Ohm Studio in this list is exactly becauseof that one feature.
Other than that, it doesn’t offer anything that otherrecording software don’t.
It comes with a lot of effects and instruments that can beused completely for free, and it also supports VST plugins… but only 32-bitfor now.
You can download it here.
Pro Tools First is the stripped-down version of the mostpopular DAW in existence…
It includes the Xpand!2 virtual instruments and UVIWorkstation 3 sample player which give you access to a variety of sounds,from beats and loops, to power chords and more.
Since it’s a lite version of Pro Tools, it only allows forup to four simultaneous tracks to be recorded at the same time…
And 16 tracks can be played back at the same time.
I know this doesn’t sound like a lot but remember that it’s the free version and you can always upgrade later on.
Pro tools First also comes with 23 effects andutility plugins, which are great for basic mixing procedures.
It is free to download and use, but you need to registerwith them and with iLoki also, which takes a bit of time.
Whenever you want to try out free software, having to jumpthrough a couple of hoops isn’t the worst thing, but it would be much better ifthey didn’t make you do any of this.
Note: If you’re thinking about building a homestudio, don’t miss out on this list I wrote about all the HomeStudio Essentials you need!
You can Download it here.
Tracktion T7, just like Cakewalk, which I will talk about in a second, is a completely freeand fully featured/unlimited DAW.
This means that there is no “Lite” version, there areno track limitations, no plugin limitations, or any other constraint of sortslike on Pro Tools First or Cubase LE.
The T7 version, and all the prior ones, are free.
This is because they want you to try them out and see if youlike the workflow…
If you do, you can upgrade to the latest version that is now called Waveform 9, which isn’t free.
In order to get this one, you will need to register as well.
After this, simply select your OS and download.
The BIG difference between Tracktion T7 and all the otherDAWs I’ve tried is that the workflow is very different.
You have your tracks, which go from left to right, like in any other DAW, but the Mixer isn’t on the bottom, like in EVERY OTHER DAW… it’s on the right.
The controls for every track are on that same track but on the right side of the DAW.
This might be a bit confusing at first, but it makes senseonce you’ve gotten used to it.
However, even though getting used to the different workflowof Tracktion 7 can take some time…
Why would you spend a fortune in order to get some other DAWwhen this one, and Cakewalk as well, can do the same things but for free?
Definitely give it a try!
You can download it here.
Studio One Prime is a beginner friendly DAW.
The user interface is extremely intuitive and easy to use and it offers ahassle-free workflow.
Therefore, it’s great for beginners since recording a demo in your bedroomwithout any prior experience won’t be such a headache.
I recommend Studio One Prime to people with no prior experience who justwant to learn the basics of mixing music.
The biggest drawback it has is that it can’t load VST or AU plugins.
If you want to be able to do this, you will need to upgrade to Studio OneArtist.
Note: In order to use VST/AU plugins in Studio One Artist,you will need to purchase a separately paid add-on for these VST/AU plugins towork.
Yes, this sucks… But the software itself is great!
Studio One Prime comes with nine Native effect Plugins like delay,distortion, etc. which are surprisingly good.
At the time of writing this article, the current version is StudioOne 4 Prime.
The latest version introduces a couple of improvements added from the Artistand Pro editions of the Software.
These are; An improved instrument editing workflow, theintroduction of drum and melodic patterns as well as MP3 encoding.
This is a stripped-down version of the Artist and Pro editions, if you needVST/AU plugins, or if you want more effects, you will have to either getanother DAW from this list, of purchase the Artist or Pro editions.
Remember that the Artist version requires a separately paid add-onfor VST/AU plugins to work.
Just like with most of the DAWs on this list, you will need to register inorder to download it.
Still, I think that Studio One Prime is definitely worth checking out.
You can download it here.
Cakewalk is considered to be the best free DAW out there,the one issue is that it’s only for Windows users (Windows 7 or higher and only64-bit), but you are getting a $600 value DAW for absolutely free.
It’s basically a rebranded version of SONAR Platinum withall its professional features included.
One of the differences between Cakewalk and ProTools Firstor Cubase LE (light version of Cubase), is that those come with a couplerestrictions; Free app slots legit.
Like limited simultaneous tracks recording and playing back,and some other features.
Cakewalk is just as powerful as the full versions ofProTools and Cubase, but 100% free!
Not only is Cakewalk my top choice for any free recordingsoftware out there, but it’s also the one I generally use the most.
For years now I’ve been using Cubase and I have to say thatI really like the workflow…
But Cakewalk is very similar in the sense that it’s a fullDAW, while still being absolutely free.
Of course, it comes down to your own preferences.
Maybe you like the interface of some other DAW better, butthis one offers everything the full version of a paid DAW does, and more!
If you are a Windows user, then get Cakewalk, no questionsasked!
Note: Once you downloaded Cakewalk, you will need toregister (you can do this through Facebook or Google, it only takes onesecond).
Then you need to go to the “App” section and installCakewalk.
You can download it here.
Audacity, while not being the most powerful program outthere, is the go-to recording software for most beginner home music recordingenthusiasts as well as podcasters.
The reason for this is that it’s fairly simple to use, whichis ideal if you are a beginner.
The interface is simple and clean (Ideal for a newbie),which just means that the user experience as a whole will be much lesscomplicated.
Not only that but it can record using your PC’s onboardsound card directly through the mic input and line-in input.
Live streaming is also an option if your sound card supportsit.
It comes with quite the number of included effects which areuseful for getting the sound you desire, from setting the levels right tochanging the sound of your voice even.
From EQs, to pitch correction, delay, reverb, compressor,noise removal, and more… Audacity has got your basic effect needs covered.
Additionally, it even supports VST, LADSPA, AU, and Nyquistplugins, meaning that if you want to load a Drum VST plugin,you can.
Audacity supports a sample rate of up to 192kHz, which isfar more than you’ll ever need since most of the times, even in professionalstudios, the sample rate is 48kHz.
But having the alternative to go this high will allow you todo some high-caliber recordings.
Note: You’ll need the appropriate gear to takeadvantage of this feature.
Audacity may not necessarily come packed with loads offeatures, but what it lacks in added functionality it more than makes up insimplicity.
This is why I think that it’s excellent for beginners, sinceit’s fairly simple to use while still providing you with a whole lot ofoptions.
If you’re just starting to learn about audio engineering orif you are recording simple things, like a podcast, then Audacity is definitelyworth considering.
You can download it here.
Garageband is an amazing DAW that comes free with any iOSdevice, if you own a Mac or an iPhone you will have access to it.
It is, essentially, a stripped-down version of Logic Pro Xbut completely free.
Garageband is a great place to start if you want to learnabout multitrack recording, using MIDI and essentially mixing, before spendinga lot of money on expensive software.
With Garageband not only can you produce a song on yourcomputer but you also can produce an entire song using just your cellphone,since you have all the tools you need right there. Como fazer print screen no macbook.
This means that if you own an iPhone and you want to recordonly using that device, Garageband will be the ideal choice for you.
I wrote an entire article on Howto produce a song with no Studio Equipment which should be of use to anyonewho wants to record using a mobile device.
Garageband is extremely easy to use, which is why I think itdeserves the first stop on this list.
The interface is clean, the design is super intuitive…Perfect for any beginner!
Which one should you choose?
Well, this is a complicated question to answer…
The fact is that most of the audio recording/editingprograms on this list will be able to do almost the exact same things properly.
However, this all depends on your overall music productionknowledge.
If you are a complete newbie then I’d recommend Garageband,for Mac users, and Jokosher, for Windows users.
Garageband is pretty versatile and will allow you tocreate some pretty good sounding music.
Jokosher on the other hand, is very easy to use… butalso very limited, and should be used as a jumping off point.
If you already know a bit about how to use a DAW, then I’ddefinitely recommend Cakewalk, which is Windows only…
Otherwise TracktionT7 is your next best bet.
Like I mentioned in my little rant at the beginning, having thelatest version of a premium software like Pro Tools and Cubase isn’t reallynecessary.
There are loads of free alternatives out there which havenothing to envy the premium ones.
In my opinion, it all comes down to how you feel using eachDAW.
If you prefer the workflow of Pro Tools First, then it mightmake sense to purchase the full version.
Otherwise, just stick to a free one.
I hope this information was useful.
Have a great day!
If you use an iOS device to record, then Garageband is your best bet since it’s incredibly intuitive and easy to use.
On the other hand, if you’re a Windows user then I would recommend Studio one Prime, which is one of the easiest DAWs to learn, or Audacity since it doesn’t provide so many features that you’ll feel overwhelmed.
Audacity cannot record MIDI. It can only reproduce it if you import it.
Audacity cannot be directly controlled by a MIDI controller either.
Even though Audacity works pretty well, it’s far from the best free recording/editing software out there.
If you want the best free alternatives then I’d recommend either Cakewalk or Tracktion T7.
If you download it from the official website then yes, it’s absolutely safe.
However, you need to be really careful since there are dozens of other websites out there that allow you to download Audacity and you might get some unwanted malware with those downloads.
Whether it’s about professional editing like for a movie, music, or a video team, or it’s just for creating phone ringtones, an audio editor is what you essentially need to start with. While creating an audio piece, you must ensure that the soundtrack is perfect and clear. You do not want a screechy noise, or low pitch to spoil your hard work on the recording.
Hence, the audio editors come to your rescue. You can save a lot of your time and effort by using a reliable audio editing software. However, the intricate functionalities of some of the audio editors can be a bit intimidating for the first-timers.
But, if your job demands you to work with sound files regularly, it would be smarter to get used to audio editing software. While there many audio editors out there, all of them may not be pocket-friendly. But, with free alternatives available these days, there’s little to worry on the budget. Here’s a rundown of some of the best free audio editors.
Audacity is another very well-known free and open source audio editing software. This cross-platform audio tool is user-friendly and offers multi-track audio recording and editing for all the major platforms (Windows, Linux, etc.). It has the capability to record live audio using a microphone or mixer, and can even convert the recording from different other media into digital versions.
It also allows you to import, edit, and merge audio files. Moreover, it offers support for 16, 24, and 32-bit quality, offers effortless editing using cut, copy, paste, and delete function, provides support for LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST and Audio Unit effect plug-ins, and can do a lot more for free.
Price: free and open source
FL Studio is a well-known name in the audio industry and is hands down, one of the best audio editors around in recent times. Apart from offering high-quality performance in the DAW category, it also offers functionalities like pitch shifting, multi-track recording, etc. In addition, it’s also equipped with a powerful mixer that offers automation, delay compensation, and so on.
Not just that, it also comes with more than 80 ready-to-use plug-ins that include compression, sample manipulation, and more. While it offers the option where the tracks can save notes, audio, and automation, it also provides support for all VST standards 1, 2, and 3. The vectorial interface that can be rescaled and rearranged, option to capture live control motions and edit, multi-touch support, or live DJ control are some of its other major features.
Price: free trial available; upgrade starts $99
It’s a free audio editor and is perfect for those looking for a reliable and efficient audio editing software for free. This easy to use tool majorly focuses on removing unnecessary audio sections and split audio files. It comes with a simple yet responsive interface where it shows the waveform of the audio pieces. This feature helps you (whether you are a beginner or experienced) to edit the audio file, visually.
The software may also help you to convert audio to many different formats, tweak the audio volume, and/or allow you to use the tags or selections to relax the work. It offers support for a wide range of formats that include, MP2, MP3, WAV, AAC, and more. Best of all, it’s free of spyware and adware and is totally safe to download and install.
Price: free
If you are into music production, you may as well like to give Ableton Live a try. It comes with an endless number of features that are totally worth a try. It now offers some brand-new devices like the Drum Buss, Pedal, and the Meet Wavetable offering a wide possibility of new amazing sounds with its wonderful range of instruments and effects.
It can be played immediately as installed. While it allows you to use MIDI to capture your ideas, you can also work with different MIDI clips at a time in a single view. It comes with an improved arrangement view that helps you to quickly edit with more efficient music creation. From browser collections that feature all your devices, plug-ins, and samples, close to you, or instant renaming to offering the volume automation, there’s a lot more than it allows you to explore.
Price: free trial available; upgrade starts from $99
This is another free and fully featured professional editing software for audio and music. This is specially designed for Windows and Mac. With this software, you can capture and edit voice and other audio recordings. You can also cut, copy, and paste sections of recordings, and then implement the effects echo, noise reduction, etc. while editing the audio files.
While it automatically works as a wav or mp3 editor, it also supports a wide range of different file formats like vox, gsm, wma, real audio, au, aif, flac, ogg, and more.
Price: free download available; pro version starts from $39.95
It’s one of the leading and most dynamic audio editing software across the globe that’s better known for its capabilities in music creation. It comes packed with a range of an unparalleled set of adaptable tools that help you to create any type of music quickly. It features a host of effects, virtual instruments, and many other sounds that are useful for both beginner level, and an experienced composer.
It also comes with a unique feature called “plugin sentinel” that automatically scans any plugins to make sure that those are authentic and harmless to your system. The Audio-ins feature on the other hand, allows you to use filters and effects individually on your audio pieces. Frequency equalizer to carry out gentle edits is one of its other useful features.
Price: free trial available; upgrade starts €99
Ashampoo Music Studio 2018 is a dynamic and robust software that helps you burn, arrange, and edit music efficiently. It’s a proven and skilled app that helps you edit your files and even burn. It enables fast audio disc ripping and fills in the missing track details automatically which relies on a wide online database. It also supports a wide range of formats so you can convert or burn files in all those formats.
The audio editor allows the users to change or delete separate passages while enabling them to divide tracks into separate sections. Arranging music collections, option to change metadata, mixing songs effortlessly with fading effects, facility to design covers easily using the integrated cover editor, or APE support are some of its other major features.
Price: free trial available; priced at $19.99
If you are looking for an audio editor that can help you edit your sound files right into the browser, then Audio Cutter is your best bet. You can simply install this app in your browser and it helps you to cut and edit audio, smoothly, from your browser. This free app offers support for 300 file formats and also comes equipped with presets of ringtone quality and features like fade in and fade out.
Some of its other features include getting an audio track out from a video, cutting an audio track in just a few clicks without any installation, secured process with file access only to you once uploaded which gets deleted automatically from the server as you are done, and creating a ringtone in just a single click.
Price: free
It’s a free online program that can be used to assemble different audio tracks into one. While it provides support for crossfading and all other major file formats, the app can also merge different music online without installing anything on your system. Moreover, you can adjust the certain playback interval for individual tracks with the help of the blue sliders which can be moved using the arrow keys.
Using the crossfade feature you can join songs together for a seamless flow. The best part is, you can join unlimited tracks. This easy to use app is developed for a single purpose and it offers support for over 300 audio formats. Besides, protecting your privacy and keeping your data secured is its priority.
Price: free
This easy to use audio editing software smoothly merges the proven recording studio model with the beat and loop-based production process of modern times to generate musical ideas to reality much faster. It comes with a high-quality interface featuring a single screen. Embedded in this single-screen is an endless number of tracks, responsive editing tools, and high-quality virtual tools.
It now comes with a new and improved Impact XT drum module and offers 20 new features including beat quantization and real-time stretching. This enables you to add loops and beats in your song in a creative manner. Among its other major features are optimized multi-editing, different macro toolbars, and so on.
Price: free version available; upgrade starts from $99
Reaper is one of the other well-known audio editing tools that offers a complete digital audio production process for systems. Using this software, you can use its MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering utilities. It offers support for an extensive range of hardware, digital formats, and plugins. This can also be widely lengthened, scripted, and changed.
It’s a highly efficient program that loads fast and is strongly coded. It’s a portable program and so, it can be installed and run from a movable or network drive. It offers robust audio and MIDI routing while offering multichannel support. With a capability of 64-bit internal audio processing, it allows you to import, record to, and convert to various media formats.
Moreover, it also offers support for a wide range of third-party plugin effects and virtual instruments such as, AU, VST, DX, etc. With hundreds of studio-quality effects to choose from and the option for automation, scripting, surround, custom skins, and more, it has a lot to offer.
Price: free trial available; upgrade starts from $60
if you are into beat-making, this is a perfect app for you. This collaborative online music production software can be used straight in your browser. It’s very similar to the Apple Garageband app. It’s a simple yet efficient app that comes with an attractive interface where you can easily create intricated audio pieces. Best of all, you can also add more than 14 effects to your pieces.
You can learn how to use the tool by following the instruction on its Wiki page, for instance, the way to set up your MIDI controller, and more. Once you are done making the beat, you can export the audio as an MP3 file.
Price: free
Conclusion
There are a many more such audio editing software available online, however, it can be challenging to find the one that’s powerful, efficient, and helps you to generate best results in minimum time with minimum effort. The above list of the best free audio editors will not only help you to pick the most efficient and trusted tools for your audio task but will also ensure total security. So, go for one of your choices and transform your musical ideas into reality.
I find passion in writing Tech articles around Windows PC and softwares
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