Beginners may find the GUI a little challenging, but it can easily be customized, with custom themes and layouts to suit your needs, and a “basic” pre-set layout for new users to try. Thanks to the Singapore-based BandLab, the newly-renamed Cakewalk is back in active development and is available for you to download for free on Windows.Ĭakewalk is an all-rounder, with songwriting tools, audio editing, sound effects, and a professional-standard mixing engine for crisp, clear audio. Cakewalk by BandLabĬakewalk SONAR was one of the earliest digital music creation software available but development stopped in 2017 when the original company shut down. You can record straight into the music production software, taking advantage of the powerful editing tools to create music to your taste.Īudacity is cross-platform, so you can switch between Windows, macOS and Linux installations with ease and, as it’s open-source (meaning anyone can help to develop it), it’s totally free to download. Beginners will love the interface, as it doesn’t overload you with options. It’s the simplicity that will really appeal to anyone looking to create their own music without years of experience or training. You can even create your own plugins for others to use, thanks to the common VST format. First and foremost, it’s an audio editor, but you can expand it with effects and plug-ins. You just have to work a little differently to get the most out of it.Īudacity lets you splice up and process any recorded audio in all major audio formats. Strictly speaking, Audacity is more an audio editing tool than a full digital audio workstation like some of the other options on our list. Music creators looking for an alternative to GarageBand should take a look at Audacity. Windows and Linux users will need to look at one of the alternatives below. GarageBand is also available as an app in the App Store for iPhone and iPad owners.Īs an Apple product, GarageBand is only available on macOS and iOS. It’s quick, it’s powerful, and best of all, GarageBand is free and pre-installed on every Mac computer, ready for you to us. That includes podcasts, where support for multiple microphones could prove useful. GarageBand can be used to edit other types of audio files, too.

Best mac computer for music production