The current global situation encouraged many of us to step out of our comfort zone. Being stuck at home for weeks with no end in sight has served as a catalyst for many to start a new hobby. Whether it’s gaming, photography, or music, 2020 was the best time to try something new.
For those who dabbled in music, it’s no surprise that it’s no longer limited to instruments now. The rise in digital music pushed many to produce their signature sounds and beats. It’s not hard as it seems; all you need is the best music production software and the right PC.
Are you looking into getting on the digital music bandwagon? Here’s a list of the best music production software to get you started.
1. Ableton Live
Ideal for beginners and professionals, Ableton Live is a DAW that’s easy to understand and use. Its UI is customizable and boasts interface flexibility. This enables you to open, move, and close tools and settings depending on what you need.
This ensures that workflow is smooth, whether it’s live performances or studio recordings. It also has a wide variety of high-quality built-in effects. So, making music and sound adjustments is a breeze.
Additionally, it offers a diverse and intuitive range of plug-ins and tools. From producing and audio manipulation to mixing and recording, Ableton Live is an all-rounder. It’s easy to see why it’s a crowd favorite for both PC and Mac users.
2. Ardour
Ardour is another popular software for music production. It’s preferred by many in the grassroots music industry for many reasons. One that stands out is that it’s open-source software and is a great choice for those on a budget.
Starting at $1, Ardour performs as well as the many professional DAWs out there. While it may be more on the traditional studio recording side, it’s still quite versatile. When combined with quality hardware and new techniques, it offers a lot for its price.
3. Audacity
Chances are you’ve heard of Audacity, and there is a good reason for that. Since it came out in 2000, it’s been one of the go-to software for musicians and audiophiles everywhere. It’s free, open-source, and customizable for whatever your needs may be.
On top of this, Audacity keeps itself updated. With its built-in noise-reduction and a wide library to choose from, Audacity is a solid choice. Being open-source for the past 21 years means there is no shortage of custom plugins and files out there.
Audacity is flexible, easy to learn, and has a large community of support behind it.
4. LMMS
If you’re looking for a simple UI but still want to try out digital music, LMMS is for you. A simple user interface is the best strategy to gain loyal customers, and LMMS mastered this. This digital audio workshop has one of the simplest interfaces in the industry.
What’s even better is that it’s free. Perfect for those only starting, LMMS has a “What’s This?” function. It helps guide and explain the basics so novice users won’t feel intimidated. It’s also easy to customize once you’ve gotten the hang of things.
While it doesn’t have a recording option, importing, editing, and sequencing are doable. LMMS is also versatile with high compatibility and handles both audio and MIDI.
5. Tracktion
Tracktion is well known for its audio software, and this continues with Waveform. This complete DAW is the full package. It comes with versatile libraries and cutting-edge tools.
Although the basic version may be pricy ($199), you can access tools like auto-tune. For a specific set of tools, loops, or plugins, you can build it yourself with the extreme edition ($749). This software for music production comes at a premium, but it is worth every penny, and you get what you pay for.
While more premium versions offer a larger library and additional tools, the basic version is already a powerhouse in itself. The best part about it is that the libraries, packs, and plugins are customizable. They are also easy to bundle from Tracktion’s website.
6. DarkWave Studio
One of the best music production software that’s perfect for PC users is DarkWave Studio. It’s simple yet powerful, allowing users to create and modify music with ease. It also supports VST/VSTi instruments and effect plugins.
This allows you to add any virtual sound effect you want. Making it ideal for any genre of music – from hip-hop beats to techno and even electronic music.
With DarkWave Studio, your musical masterpiece improves with every plugin. More so, every ad-hoc hardware installed only makes it better.
What Else Do You Need?
Aside from choosing the best music production software, finding a device that can support the workload is crucial. A PC’s specs and components are vital to how it performs.
This is true whether you need it for light school work, gaming, or photo and audio editing. Running the right program on the wrong PC will get you nowhere.
Music Production is only as good as your hardware. While talent and a bit of luck are key, it doesn’t tell the whole story. This is why the best musicians use the best PC set-up. Whichever program you invest your time (and money) into, your gear is important.
With the best available software in your hands, now all you need is the best hardware. Only then can you turn your music into a true work of art. Click here to find out What is the Best Computer for Music Production 2021.
Best Music Production Software for Aspiring Musicians
Now you know some of the best music production software. From Audacity to Dark Wave Studio, you’re sure to find the right software to fit your needs. However, expert music production doesn’t stop at finding the right software.
Certain computer components work best for audio production and playback. If you want to know more about how these parts come together to create the perfect setup, check out our blog.
