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Though “freemium” software often lacks the advanced functionality of renowned programs like Pro Tools, it still provides options for recording audio, adding effects, and cutting waveforms, among other basic tasks. Below, we compiled a list of the best free recording software you can download, install, and immediately start using on your computer. GarageBand Although MacOS isn’t always the only platform for great software, when it comes to free recording applications, it has the best of the bunch.

Program that gives you a full audio creation suite with features for audio recording, virtual instruments, MIDI-editing, and even music lessons built right in. Part of the appeal of GarageBand is how simple it is to get going.

Its interface is intuitive and easy to learn, and if you want to record something you just plug in your instrument or device and get started. There is a wide array of virtual amps and effects you can use, as well as drum tracks that sound like they were performed by real musicians. The sound and loop library that’s available for editing into your own tracks is growing all the time and you can even bring in your iOS devices for wireless control of your set up. GarageBand is the most fully featured, free application on this list.

While you will need to have an Apple device to run it, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better application that doesn’t force you to get out your credit card first. Download now for: Avid Pro Tools First. Is a limited version of the main and applications, but it’s still pretty capable in its own right. Aimed at singers, songwriters, and musicians who are just getting started with audio recording or want to try out the software before buying, the main limitation is that you can only store projects in the cloud and they can’t exceed 1GB in total size. You’re also limited to 16 simultaneous audio tracks, four inputs, and 16 instruments. Beyond that, though, the features and capabilities are much the same, giving you a good idea of what the tool can do. For example, you still gain access to 500MB of bundled loops from leading producers, the Xpand!2 multitimbral music workstation with 20 effects and plugins, and the same support for third party-interface systems as the premium versions.

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One upside of not having quite so many features as the premium editions of Pro Tools is that Pro Tools First has less strenuous system requirements. It only needs an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, with 2GB of RAM and 15.5GB of install space. If you do choose to upgrade to the standard or HD version further down the line, they’ll set you back $25 and $83 a month respectively. Download now for: Audacity First released in 2000, has gone on to become one of the most popular pieces of free software around — and for good reason. The open-source program gives users a wide range of options for recording and editing audio, all tied together with a simple interface, and everything Audacity has to offer is free of charge.

Compared to other notable DAWs such as and, Audacity’s layout is very minimalist. There are toolbars for navigating a track, editing it, and mixing.

When tracks are loaded, they will appear as waveforms, and users can edit specific sections of a track by highlighting the appropriate section of the waveform. Of course, no piece of free software is without its shortcomings, and despite Audacity’s many virtues, it has some issues. The most notable problem is that Audacity uses “destructive editing,” which means that when users add effects to a track, they are actually altering the waveform; these changes happen to the original file, so you can’t go back and undo them later. This isn’t necessarily a problem if you’re carrying out simple tasks — such as editing pauses out of a podcast — but more complex actions like mixing might be difficult. Download now for: Ardour is an open-source DAW designed for Linux and available for MacOS and Windows.

Its developer, Paul Davis, also invented the for Linux and worked previously as one of the original programmers at Amazon. Ardour features highly versatile multi-track recording features that include the ability to import video for film scoring purposes, to record and edit either non-destructively or destructively, and to prepare any combination of individual tracks for recording.