Best Free Recording Software Programs (2021 Update)

Best Free Recording Software Programs in 2019

Looking for the best costless recording software on the market in 2021? We've spent countless hours testing over 20 different programs to bring yous our 5 favorites.

Myth: Setting upward a home studio to make awesome music or podcasts is difficult and expensive, and most of the complimentary sound recording programs on the market suck.

Fact: There are enough of great pieces of audio recording software out there that volition allow you lay downward some killer tracks totally Complimentary.

PSST! Can yous keep a secret? Soda PDF is having an Early BLACK Fri SALE: Become our powerful document management software at the lowest cost of the year!

Whether you want to be the next indie DJ who gains fame recording beats in your basement (RIP Skrillex) or just want to start your ain podcast detailing the dumbest person you've met over the past week (yes, that's a real podcast), you can use these 5 complimentary recording software programs to brand tracks that people volition actually mind to…and it's totally free.

The Two All-time Gratis Recording Software Studios

#i) Garageband

Garageband

For: Mac

Since its release in 2004, GarageBand has arguably go the most popular DAW. Smooth, intuitive, and more than powerful than you'd expect from a costless piece of software, it is the perfect centerpiece for any upkeep domicile studio.

If you're familiar with Apple (who isn't?), you know they are really good at making things wait pretty while still maintaining high functionality. GarageBand is no dissimilar. Even if you lot're a complete novice who doesn't know what DAW stands for, y'all can easily start recording multi-layered tracks similar Young Guru in no time. Tracks are color-coded and almost everything else yous need is done via a drag-and-drop procedure.

Where information technology really appeals to beginners (other than ease of utilise) is its awesome catalogue of virtual instruments. Whereas well-nigh free software offers built-in instruments that sound similar deal bin guitars bought at a tag sale, GarageBand'south instruments are studio-quality.

The mix of versatility, ability, and aesthetics puts Apple's DAW at the #one spot on this listing.

Pros

  • Intuitive drag and driblet process
  • Streamlined recording
  • High-quality virtual instruments

Cons

  • Merely for Mac/Apple
  • Lack of editing various parameters

#two) Audacity

Audacity

For: Windows, Mac, Linux

"Expect, Soda PDF! Brazenness is the most pop free audio recording software in the world. How can it be #2?"

Let's set the record straight on Brazenness earlier we go to the details.

It'southward a great piece of free recording software, merely this list is aimed at beginners. And i thing yous'll notice about information technology as soon as yous fire information technology up is that it's anything but piece of cake to operate. That beingness said, once y'all go the hang of information technology, it's awesome. Only GarageBand is just so easy nosotros had to rank information technology #1. Is that OK with you?

Loaded with effects, high audio quality, tons of plugins, and comprehensive editing features, information technology's amazing we had the audacity to rank this sound editor #two (see what we did in that location?).

The matter is that, even with recent upgrades, it still looks a bit ancient, and as a beginner, you probably won't use 80% of the features that clutter the nav bar. It's a bit cumbersome to operate and you won't be able to record tracks quickly right from the showtime.

One time you lot get the hang of information technology, notwithstanding, you can record but about anything y'all want. If you have the supporting hardware to handle it, yous tin produce real studio-quality sound. What we loved the nearly were the congenital-in effects similar equalizer, pitch, delay, reverb, and fade in/out. It's perfect for podcasters or music producers and highly recommended if yous've got time to tinker.

Pros

  • Neat sound quality
  • Tons of effects
  • Range of helpful plugins
  • Comprehensive editing

Cons

  • Chaotic menu
  • Not every bit intuitive as GarageBand

The Residuum

#3) Hya-Wave: The Extreme Budget Pick

Hya-Wave

For: Your spider web browser

Are you a poor college student but trying to share some tracks on social media? What about a solo creative person looking for the easiest free recording software yous tin find?

Behold the future of DAWs: Hya-Wave.

This browser-based site allows yous to record, copy, paste, cut, and crop your audio every bit well equally apply furnishings and share directly to your social media accounts. And it'due south all washed from the cloud.

It doesn't support multi-tracking and doesn't actually offering all that much aside from the nuts, but it's extremely piece of cake to employ and available right from the browser so you don't accept to download any big programs.

Pros

  • Extremely easy to employ
  • Available from your browser
  • Makes decent quality basic recordings

Cons

  • Very limited
  • No multi-tracking

#4) Pro Tools First: Limited Access to the Industry Standard

Pro Tools First

For: Everything

Pro Tools is the ultimate mixing tool. If y'all want to turn your sleeping accommodation into Muscle Shoals, Pro Tools is the software that helps to turn music into magic.

But it's not inexpensive. Skilful affair at that place's Pro Tools First, the gratuitous limited access version of the industry's tiptop recording program.

It's perfect for singers, songwriters, and musicians merely starting out on a limited budget and who want to get their anxiety moisture before diving into the all-time free recording software they've ever owned. You are limited to:

  1. 16 instruments
  2. sixteen audio tracks
  3. 4 inputs
  4. 1GB of space (in the cloud)

It's hard to say "limited" since 16 instruments are enough to fill a Swell Depression-era big band phase, just with but 1GB of space to relieve projects, y'all are limited in what you lot can create. Yet, it'southward a slap-up option to get started before making a bigger investment (save.your.tips.from.your.bartending.job).

Pros

  • It'due south Pro Tools
  • xvi instruments/audio tracks

#v) Ardour: Non Pretty Only Highly Functional

Ardour

For: Linux (mainly), Windows, Mac

Older versions of this free and open source DAW were Linux-only and crashed then often that information technology rendered it nearly unusable. Things are a chip different at present. The increased functionality and new availability for Windows and Mac (forth with the native VST back up that comes with it!) take catapulted Ardour onto our list.

It'southward not as pretty or as intuitive as others on the listing, but the functionality is definitely there, especially if you are a Linux nut.

The UI has been modernized (it'southward still kind of ugly, though), but what is really highly-seasoned are some of the specs that brand information technology great for recording music. It works with any audio engine (JACK, ALSA, ASIO, or Core Sound), has crawly ripple edits (isn't information technology nice to see things just autumn into place?), and comes with summit-of-the-line MIDI editing capabilities.

It's totally complimentary, merely y'all can pay to have access to back up and other upgrades.

Pros

  • Available for all audio engines
  • Smashing MIDI capabilities
  • Ripple editing

Cons

  • Interface is not then skilful
  • Not as powerful every bit other software

If y'all're just starting out, and so why pay when there are some great pieces of free recording software out there?

Use Soda PDF to write, edit, and share the lyrics for the new tune you're near to tape! See, we can throw PDF software into whatsoever post.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Posted by: lowrymothen.blogspot.com