Waveform Free
Waveform Free is a free DAW developed by Tracktion Corporation.
This powerful music production platform works on all major operating systems (Windows, macOS, and Linux) and provides all the features necessary for recording and mixing a professional-sounding song.
Waveform Free can record audio and MIDI, so it can be used with acoustic and electronic instruments. It features an audio mixer with built-in effects and advanced features like automation, track analysis, and more.
Most importantly, Waveform Free can load VST and AU plugins. You can expand your music production workspace with hundreds of freeware VST plugins, such as synthesizers, samplers, effects, and more.
If you don’t want to use VST plugins and just need a free music production program to record and edit your songs, try Studio One Prime or Garageband.
LUNA
LUNA is a relatively new DAW from Universal Audio. It’s an analog-inspired digital audio workstation with a workflow ideal for beginner music producers.
You should try LUNA if you find applications like Waveform Free or Studio One Prime too complicated.
LUNA features a clean and intuitive interface that’s easy to understand when you load it for the first time. It also includes high-quality effects from Universal Audio and supports third-party plugins
Audacity
A music production setup is not complete without an audio editor. Audacity is the best free audio editing tool for Windows and macOS.
Open-source and fully cross-platform, Audacity offers a wide selection of tools and effects for audio editing and recording tasks.
Audacity is developed by volunteers and receives frequent updates almost every month. It is lightweight, stable, and intuitive enough to be used by beginner music producers.
Audacity can also load VST, VST3, AU, LV, and LADSPA plugins. The plugin support lets you edit audio files in Audacity using your favorite third-party mixing and sound design tools.
Surge XT
Surge XT is a free synthesizer based on the discontinued Surge virtual instrument by Vember Audio.
The developer published the source code, allowing the open-source community to improve the software. As a result, they’ve created one of the best free music production tools on the market.
Surge XT rivals some of the most popular synthesizer plugins on the market. It is a must-have sound design tool in any music production toolkit.
The instrument features three oscillators with multiple synthesis types, complex modulation, built-in effects, and numerous presets. The interface is now more intuitive than the previous versions, making Surge XT more suitable for beginners.
If you’re looking for a more user-friendly alternative with similar specs, we recommend the Vital wavetable synthesizer by Matt Tytel.
LABS+
LABS+ is a free sample player plugin by Spitfire Audio. It is easy to use and powered by some of the best-sounding free sample libraries on the market.
The interface is streamlined, with only a few controls. LABS doesn’t provide many possibilities for sound customization.
It does, however, offer a fantastic collection of sound packs. All sound libraries are designed by Spitfire Audio, one of the leading sound labels.
The LABS instrument collection covers everything from acoustic pianos to drums, cinematic sounds, and experimental instruments.
Decent Sampler
Decent Sampler is another excellent sample player plugin. It is compatible with hundreds of Pianobook sample libraries.
The plugin is an excellent choice for music producers who need an alternative to the more expensive Kontakt libraries. Unlike Kontakt, developing libraries for Decent Sampler does not involve license fees, making it a more accessible option for a broader range of developers.
While Decent Sampler is not intended to replace Kontakt or to be the most sophisticated sample player available, it provides a user-friendly and cost-effective solution for accessing a diverse and expanding collection of sound libraries.
The platform has recently seen a significant increase in sound library offerings, thanks partly to efforts like Frédéric Poirier’s conversion of over 100 Pianobook libraries to the Decent Sampler format.
TDR Nova
TDR Nova is the best free equalizer plugin for your music production software setup. It is a four-band dynamic equalizer with additional high-pass and low-pass filters.
TDR Nova can handle all sorts of mixing tasks. It can be used as a basic parametric equalizer, a dynamic EQ, a multi-band compressor, a de-esser, a wideband compressor, or a straightforward filter.
The two best things about TDR Nova are its flexibility and user-friendliness.
Despite the plugin’s advanced “dynamic EQ” capabilities, even total beginners can use its basic equalization features. The advanced dynamics controls are switched off by default and ready to use if required.
DC1A
DC1A is the best free compressor plugin for your DAW of choice.
It is not the most feature-packed compressor effect, but I can certainly say it’s the most intuitive. I use DC1A in every mix because making it sound “just right” is easy.
Many music production beginners find the concept of dynamic range compression hard to understand. With DC1A, you only need to apply the correct compression amount. The rest of the magic will happen under the hood.
DC1A is the first compressor effect to add to your arsenal if you’re only getting started with music production software. More advanced music producers and experienced audio engineers should download TDR Kotelnikov, the best free mastering compressor on the market.
If you’re looking for a simple free compressor inspired by vintage limiting amplifiers, check out BPB Dirty LA.
Limiter №6
Limiter №6 is the best free limiter plugin for your music-making toolkit.
A limiter is an essential tool in the audio mastering stage of music production. It is also useful for mixing, but mastering is impossible without a limiter.
Mastering your most important projects should be outsourced to a professional mastering engineer. However, owning a good limiter plugin is essential when mastering demo songs and previews.
Another excellent free limiter plugin is LUveler by Thomas Mundt. It is less advanced than Limiter №6 and more suitable for beginners.
We also recommend the excellent Frontier limiter by D16 Group. Both plugins are worth adding to your free mastering collection.
OrilRiver
OrilRiver by Denis Tihanov is a must-have in any music software collection.
Reverb is the secret ingredient of every great mix, and a high-quality reverb plugin is essential in every music producer’s software arsenal.
OrilRiver is a free algorithmic stereo reverb plugin that can rival the sound quality of even the most expensive reverbs. It is a flexible effect capable of simulating small rooms, grand halls, cathedrals, and any type of space.
It’s worth noting that OrilRiver offers complex functionality, but the well-designed user interface and intuitive controls make it easy to use, even for beginners.
The included presets cover the most used types of reverb sounds. Press the padlock icon next to the preset browser to lock the value of the Wet knob when changing presets.
Other free reverbs worth trying are Valhalla Super Massive and TAL-Reverb-4.
Komplete Start
Komplete Start is a beginner-friendly bundle of free music production software. It is the perfect collection to kickstart your music production journey.
The bundle includes Kontakt Player, Reaktor Player, and a handpicked selection of synthesizers and sound design tools. To get started, install Kontakt Player and download some free Kontakt libraries.
With Kontakt Player, you can access dozens of deeply sampled virtual instruments you can play for free in your DAW.
We also highly recommend the MFreeBundle by MeldaProduction, Blue Cat’s Freeware Plugins Pack II, and the Dead Duck Free Effects Bundle (only available for Windows).
Kilohearts Essentials
Kilohearts Essentials is a collection of 30 free audio effects and utilities that can handle most mixing and sound design tasks.
If you’re not entirely happy with the audio effects included in your DAW, you can quickly expand your music production toolkit with Kilohearts Essentials. The bundle includes reverbs, delays, compressors, limiters, pitch shifters, and many other mixing, mastering, and sound design tools.
All plugins feature simple interfaces that get you straight to the point. They are streamlined, intuitive, and user-friendly.