Do you want to set up your own Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW, at home to create and record your own music? Here are the best programs to start with if you are new to the idea:
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is the world’s most popular recording software among professionals, and there is a free version you can try to see if it’s a good fit for your needs. It gives you up to 16 tracks, 16 different instruments, countless plug-ins, and even allows you to loop.
Pro Tools also has a cloud collaboration feature that lets you work with musicians and producers worldwide. It also contains the best editing features, such as joining and splitting. It has been said that mixing music on Pro Tools turns regular sound into magic.
The full version is expensive, but the free version will be adequate if you are on a budget. Just note that with 1GB of storage, you can only create so much at a time.
Apple GarageBand
Of course, GarageBand only works with Macs, iPads, and other Apple products. That said, the free solution is a fantastic multi-track mixer and recorder. It is especially great for the novice due to its simple interface, color-coded tracks, drag and drop process, and a multi-paned single window. The integrated instruments are also simple for use by a beginner.
The paid version, Logic Pro X, easily opens projects saved with GarageBand. It operates in much the same way, except there is much more flexibility when it comes to instrumentation, mixing, editing, and arranging. Logic is also known for having one of the largest collections of virtual instruments of all DAWs. This is just one of the reasons the software is a perennial favorite among newcomers and pros alike. It certainly is a reliable choice for a home studio that is inexpensive.
Audacity
Audacity states that it is for beginners, and, as such, it remains a free product. Unfortunately, it is not easy to operate from the start. It has an abundance of features that will certainly appeal more to those who produce music for a living.
However, once the operator gets how it works, he or she will be impressed with the number of features this free software is full of. It has multiple plug-ins, editing tools, and high-quality sound.
With some patience, you surely will learn the ins and outs of Audacity, and you can produce and record studio-quality sessions with its built-in pitch, delay, reverb, and fading effects.
These software packages are the best in quality and most reasonably priced on the market. If you want to start recording your music at home, any one of them will make an excellent choice.