For thousands of years, music has been dearly loved by people all around the world. In today’s world, the rise of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) has ushered in a new era, simplifying music production to an unprecedented degree. Whether you’re a music lover who tinkers around or a big-shot producer, we’ve got you covered on how to pick the best music software for your tunes.
We’ll show you the music production software that everyone’s talking about, and help you figure out how to make your music sound awesome while having a blast doing it. Get ready to discover, create, and take your music to the next level, all starting right here!
FL Studio
Producers favor this DAW for its outstanding step sequencer and advanced piano roll which has greatly simplified melody composition.
Ableton Live
This is a powerful DAW for music production since it allows both traditional linear arrangement and freeform improvisation in its Session View.
Logic Pro X
This software offers intuitive control. The user interface facilitates effortless adjustments like time signature and tempo changes.
Pro Tools
This DAW is commonly regarded as the industry standard in major studios, serving various audio applications like music, film, and television.
Reason
This is a robust DAW suitable for electronic music creation. Its array of features renders it an excellent option for music producers.
What is a DAW?
DAW or Digital Audio Workstation is the software utilized for editing, recording, producing, and organizing digital audio. The earliest music production software was created in the late 1970s. Soundstream, the company behind the first digital recorder in 1977, created what is recognized as the very first DAW. In 1992, Steinberg introduced Cubase Audio Mac, a digital audio recorder for Mac computers. This marked the initial inclusion of audio, MIDI, and scoring (music notation) in software.
1. FL Studio (Image-Line)
Paget’s Take
FL Studio shines as a top choice among DAWs due to its user-friendly pattern-based workflow that aligns perfectly during production. It has a number of built-in plugins and effects that provide amazing real-time performance capabilities.
FL Studio (previously FruityLoops) is an amazing music software from a Belgian company, Image-Line. This production software assists in creating music with a unique sequencer. It works on both Windows and Mac. Image-Line also made a version for phones and tablets. The software changed a lot from a simple drum machine in 1998 to a fancy music program thanks to people like Didier Dambrin who played a big role in making these changes happen.
Key Features
- Advanced Frequency Splitter: Utilize the Frequency Splitter to segment audio into high and low frequencies or beyond. You can opt for zero latency, high-fidelity linear phase, or minimum phase crossovers for precise control.
- Enhanced MIDI Support: In FL Studio 20, you can now use up to 16 Midi Channel Aftertouch parameters with third-party plugins like AU, VST, and VST3.
- Efficient Track Consolidation: Simplify your workflow by right-clicking on a track and selecting “Consolidate – From Song Start.” This action transforms your track into an audio bounce, making your workflow smoother and freeing up CPU space.
- Expanded Mixer Tracks: Enjoy enhanced flexibility with FL Studio accommodating up to 125 mixer tracks. This increased capacity grants you more control and options for refining your mix.
Pricing
FL Studio offers the following pricing plans:
- Fruity: $99.00
- Producer: $199.00
- Signature: $299.00
- All Plugins Edition: $499.00
2. Ableton Live
Paget’s Take
This platform is a strong competitor among DAWs, known for its adaptable session view that encourages creative spontaneity. Its wide range of built-in tools and effects offers diverse sound options, making music crafting smooth and engaging.
| Best For | Beginners |
| Price | $99-$749 |
| Annual Discount | No |
| Promotion | Try Free |
This is music software made by a German company called Ableton. The music platform works on Mac and Windows computers. Unlike other music software programs, it’s good for live shows and making music. People use it to play music, record, and mix. DJs like it for changing beats. There are three versions: Intro, Standard, and Suite. Suite is the most advanced among the three and has a package called Max for Live. It became popular because it helped DJs mix songs with different speeds. In 2010, the platform added Max for Live to make it easier for musicians to perform live with computers.
Key Features
- MIDI and Vocal Comping: This music software introduces comping, which is the technique of piecing together the best parts of different takes, not only for vocals but also for MIDI tracks. This allows for more natural and flexible performances.
- Improved Clip Editing: Live 11 enhances clip editing by letting you see multiple MIDI parts on the same piano roll, making it easier to understand note relationships between different clips. You can also edit loops for multiple clips and transpose arrangements from a single piano roll.
- Enhanced Built-in Plugins: This software comes with a great set of built-in plugins that are especially beneficial for new producers. With every new version, this platform adds powerful tools like Spectral Resonator, hybrid reverb, and PitchLoop89 to inspire creativity.
- Mono Audio Input and Output: The platform includes support for mono audio input and output channels from Intro to Suite which offers greater control over audio signals. This is particularly useful for working with hardware and achieving detailed sound adjustments.
Pricing
Ableton Live offers the following pricing plans:
- Intro: $99
- Standard: $349
- Signature: $749
3. Logic Pro X
Paget’s Take
This music production software is recognized for its extensive features and high-quality capabilities, especially among macOS users. it provides musicians with a versatile set of instruments to ensure a captivating music production process.
| Best For | Navigation |
| Price | $199.99 |
| Annual Discount | No |
| Promotion | No |
This is a digital music software created by Apple for Mac computers. It was first called Notator Logic and was made by a company called C-Lab in the 1990s. Apple bought it in 2002 and changed the name to Logic Pro. There’s another version called Logic Express with fewer features. In 2011, Apple stopped selling Logic Pro in boxes and now you can only get it from the Mac App Store. They also made Logic Pro for iPad in 2023.
Key Features
- Versatile Virtual Instruments: This platform offers a range of virtual instruments that enable the creation of diverse sounds, spanning from pianos and drums to synths and strings, all conveniently within the software.
- Professionally Crafted Loops: The software includes a collection of professionally recorded instrument loops, known as Apple Loops. These loops are free from royalty obligations and can seamlessly integrate into your compositions.
- Immersive Multichannel Audio: This music production software facilitates the creation of immersive audio experiences through multichannel surround sound. This feature empowers you to use multiple audio channels, resulting in a captivating audio environment.
- Enhanced MIDI Manipulation: This production software is an excellent tool for MIDI-based music creation, which involves using virtual instruments. It boasts potent MIDI editing capabilities through features like the MIDI Transform Window.
Pricing
This music production software only costs $199.99
4. Pro Tools
Paget’s Take
This platform has exceptional integration with high-end hardware and seamless collaboration features that give it a distinct edge. The DAW offers studios and engineers top-notch audio production and mixing capabilities that are often challenging to find in other DAWs.
| Best For | Professionals |
| Price | $99/yr-$599/yr |
| Annual Discount | Yes – Save 17% |
| Promotion | 30-Day Trial |
This software created by Avid Technology is a powerful DAW available to both Windows and macOS users. The platform is widely used for music creation, sound design, audio post-production, and mastering. The software also serves as both a multi-track mixer with its digital features enabling non-linear and non-destructive editing.
Key Features
- Mixing Choices: This software enables flexible mixing options. You can save your main session mix or internal mix buses as audio files in real-time or faster. Different sound formats like mono, stereo, and others are supported as well.
- Teamwork in the Cloud: Projects can be shared using the Avid Cloud, where people can work together on different tracks. Many users can edit tracks, automation, plugins, and mixer settings at the same time.
- Connecting Many Systems: With Pro Tools Ultimate, you can link up to twelve systems using an Ethernet network. This is handy for bigger projects or when you need more tracks or power. You can control transport, solo, mute, and video playback from a single system.
- Efficient Editing: You can edit audio and MIDI clips on the timeline without damaging the original files. Real-time changes like time stretching, pitch shifting, equalization, and dynamics processing are possible using Elastic Audio and Clip Effects.
Pricing
Pro Tools offers the following pricing plans:
- Intro: $99 per year
- Standard: $299 per year
- Signature: $599 per year
5. Reason
Paget’s Take
This software stands out for its unique virtual rack system, which emulates physical gear and fosters a hands-on approach to sound design and music production. This distinctive feature sets Reason apart by providing a creative environment where users can experiment with many instruments.
| Best For | Electronic Music |
| Price | $499 |
| Annual Discount | No |
| Promotion | 30-Day Trial |
Reason Studios (formerly Propellerhead Software) is widely recognized as an innovative company in the field of music software. In the year 2000, it introduced its flagship product, Reason, which is a versatile digital audio workstation compatible with both macOS and Windows operating systems. Reason creates a virtual studio environment by integrating a subtractive synthesizer, sampler, drum machine, REX file loop player, and a variety of effects units.
Key Features
- Exporting and Converting Files: Reason Studios provides powerful tools for exporting and converting audio files, allowing users to easily share their creations in various formats, enhancing collaboration and versatility.
- Volume Control: With its advanced volume control capabilities, Reason Studios empowers musicians to precisely adjust the sound levels of individual tracks and elements, ensuring a balanced and professional audio output.
- Leveling: Reason Studios stands out with its effective leveling tools that enable users to maintain consistent audio levels across different parts of their compositions, resulting in a polished and cohesive final product.
Pricing
Reason Studio offers the following pricing plans:
- Reason 12: $499
- Reason 12 Upgrade: $199
- Reason 12 Upgrade Intro/Lite: $399
6. Studio One
This software is a powerful DAW that emerged from the KRISTAL Audio Engine’s legacy and was further developed by PreSonus after its acquisition. It made its debut in 2009 for both macOS and Windows operating systems, providing a platform for individuals interested in composing, recording, mixing, and mastering music content. The software is available in three distinct editions: Studio One Artist, Studio One Professional, and the free Studio One Prime. This music production software was developed in collaboration with KristalLabs Software Ltd. benefiting from a legacy of audio expertise.
Key Features
- Input/Output Support: The software offers comprehensive input and output support which allows you to connect and utilize various audio sources. This versatility is crucial for music producers who need to work with multiple instruments like microphones, and external hardware.
- WAV/AIFF Export Capability: This DAW simplifies the process of exporting your projects by providing native support for WAV and AIFF file formats. These high-quality audio formats ensure that your mastered tracks can be easily imported into other platforms without any loss of audio fidelity.
- Integration of Audio Unit Plug-Ins: This music production software supports Audio Unit (AU) plug-ins, expanding its capabilities by enabling you to incorporate a wide range of virtual instruments and audio effects. AU plug-ins are essential tools for enhancing your audio thus offering creative options for sound manipulation.
- Intuitive Multi-Touch Interface: The multi-touch interface in this software is designed to enhance your workflow by allowing you to interact with the software using touch gestures. The drag-and-drop functionality simplifies tasks such as arranging and editing audio clips.
Pricing
Studio One offers the following pricing plans:
- Studio One+: $179.99 per year
- Professional: $449.95
- Artist: $149.95
7. Cubase
This music production software was developed by Steinberg. It is a robust DAW that has significantly impacted music creation since its launch in 1989. Originally introduced as a MIDI sequencer for the Atari ST computer, it later evolved into Cubase VST, which brought integrated audio recording, mixing capabilities, and support for Virtual Studio Technology (VST) effects. Over time, the ownership of Cubase transitioned from Pinnacle Systems to Yamaha Corporation, cementing its importance within the industry.
Key Features
- Expression Maps: This software adds an extra section in the Key Editor that helps in making instruments sound different in MIDI tracks. You can control things like how loud an instrument plays or how it changes which helps make the music unique.
- Note Expression: You can now control each individual note in a detailed way. You can change how high or low a note is, or how soft or loud that note sounds. In regular MIDI, changes apply to everything, but with this feature, you can make every note special.
- Key Editor Inspector: This part helps you fine-tune MIDI notes. You can do things like change how chords are drawn, adjust how notes are played, or even make everything sound more in tune.
Pricing
Cubase offers the following pricing plans:
- Pro: $579.99
- Artist: $329.99
- Elements: $99.99
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the key features to look for in music production software? [Info graphic]
Which music production software is the best for beginners?
The choice of the best music production software for beginners depends on various factors such as your preferences, goals, and budget. GarageBand is an excellent choice for Mac users, being user-friendly, pre-installed, and offering virtual instruments and loops. FL Studio is renowned for its intuitive interface, making it beginner-friendly and suitable for electronic music while Ableton Live Intro offers essential features for both music production and live performance at an affordable cost.
Conclusion
In 2023, there’s a bunch of great free music software out there that’s perfect for both newbies and more experienced folks who want to experiment with music-making. These tools offer cool ways to create tunes without spending money.
But, while free options are awesome, it’s also good to know that there are more advanced music software options out there that you can pay for. These premium tools offer even more features and possibilities. So, if you’re into music, whether you’re just starting or you’ve been at it for a while, why not explore both the free and premium options available? Try them out and see where your musical journey will take you!
Disclosure: I may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links in this article at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy. This site is not intending to provide financial advice. This is for entertainment only.
Paget P. Maanige
Paget Maanige is a full-time Blogger and Android Developer with a burning passion for technology. At PajeReviews.com, Paget provides expert guidance for selecting software tools to enhance online business ventures. With a deep understanding of software development, Paget offers valuable insights into product choices to help maximize your potential and propel your technology endeavors forward.
