Free and low-cost tools and services for music productionGlossary: "DAW" (which means "Digital Audio Workstation") is the main (host) music program. An "audio library" contains audio files of recorded instruments or sounds. "VST" (which means "Virtual Studio Technology") is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizers and effects with DAWs. "VSTi" (which means "VST Instrument") is a software audio synthesizer.
Note: All suggestions are in alphabetical order.
Ardour
Low-cost / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Audiotool
Free / Cloud-based DAW
Cockos Reaper
Low-cost / Windows, Mac OS
Darkwave Studio
Free / Windows
Giada Loop Machine
Free / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
LMMS
Free / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Steinberg Cubase Elements
Low-cost / Windows, Mac OS
Tracktion Waveform
Free demo / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
2. Audio libraries
Freesound
Free audio collection
NASA Sounds
Free audio collection
Soundbible
Free audio collection
Sound Ex Machina
Free audio section
The Free Site
Free audio collection
3. VST - VSTi plugins
Amplesound Lite Plugins
Freeware section
Antress Modern Plugins
Freeware collection
Blue Cat Audio
Freeware section
De La Mancha
32-bit freeware collection (archive)
Dexed
64-bit synthesizer, free
Digits
32/64-bit synthesizer, free
DSK Music
Low-cost / Freeware section
e-phonic - XPressor
Free FX tool
Full Bucket Music
Freeware collection
GVST
Freeware collection
HG Fortune NFG
32-bit freeware collection (archive)
Ignite Amps
Freeware section
Ivy Audio
Free sampled instruments
Krakli Plugins
Freeware collection
Kvraudio
Freeware collection
Laptop Musician
Freeware collection
Leslie Sanford VST
Freeware FX collection
Mastrcode Music
Freeware collection
Noizefield - Warrior
Free synthesizer
OBXD Synthesizer
Free synthesizer
Octasine
Free synthesizer
Odin 2
Free synthesizer
ODOSynths Archive
Freeware archive
Oxe Fm Synth
Free synthesizer
PG-8X
Free synthesizer
Plex 2
Free synthesizer
Plugins 4 Free
Freeware collection
Pneuma Pro
Free synthesizer
Producer Feed
Freeware collection
Slate Digital - Fresh Air
Free FX tool
Smacklabs
Freeware collection
Solcito Musica
Freeware section
Soni Musicae
Free soundbank collection
Sonicbits
Freeware collection
Soniccouture
Freeware section
Sonora Cinematic - Magnetica Redux
Free sampled instrument
SuperWave P8
Free synthesizer
Synth 1
Free synthesizer
Surge
Free synthesizer
The Unfinished
Freeware section
Tokyo Dawn Labs
Freeware FX section
u-he Synths
Freeware section
Valhalla Plugins
Freeware section
Variety Of Sound
Freeware FX collection
Versilian Studios
Freeware section
Virtual Playing Orchestra
Free sampled instrument
Voxengo
Freeware FX section
Wavelet Audio - Trailer Ambient Tools
Free sampled instrument
Zampler
Free synthesizer
4. Tools
ADSR Sample Manager
Free sample manager / Windows, Mac OS
Asio4all
Free Universal ASIO driver / Windows
Audacity
Free audio editor / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Denemo
Free notation program / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Impro-Visor
Free notation program and improvization advisor for jazz / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
JBridge
Low-cost 32/64-bit compatibility VST tool / Windows, Mac OS
MuseScore
Free score editor / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Ocenaudio
Free audio editor / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
SAVIHost
Free VST dll loader / Windows
Spek
Free acoustic spectrum analyzer / Windows, Mac OS, Linux
5. Digital distribution
Amuse
Free / Low-cost
Awal
Low-cost
DistroKid
Low-cost + 7% discount
Ditto
Low-cost
FreeMusicDistrib
Free
FreshTunes
Free
RouteNote
Medium-cost
Soundrop
Low-cost cover song distribution
6. Protect your music
Safe Creative
Medium-cost
7. Make your music available for licensing
Jamendo
Free
The Music Case
Free
8. Free file sharing services
Filemail
Gofile
My Air Bridge
pCloud Transfer
Transfernow
9. Useful links
Dom Sigalas
The best place to learn ANYTHING about Cubase
Hugo Varvoglis
Are you Greek? This is the best place to learn ANYTHING about music production
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