Tait Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Ok, so up until now I've been using REAPER, but to be honest I don't use it enough to pay for it. So I'm looking for something free, that I can occasionally pop onto to record a song or two when I feel like it. My brother has bought a Mac and uses Garageband, and that looks great, but I don't have the money or the inclination at the moment to buy myself a Mac. I go off to Uni in September, maybe I'll get one then. But the point is if there's anything similar to Garageband, that'd be cool. But just suggestions for a free DAW that is similar to REAPER or Garageband or something would be appreciated! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Ardour's good but only available for Linux and Mac OSX, I assume that's no use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Protools free version, probably a bit of learning required though. Audacity is quite simple to use - or as simple as these things get - and has some fans on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 [quote name='Maverick' post='1078780' date='Jan 5 2011, 04:53 PM']Ardour's good but only available for Linux and Mac OSX, I assume that's no use?[/quote] Afriad not, I'm using Windows 7. [quote name='MacDaddy' post='1078788' date='Jan 5 2011, 04:57 PM']Protools free version, probably a bit of learning required though. Audacity is quite simple to use - or as simple as these things get - and has some fans on here.[/quote] Where can I get the Protools free version? It sounds perfect, provided it's got all the basic stuff you need. I can't find it on the Protools website. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I've been getting some good results with Kristal freeware: [url="http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/"]http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Go and buy yourself Computor Music Magazine [monthly] its siv or seven squids. You will get a DVD crammed full of Vst synths and fx plugins. A sampler, A few drum modules/samplers. Oh and a very good DAW, its easy to use. You get video tutorials, and PDF tutorials. Shed loads of sample patches for the sampler. God knows how many loops, drums, gtrs, percussions and just about every instrument going. Infact every thing you need to start up. You even get Asio4all drivers if you have a sh*t sound card. All royalty free - so use it how you will. Remember its not the gear you use....its how your musical and creative brain uses it. So the software is FREE...The mag is about £6.00 or £7.00. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 [quote name='lowdown' post='1078997' date='Jan 5 2011, 07:03 PM']Go and buy yourself Computor Music Magazine [monthly] its siv or seven squids. You will get a DVD crammed full of Vst synths and fx plugins. A sampler, A few drum modules/samplers. Oh and a very good DAW, its easy to use. You get video tutorials, and PDF tutorials. Shed loads of sample patches for the sampler. God knows how many loops, drums, gtrs, percussions and just about every instrument going. Infact every thing you need to start up. You even get Asio4all drivers if you have a sh*t sound card. All royalty free - so use it how you will. Remember its not the gear you use....its how your musical and creative brain uses it. So the software is FREE...The mag is about £6.00 or £7.00. Garry[/quote] That sounds great! I'll have to have a look in my local WH Smiths or something. I assume from your post you buy it? Where do you get it from? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 [quote name='Tait' post='1079031' date='Jan 5 2011, 07:20 PM']That sounds great! I'll have to have a look in my local WH Smiths or something. I assume from your post you buy it? Where do you get it from? Thanks![/quote] Smiths etc.... You pay for the mag, but after that no licence fee's etc.... Just use as you like. Dont forget the free Basschat VST's sticky. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=77603"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=77603[/url] Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jbarks Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 (edited) What audio interface are you using? Chances are it came with a lite version of Cubase (or similar) that will work well enough. Also, try (apart from Audacity and Kristal): [url="http://lmms.sourceforge.net/"]http://lmms.sourceforge.net/[/url] [url="http://www.traverso-daw.org/"]http://www.traverso-daw.org/[/url] Edited January 5, 2011 by jbarks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 [quote name='jbarks' post='1079333' date='Jan 5 2011, 11:15 PM']What audio interface are you using? Chances are it came with a lite version of Cubase (or similar) that will work well enough. Also, try (apart from Audacity and Kristal): [url="http://lmms.sourceforge.net/"]http://lmms.sourceforge.net/[/url] [url="http://www.traverso-daw.org/"]http://www.traverso-daw.org/[/url][/quote] It did, Cubase LE or something. I didn't like it at all, there were loads of glitches and stuff in it. It wasn't easy to use at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~tl Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 [quote name='Tait' post='1078834' date='Jan 5 2011, 07:24 PM']Where can I get the Protools free version? It sounds perfect, provided it's got all the basic stuff you need. I can't find it on the Protools website. Thanks![/quote] I think it was discontinued quite a while ago, so I'm not sure if you can still download it, or whether it will work on newer computers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassMunkee Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 TBH I would stick with Reaper, it's just as good for casual use as it is for full-on caning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Come on the cheap license (if you are making less than $10K per year off it you are eligible) is only £25, thats less than a set of decent strings, and it wont go all dull and pants after 6 months: got to be the best value software out there. Treat yourself mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I still think Audacity is great for a free programme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 [quote name='51m0n' post='1079609' date='Jan 6 2011, 10:52 AM']Come on the cheap license (if you are making less than $10K per year off it you are eligible) is only £25, thats less than a set of decent strings, and it wont go all dull and pants after 6 months: got to be the best value software out there. Treat yourself mate [/quote] The fact is though, I currently have £40 in my wallet, and £4.78 in my bank, and no job, still being in full time education. I really can't afford to treat myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 (edited) [quote name='lowdown' post='1078997' date='Jan 5 2011, 07:03 PM']Go and buy yourself Computor Music Magazine [monthly] its siv or seven squids. You will get a DVD crammed full of Vst synths and fx plugins. A sampler, A few drum modules/samplers. Oh and a very good DAW, its easy to use. You get video tutorials, and PDF tutorials. Shed loads of sample patches for the sampler. God knows how many loops, drums, gtrs, percussions and just about every instrument going. Infact every thing you need to start up. You even get Asio4all drivers if you have a sh*t sound card. All royalty free - so use it how you will. Remember its not the gear you use....its how your musical and creative brain uses it. So the software is FREE...The mag is about £6.00 or £7.00. Garry[/quote] Garry, I bought this today, but I can't seem to find a DAW on the disc. What's it called? Thanks! EDIT: oh, I think I've found it now! Propellerhead? I'm installing it anyway, I'll have a look. Edited January 6, 2011 by Tait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 [quote name='Tait' post='1080216' date='Jan 6 2011, 06:10 PM']Garry, I bought this today, but I can't seem to find a DAW on the disc. What's it called? Thanks! EDIT: oh, I think I've found it now! Propellerhead? I'm installing it anyway, I'll have a look.[/quote] There should be their own Seq/DAW on there somewhere. You might have to go through the folders. If you get stuck, all you need to navigate is on their website. [url="http://www.musicradar.com/computermusic/computer-music-160-january-issue-on-sale-now-335910"]http://www.musicradar.com/computermusic/co...sale-now-335910[/url] Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Propellerhead Record is the 'dog's balearics' when it comes to home audio recording - even better than Logic in my opinion. But it does cost around £160-£200! This might be a curve-ball, but if you want a cheap(ish) solution for quick and easy home recording - and assuming you have an iPhone (?) - have a look at Amplitube. It'll cost you around £30 for the app and the necessary adaptor, but I'm finding it a great little product for recording stuff quickly and easily. Though at that price, you might as well shell out for a licensed copy of Reaper! Best option in terms of freeware is Audacity. I've spent hundreds on audioware over the years, and I STILL use Audacity as part of just about every project. Brilliant piece of software. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 The one that comes with Computer Music Mag is called CMusic. I used to use it quite often back in the pre Mac days & used to buy CM every month for about 6 years on the trot! What's wrong with just using Reaper? I pop into it just now & again to jot down ideas as midi files to share with folk (can't do that in Garageband ) & I've never bothered going for the licence as I don't use it enough to warrant paying for it & also can't afford it just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I'm confuzzed! You can carry on using Reaper for free completely unlimited after 30 days - you just get a nag for 10 seconds asking you to register. Why not carry on until you *can* buy a license. To be honest, I would stick with Reaper, as you wont have to relearn another DAW. - annnnnnnd Reaper is bloody brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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