Best Music Recording Software Review [currentyear]

As a drummer, you know that having the best music recording software is essential to capturing and sharing your creative ideas with the world. But with so many options on the market, it can be tough to decide which one is right for you.

That’s why we’re here to help. This post will review some of the best music recording software programs available and help you choose the best one for your needs. So we’ve covered whether you’re looking for powerful tools for professional recordings or simple and easy-to-use software for hobbyist projects. Let’s get started!

15 Best Music Recording Software Review

Ableton live 11

Live 11 is the newest version of this long-standing DAW. It’s built on tradition and incremental improvement, just like its predecessors before, but don’t worry – there are plenty of changes for those who want something different.

With four main new effects in Suite edition of Live 11, including PitchLoop89 (a pitch-shifting effect inspired by an obsolete digital Publison DHM 89 B2), Hybrid Reverb is a dual algorithmic and convolution reverb suitable for both standard or sound design-esque conditions, respectively. There’s also a Spectral Resonator to create resonant comb filter-like sounds and granular delay style delays.

Pros

• The power of MPE is finally accessible to all
• Multiple takes and comping in the arrangement view with powerful new audio effects
• Improved device rack features like randomization for MIDI clips or beautiful orchestral sound packs from Spitfire Audio

Cons

• Live’s new MPE technology will be coming soon to all instruments.

Audacity

Audacity is a free, powerful audio editor that’s been around for years. It can import and mix tracks of any format (stereo or mono) and render output as one layer with adjustable volume levels per channel – perfect if you want to create something simple like an MP3 from your track record collection.

The program also has built-in dithering, so there are no frequencies left harsh sounding after editing. Plus, it offers Unlimited Undos/Redoes, which means users don’t have to worry about making destructive edits accidentally since they’ll always be able to go back in time before saving changes away.

Pros

• With the ability to work with audio files in various formats, this program provides you with all your editing needs. You’ll be able not only to trim music tracks but also to make dialogue edits and sound effects tweaks.
• Multitrack support allows multiple people/sessions to work simultaneously without interrupting each other through overlapping areas or overusing one person’s contribution.

Cons

• Destructive editing is a real pain in the ass.
• The multitrack audio support isn’t great, but you can do some cool stuff with just one track.

Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is a powerful and versatile audio editing software that can do everything: clean up or restore your recordings to precision, nondestructive cutting for corporate video and podcasting. It’s stellar in post-production, unlike its less expensive counterpart, audacity, which lacks many features such as music composition tools, but excels when you need something quickly without spending hours setting up complicated schemes with multiple layers etcetera.

Pros

• The new Loudness Meter is a boon to help streamers target specific services and cater to their content better.
• This app also offers strong restoration capabilities, so you can enjoy your show in its entirety with crystal clear dialogue, even if there are background noises.

Cons

• The interface might be overwhelming for some users, as it has many features.
• Some restoration tools require a bit of finesse to use correctly.

Audio Recorder

Audio Recorder is a powerful and free sound recorder for Windows that can record high quality from any audio source on your computer. It offers various features such as adjustable recording level, support for multiple file formats (including MP3, WAV, and OGG), a scheduler to set up unattended recordings, and more.

Pros

• The adjustable recording level is great for getting the perfect sound quality.
• The scheduler is handy for unattended recordings.

Cons

• The interface could be more user-friendly.
• Not all features are available in the free version.

Cakewalk by Bandlab

Cakewalk is a revolutionary digital audio workstation that has been around for decades. Sonar by BAND lab’s original software was acquired in 2018 and relaunched as Cakewalk by band labs with award-winning user interface technology.

Cakewalk offers many customizable user interfaces to suit any taste. The pre-existing templates are each designed for specific purposes, like mixing or arranging music; however, the Basic workspace has all controls clearly labeled so beginners can learn how they work right away.

Pros

• Cakewalk offers an affordable, feature-rich DAW for any budget.
• It can run on underpowered or old computers without sacrificing performance and won’t slow down your PC like other programs.

Cons

• The Native sounds and plugins don’t sound great. 
• It has a clunky user interface that can be difficult to navigate through for some people.
• Windows only

Fl Studio 20

FL Studio is one of the giants in DAWs, and it’s easy to see why. The app has an updated look with its fresh new color scheme that will have you feeling inspired as soon as your eyes land on this page! 

With plugins like these available for purchase, too – not only does FL provide great features but also value at low price points due, largely thanks to their popularity among professionals who need them most. There isn’t much else out right now competing against what they offer besides themselves (and other apps).

Pros

• The best piano rolls out there, with a range of packages to suit your budget and needs. 
• Fast arrangement process that’s intuitive even if you’re not an expert in music theory.

Cons

• The interface is a little more complicated than other digital signal processing programs. 
• However, once you get the hang of things, working with this program is not so hard!

Garageband

If you’re new to music production, Garageband is an excellent choice because it’s free and available on iOS devices and Macs. Many people who use this program are mom-and dads looking for something easy that will help them record their demo or craft some tunes without experience in the industry. 

Pros

• Free and easy to use for beginners.
• Available on both Mac and iOS devices.

Cons

• The sound quality isn’t as good as other options on this list.
• It’s also not as versatile, so this might not be the best option if you want to do more than just record music.

Hindenburg

Hindenburg is a new kind of audio editor designed specifically for radio journalists. The software is packed with features that make it easy to record, edit and output your audio, whether for a podcast or live on air.

Pros

• The user interface is clean and simple, making it easy to navigate for those new to audio editing.
• The software is designed specifically for radio journalists, so it has all the features you need to create great-sounding audio.

Cons

• Some users have reported that the software is buggy and crashes often.
• Hindenburg is new software, so it doesn’t have the same user base as some of the other options on this list.

Logic Pro X

When it comes to music production software, there’s no better option than Apple Logic Pro X. The company has been one of the hidden gems in this industry for years now, and its products continue not only to offer high-quality results but also come with regular updates that keep things fresh.

Logic Pro has been improved with new Silicon compatibility and innovative features. The program now supports up to 56 processor cores on Apple’s latest M1 processors, also found in 14″ & 16GB MacBook Pros!

You can also enable “only load plugins needed for playback” in the settings if your computer isn’t sufficient enough– there aren’t any limit bars when it comes to using instruments or auxiliaries within projects. Each channel strip allows 12 sends, so you’ll never run out of options no matter how complex they get.

Pros

• Frequent updates that keep the software feeling fresh.
• M1 compatibility for Apple’s latest processors.

Cons:

• The learning curve can be steep for those new to music production.

Movavi Screen Recorder

Movavi Screen Recorder is a simple yet powerful tool for any user that enables the capturing of desktop activity. You can use it to record videos, save screen images, and export them in various formats like MP4 or AVI, ensuring you have all your favorite media on hand without hassle.

With Intel hardware acceleration, the recording process is smooth and seamless. Videos are recorded in MKV format, which ensures that your output video will have the best possible quality with SuperSpeed mode for boosting conversion speed when saving files to another type of media, such as MP4 or AVI.

Pros

• This tool can take screenshots of any or all the screens.
• It is relatively cheap.
• Supporting quick editing options when needed most.

Cons

• The software is free, but you must buy the full version for all features and tools.
• There aren’t currently any Linux versions available.
• You can’t record directly from Video editing software into your video recordings without additional third-party applications like iMovie or Adobe Premiere Pro.

Presonus studio one

PreSonus offers four ways to get Studio One 5, and its impressive Prime (free) includes unlimited audio/midi tracks and some basic plug-in effects, which you can also do live in the session with no extra work on your part!

The Artist package ($99) adds more editing tools like track folders for better organizing projects and event-based FXs that happen automatically when triggered by an external source, such as keyboard presses or drum kits being played nearby.

There are even solos available within this version of Sonoys studio one platform, so now everyone has access whether they’re at home playing through headphones while cooking dinner around hear himself record + produce songs.

Pros

• The fast recording, music composition, and mixing workflow makes this software excellent; it also offers chord-based patterns to create your sounds easily. 
• New live performance features allow you to explore new ideas while mastering facilities, including DDP import/export so that you can do everything on one platform.

Cons

• The interface is cluttered, making it hard to find what you’re looking for in the mixing console or edit your song without scrolling.
• There are not enough new instrument sounds (especially drums) compared with other music software companies like a piano bench.

Ocenaudio

Ocenaudio is a free and easy-to-use audio editing program that will never freeze or crash on you. Its simple interface makes it efficient at what it does – cutting songs into pieces with minimal effort from your end.

If you are looking for an editing program with built-in filters and support, Ocenaudio might be your best bet. It’s not open-source, so there’s no way to tinker with its code if it doesn’t meet all of these requirements.

Pros

• Clear.
• Easy-to-use interface with many filters.
• Analysis options.

Cons

• The app is not open source
• Offers no support for effect stacks.

OBS studio

OBS Studio is the perfect free software for creating seamless mix tapes if you want to make your professional broadcasts. You can record multiple sources and edit between them with ease.

The possibilities with OBS Studio are as limitless and diverse. You can record directly from your webcam, incorporate footage from games, or add existing videos to create a stand-out video that will leave viewers captivated for hours.

Pros

• You can record multiple sources and edit between them with ease
• The software is very lightweight and will not take up much space on your computer.
• You can add existing video or game footage to create a stand-out video.

Cons

• The interface can be very confusing for new users.
• There is no customer support available.

Reaper

The Reaper is an on-premise solution that helps small businesses and non-profit organizations streamline processes related to audio producing, editing, or transformation. It enables staff members to overdub multi-takes with ease as well as record layered sounds & music in several formats, all according to your individual needs.

One of the most exciting features about REAPER is its API which allows for third-party integration. Businesses can integrate their platform with several solutions by using this interface, which comes at no cost beyond email support.

Pros

• Recording, mixing, and mastering with a single click
• The possibilities are endless! 

Cons

• Inconsistent, confusing interface 
• Unfriendly and unfriendly for beginners

Spek

Bacon is free software available for Unix, Windows, and Mac OS X. It supports popular lossless audio file formats, allowing users to analyze their music in detail with a significant number of frequency bands per spectrogram. Which makes it possible for you can save them as images or export them any other way you prefer.

Pros

• The possibility to analyze your music in detail with a significant number of frequency bands per spectrogram.
• You can save the spectrograms as images or export them wherever you prefer.

Cons

• The interface is not very user-friendly and can be confusing for beginners.
• There is no customer support available.

Voice Memos

Voice Memos is an iPhone app that allows you to record and edit audio. It is simple to use and comes with some features that will enable you to edit your recordings.

You can trim your recordings, add effects, and merge multiple recordings into one file. Voice Memos also supports exporting different formats, including MP3, AAC, and WAV.

Pros:

• Simple to use
• It comes with a number of features that allow you to edit your recordings
• Export to some different formats

Cons:

• No customer support is available
• Only available on iOS

Most Frequently Ask Questions

Conclusion

If you are looking for the best music recording software, we have provided a list of the top 15 programs. These programs will allow you to record high-quality tracks and produce professional-sounding recordings. We hope this information has been helpful and that you can find the program that fits your needs and budget. Have you tried any of these programs? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below.