Recording Software
- Thread starter lil pk
- Start date
This Should Help
If you want to make music for fun and not make money theres a lot of good free "Legal" programs out there. But just from my experiences and personal preference I would go with Pro Tools LE. Heres a program that's free if you don't use it to make money. I have some friends that use it and say it's very good and it has some decent standard plugs that come with it to get you started http://www.reaper.fm/ It's very small to download like 3MB here's a little about it - REAPER requires no dongle, has no copy protection, and can be evaluated with full functionality.
* Portable - supports running from USB keys or other removable media
* 64 bit audio engine
* Excellent low-latency performance
* Stunning multiprocessor performance
* Direct multi-track recording to many formats including WAV/BWF/W64, AIFF, WavPack, FLAC, OGG, and MIDI.
* Extremely flexible routing
* Supports a wide range of hardware (nearly any audio interface, outboard hardware, many control surfaces)
* Support for VST, VSTi, DX, DXi effects
* ReaPlugs: high quality 64 bit effect suite
* Tightly coded - installer is just over 3MB
REAPER Highlights
* Uber-powerful routing of audio--functions as an entire virtual studio with patchbays, enabling all sorts of effects not possible anywhere else!
* FAST installation and execution, portable software that supports running from USB-key or other removable media
* Integrated network FX processing (use spare machines for additional processing power)
* Supports reading/writing most media formats on the fly, including WAV, AIFF, OGG, FLAC, Monkey's Audio (APE), WavPack, and more!
* Great editing features (auto-crossfades, ripple editing, arbitrary item grouping)
* Tons of built-in FX, user editable FX, support for third party plug-ins
REAPER Feature Guide
Fast and powerful editing facilities
* Tool-less mouse interface -- spend less time clicking
* Drag and drop files to instantly import them into a project
* Support for mixing any combination of file type/samplerate/bit depth/etc on each track
* Easily split, move, and resize items
* Each item has easily manipulated fades and volume
* Tab to transient support
* Configurable and editable automatic crossfading of overlapping items
* Per-item pitch shift and time stretch
* Arbitrary item grouping - easily group any number of items across any number of tracks (great for drum editing)
* Markers and envelopes can be moved in logical sync with editing operations
* Ripple editing - moving/deletion of items can optionally affect later items
* Multiple tempos and time signatures per project
* Ability to define regions, and quickly move/copy regions (and their contents), to quickly try out alternate arrangements
* Automation envelopes for volume, pan, and plug-in parameters
* Configurable locking settings (lock items, envelopes, loop selection, etc, independently)
Outstanding routing capabilities
* Tracks can be viewed and used as normal tracks, or....
* Each track can function as a track and as a bus
* Each track can send to any number of other tracks (unlimited multiple parallel sends*)
* Each track can send to any number of hardware outputs (mono or stereo) for monitoring or analog mixing
* Every send can send audio and/or MIDI, audio sends can be before FX, after FX, or after the track's volume/pan faders
* Every send has its own volume/pan/phase controls
* Tracks can have as many as 64 channels, for easy support of multi-out VSTi, as well as enormous sidechain flexibility
* Routing Matrix window for easy viewing and changing of routing
* Feedback routing is supported
Powerful recording options
* Direct multi-track recording to all supported formats, including WAV/W64/BWF, MIDI, WavPack, FLAC, Monkey's Audio (APE) and OGG
* Record monitoring allows you to run FX on inputs and route them while stopped and/or while recording
* Per-track record monitoring settings: off, on, tape auto style (monitoring when recording, not monitoring when playing)
* Per-track record mode selection (can record input, mixed track output, track MIDI output, or just monitor+route only)
* Change any track's record arming, input, monitoring, or record mode at any time (even while recording)
* Supports auto-punch in/out, and multi-item/multi-track auto-punch
* Supports looped recording adding takes
* Can record entire mixed (live) output
* Automatically add recorded items to any existing items as new takes
* Automatic gapless file switching to avoid 2GB/4GB filesystem limits
MIDI support
* MIDI files can be inserted in any track
* Piano roll MIDI editor with velocity, pitch, and CC controls
* Support for multi-track recording/monitoring of any MIDI hardware input
* Any number of tracks can send to any MIDI hardware output
* Support for VSTi/DXi softsynths and VST MIDI fx
* Support for MIDI sending/receiving to ReWire devices
* Support for recording a track's output (audio or MIDI) independent of what input is selected (meaning you can record live the audio output of a softsynth from a MIDI source, or even more interestingly record the MIDI output of ReaGate from a live (audio) input)
Customizable user interface
* Configurable shortcut keys -- customize the keyboard keys to work the way you are used to, or use REAPER's intuitive default mapping
* Color themes: change the way REAPER appears to meet your tastes, or choose one of nearly 50 themes included
* User arrangeable user interface. The following windows can be hidden, docked, or floated to meet your needs:
o Track mixer view
o Transport controls
o Undo history
o Media explorer
o Routing matrix
o Navigator
o FX browser
o Track FX chains
o Performance meter
o Big clock
o Virtual MIDI keyboard
o more!
Bundled Effects and 3rd party plug-in Support
* Flexible FX chains allow unlimited FX per track*
* Automatic plug-in delay compensation (PDC)**
* Realtime FX processing
* Offline FX processing (Apply FX to item as new take)
* Realtime network FX processing (use spare machines on your local network for processing)
* Supports VST/VSTi plug-ins
* Supports DX/DXi plug-ins
* Supports ReWire enabled applications
* Includes ReaGate, a sidechain-enabled noisegate
* Includes ReaComp, a sidechain-enabled compressor
* Includes ReaXComp, an unlimited multiband compressor
* Includes ReaEQ, a fast and very configurable EQ
* Includes ReaFIR, an FFT EQ+dynamics processor+noise reduction tool
* Includes ReaVerb, a convolution reverb
* Includes ReaVerbate, an algorithmic DSP reverb
* Includes ReaTune, a tuner and pitch correction tool
* Include ReaInsert, which allows inserting hardware devices into FX chains as FX
* Includes ReaStream, which allows sending/receiving audio and MIDI from other machines on a local network
* Includes ReaNINJAM, which allows connection to NINJAM servers from within REAPER
* Includes hundreds of user-programmable JS effects
* For a more complete list, see the REAPER Technical Specifications
Extremely small footprint
REAPER is full featured, but small and FAST. It starts and closes fast, and is easily installed on new systems or on portable drives. Despite being lightweight, it can still utilize heavyweight hardware (including multiple CPU cores, network computers, and add-in DSP cards).
Easy to use
Equally usable by hobby users and professionals alike. Simply drag and drop one of many kinds of files in to edit existing material, or insert a track and arm it for recording. No complex project settings or definitions are required.
Wide open compatibility
* Human readable and editable project file format
* Support for on-the-fly reading and writing of many common file formats, including WAV/W64/BWF, MID, AIFF, WavPack, FLAC, MP3 and OGG
* Support for consolidating track edits, to enable easy export of edited audio
* Support for rendering track stems, to enable easy export (with FX and automation)
* EDL import/export for both Samplitude and Vegas
* Includes ReaRoute, which enables sending/receiving of audio to/from most other ASIO enabled applications.
If you want to make music for fun and not make money theres a lot of good free "Legal" programs out there. But just from my experiences and personal preference I would go with Pro Tools LE. Heres a program that's free if you don't use it to make money. I have some friends that use it and say it's very good and it has some decent standard plugs that come with it to get you started http://www.reaper.fm/ It's very small to download like 3MB here's a little about it - REAPER requires no dongle, has no copy protection, and can be evaluated with full functionality.
* Portable - supports running from USB keys or other removable media
* 64 bit audio engine
* Excellent low-latency performance
* Stunning multiprocessor performance
* Direct multi-track recording to many formats including WAV/BWF/W64, AIFF, WavPack, FLAC, OGG, and MIDI.
* Extremely flexible routing
* Supports a wide range of hardware (nearly any audio interface, outboard hardware, many control surfaces)
* Support for VST, VSTi, DX, DXi effects
* ReaPlugs: high quality 64 bit effect suite
* Tightly coded - installer is just over 3MB
REAPER Highlights
* Uber-powerful routing of audio--functions as an entire virtual studio with patchbays, enabling all sorts of effects not possible anywhere else!
* FAST installation and execution, portable software that supports running from USB-key or other removable media
* Integrated network FX processing (use spare machines for additional processing power)
* Supports reading/writing most media formats on the fly, including WAV, AIFF, OGG, FLAC, Monkey's Audio (APE), WavPack, and more!
* Great editing features (auto-crossfades, ripple editing, arbitrary item grouping)
* Tons of built-in FX, user editable FX, support for third party plug-ins
REAPER Feature Guide
Fast and powerful editing facilities
* Tool-less mouse interface -- spend less time clicking
* Drag and drop files to instantly import them into a project
* Support for mixing any combination of file type/samplerate/bit depth/etc on each track
* Easily split, move, and resize items
* Each item has easily manipulated fades and volume
* Tab to transient support
* Configurable and editable automatic crossfading of overlapping items
* Per-item pitch shift and time stretch
* Arbitrary item grouping - easily group any number of items across any number of tracks (great for drum editing)
* Markers and envelopes can be moved in logical sync with editing operations
* Ripple editing - moving/deletion of items can optionally affect later items
* Multiple tempos and time signatures per project
* Ability to define regions, and quickly move/copy regions (and their contents), to quickly try out alternate arrangements
* Automation envelopes for volume, pan, and plug-in parameters
* Configurable locking settings (lock items, envelopes, loop selection, etc, independently)
Outstanding routing capabilities
* Tracks can be viewed and used as normal tracks, or....
* Each track can function as a track and as a bus
* Each track can send to any number of other tracks (unlimited multiple parallel sends*)
* Each track can send to any number of hardware outputs (mono or stereo) for monitoring or analog mixing
* Every send can send audio and/or MIDI, audio sends can be before FX, after FX, or after the track's volume/pan faders
* Every send has its own volume/pan/phase controls
* Tracks can have as many as 64 channels, for easy support of multi-out VSTi, as well as enormous sidechain flexibility
* Routing Matrix window for easy viewing and changing of routing
* Feedback routing is supported
Powerful recording options
* Direct multi-track recording to all supported formats, including WAV/W64/BWF, MIDI, WavPack, FLAC, Monkey's Audio (APE) and OGG
* Record monitoring allows you to run FX on inputs and route them while stopped and/or while recording
* Per-track record monitoring settings: off, on, tape auto style (monitoring when recording, not monitoring when playing)
* Per-track record mode selection (can record input, mixed track output, track MIDI output, or just monitor+route only)
* Change any track's record arming, input, monitoring, or record mode at any time (even while recording)
* Supports auto-punch in/out, and multi-item/multi-track auto-punch
* Supports looped recording adding takes
* Can record entire mixed (live) output
* Automatically add recorded items to any existing items as new takes
* Automatic gapless file switching to avoid 2GB/4GB filesystem limits
MIDI support
* MIDI files can be inserted in any track
* Piano roll MIDI editor with velocity, pitch, and CC controls
* Support for multi-track recording/monitoring of any MIDI hardware input
* Any number of tracks can send to any MIDI hardware output
* Support for VSTi/DXi softsynths and VST MIDI fx
* Support for MIDI sending/receiving to ReWire devices
* Support for recording a track's output (audio or MIDI) independent of what input is selected (meaning you can record live the audio output of a softsynth from a MIDI source, or even more interestingly record the MIDI output of ReaGate from a live (audio) input)
Customizable user interface
* Configurable shortcut keys -- customize the keyboard keys to work the way you are used to, or use REAPER's intuitive default mapping
* Color themes: change the way REAPER appears to meet your tastes, or choose one of nearly 50 themes included
* User arrangeable user interface. The following windows can be hidden, docked, or floated to meet your needs:
o Track mixer view
o Transport controls
o Undo history
o Media explorer
o Routing matrix
o Navigator
o FX browser
o Track FX chains
o Performance meter
o Big clock
o Virtual MIDI keyboard
o more!
Bundled Effects and 3rd party plug-in Support
* Flexible FX chains allow unlimited FX per track*
* Automatic plug-in delay compensation (PDC)**
* Realtime FX processing
* Offline FX processing (Apply FX to item as new take)
* Realtime network FX processing (use spare machines on your local network for processing)
* Supports VST/VSTi plug-ins
* Supports DX/DXi plug-ins
* Supports ReWire enabled applications
* Includes ReaGate, a sidechain-enabled noisegate
* Includes ReaComp, a sidechain-enabled compressor
* Includes ReaXComp, an unlimited multiband compressor
* Includes ReaEQ, a fast and very configurable EQ
* Includes ReaFIR, an FFT EQ+dynamics processor+noise reduction tool
* Includes ReaVerb, a convolution reverb
* Includes ReaVerbate, an algorithmic DSP reverb
* Includes ReaTune, a tuner and pitch correction tool
* Include ReaInsert, which allows inserting hardware devices into FX chains as FX
* Includes ReaStream, which allows sending/receiving audio and MIDI from other machines on a local network
* Includes ReaNINJAM, which allows connection to NINJAM servers from within REAPER
* Includes hundreds of user-programmable JS effects
* For a more complete list, see the REAPER Technical Specifications
Extremely small footprint
REAPER is full featured, but small and FAST. It starts and closes fast, and is easily installed on new systems or on portable drives. Despite being lightweight, it can still utilize heavyweight hardware (including multiple CPU cores, network computers, and add-in DSP cards).
Easy to use
Equally usable by hobby users and professionals alike. Simply drag and drop one of many kinds of files in to edit existing material, or insert a track and arm it for recording. No complex project settings or definitions are required.
Wide open compatibility
* Human readable and editable project file format
* Support for on-the-fly reading and writing of many common file formats, including WAV/W64/BWF, MID, AIFF, WavPack, FLAC, MP3 and OGG
* Support for consolidating track edits, to enable easy export of edited audio
* Support for rendering track stems, to enable easy export (with FX and automation)
* EDL import/export for both Samplitude and Vegas
* Includes ReaRoute, which enables sending/receiving of audio to/from most other ASIO enabled applications.