GarageBand Alternatives for Windows

Alternatives to GarageBand for Windows with any license

LMMS

LMMS is a free cross-platform alternative to commercial programs like FL Studio , which allow you to produce music with your computer. This includes the creation of melodies and beats, the synthesis and mixing of sounds, and arranging of samples. You can have fun with your MIDI-keyboard and much more; all in a user-friendly and modern interface.
- not as user friendly as garageband Guest • May 2019 • 4 agrees and 0 disagrees
- The GUI seems to try to mimic GarageBand but fails to replicate the ease of usage for those unfamiliar with LMMS. Guest • Dec 2018 • 2 agrees and 0 disagrees
- Free, has many features, and is easy to get started with. As a plus: it runs on nearly every platform. Guest • Jul 2018 • 0 agrees and 3 disagrees
- More of a learning curve but a great program if you can take the time to learn it. TheBeast • Jan 2017 • 13 agrees and 3 disagrees
- Incredibly more complex, not recommended for beginners Guest • Jan 2016 • 24 agrees and 7 disagrees
Free Open Source Mac Windows Linux BSD PortableApps.com
Support for VST plugins Music Composer Support for Android Things Audio Editing ... Audio Recording DRM Free Export to MIDI Export to MP3 Free API Google Drive integration Lossless quality MIDI keyboard input Mix Music Music Composer Open Source apps Performance Monitoring Piano Roll Picture sharing Plugin API Portable Royalty-free music Sample packs Sync with Simplenote Stability Add a feature

419 Like
Audacity

Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. You can use Audacity to record live audio, convert tapes and records, edit sound files, change the speed or pitch of a recording and much more.
- Can record and add tracks but little beyond that Guest • 11 days ago • 1 agrees and 0 disagrees
- Audacity does not have preset beats or mixes Guest • Apr 2019 • 7 agrees and 1 disagrees
- Its just adding audio and making it louder or quiter or with more bass and you cant add more than one audio pice at a time Guest • Jun 2019 • 3 agrees and 1 disagrees
- audacity literally does almost nothing Guest • Jun 2019 • 4 agrees and 7 disagrees
Free Open Source Mac Windows Linux BSD PortableApps.com ... LAME
Audio Editing Multitrack editing Ad-free Support for Android Things ... Audio Recording FSA tracking Mix Music Noise Reduction Remove Noise Pitch Correction Portable Record to tape Support for VST plugins Add a feature

1915 Like
FL Studio

FL Studio (formerly known as FruityLoops) is a digital audio workstation developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer. The program is available in three different editions for Microsoft Windows, including Fruity Edition, Producer Edition, and the Signature Bundle. Image-Line offers lifetime free updates to the program, which means customers receive all future updates of the software for free.
- This is exactly what I've been looking for. The perfect site with just what I need Guest • Oct 2015 • 8 agrees and 4 disagrees
Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows Android iPhone Android Tablet
Support for VST plugins Audio Recording Piano Roll Drum matrix editing ... FFMPEG support Live recording Mix Music Music Composer Noise Reduction Non linear editor Works Offline Track everything Add a feature

370 Like
Reaper

REAPER is a complete digital audio production application for Windows, Mac and Linux, offering a full multi-track audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering tool set. REAPER supports a vast range of hardware, digital formats and plugins, and can be comprehensively extended, scripted and modified. FEATURES: - Efficient, fast to load and portable. Can be installed and run from a portable or network drive.

Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows Linux
Support for VST plugins Customizable Audio Editing Supports for MIDI ... Multi Channel MultiTrack Mix Music Music Composer Piano Roll Pitch shift engine Portable Scripting support Spectral editing Add a feature

146 Like
Ardour

Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It runs on GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. Ardour's intention is to provide digital audio workstation software suitable for professional use. NOTE: Ardour source code is freely available but pre-built binaries are commercial free-libre software: users who download from ardour.

Freemium $ $ $ Open Source Mac Windows Linux
Mix Music Audio Editing Multitrack editing Non destructive editing ... Support for VST plugins Add a feature

167 Like
Ableton Live

Live is software for creating musical ideas, turning them into finished songs, and even taking them onto the stage. With two views - the classic Arrangement View, where musical ideas are laid out along a timeline, and the unique Session View, where you can improvise and quickly experiment with musical ideas - Live is a fast, fun, intuitive way to make music. What's new: The latest version of Live comes with everything from workflow enhancements to audio improvements.
- Ableton is a very versatile and powerful alternative. Guest • Mar 2018 • 2 agrees and 1 disagrees
- Use for live performances, not really to write/create a song Guest • Jul 2017 • 0 agrees and 6 disagrees
Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
Batch Editing Drag n drop MIDI keyboard input Mix Music ... Music Composer Piano Roll Pitch Shifting Virtual instrument Support for VST plugins Add a feature

142 Like
Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition software delivers the professional tools you need to make your video and audio productions sound their best. Handle a wide range of audio production tasks efficiently, including recording, mixing, and sound restoration.

Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
Audio Editing Audio restoration Effect automation controls M/S metering ... Multiple metering standards Multiple window layouts MultiTrack Music Composer Rack Effects Sidechain compression Spectral editing Task level chat Support for VST plugins Add a feature

152 Like
Cubase

Cubase is a computer program for music production/recording. The program offers recording, producing and mixing of sounds in order to make music production for distribution on CDs or the internet. Cubase is a series of MIDI, music sequencer and digital audio editing computer applications (commonly known as a DAW - Digital Audio Workstation).

Commercial Mac Windows
Audio Editing Mix Music Music Composer Piano Roll ... Voice Recording Support for VST plugins Add a feature

68 Like
Bitwig Studio

A dynamic software for creating and performing your musical ideas in the studio and on stage, Bitwig Studio inspires you to take greater control of your music, giving you access to every aspect of your production. Streamline your creative process and quickly evolve your ideas into complete songs, tracks, and compositions. Record and arrange, improvise and perform, or do it all at once. Welcome to the next generation of music creation and performance software.

Commercial Mac Windows Linux
Audio Editing Audio Recording Modular System Mix Music ... Music Composer Piano Roll Scripting Support for VST plugins Add a feature

58 Like
Sound Forge

Sound Forge Pro software efficiently and reliably provides audio editors and producers complete control over all aspects of audio editing and mastering. Whether in the studio or field, it's the ultimate all-in-one production suite for professional audio recording and mastering, sound design, audio restoration, and Red Book CD creation.

Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
Audio Editing Music Composer Add a feature

76 Like
Reason

Reason is a virtual studio rack with all the tools and instruments you need to turn your ideas into music. And it's more than just a set of excellent synths and effects. It's a complete music system. Step into the age of Reason. Reason comes with synthesizers, samplers, drum machine, REX file loop player, professional mastering tools, mixer, vocoder, world class effects, pattern sequencer and more. As many of each as your computer can handle.

Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
DRM Free Virtual instrument Beat maker Built-in Sequencer ... Mix Music Music Composer Piano Roll Sequencing Synth rack Add a feature

100 Like
Looplabs

Looplabs is a collaborative cloud based music studio that lets anyone, regardless of skills or ability, easily make professional quality music anywhere, anytime and with anyone. For Free. Stocked with tens of thousands of royalty-free sounds to use.

Free Mac Windows Linux Web Chrome OS
Beat maker Music Composer Real time collaboration SNMP Trap Support Add a feature

13 Like
Tracktion

Tracktion is a multi-platform software for music production, with a modern graphic user interface.

Freemium Mac Windows Linux
Audio Editing Audio Recording Modular System Mix Music ... Music Composer Piano Roll Support for VST plugins Add a feature

32 Like
Studio One

Work better, faster. Studio One® 4 was designed with ease of use at its core. It seamlessly combines the time-tested and proven recording studio model with today’s beat- and loop-oriented production process so you can bring musical ideas to sonic reality more quickly than ever before. An efficient, single-screen interface houses an unlimited number of tracks, intuitive editing tools, and advanced virtual instruments.

Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
Audio Editing Drag n drop Audio Recording MIDI Clips ... MIDI keyboard input Mix Music Music Composer Piano Roll Support for VST plugins Add a feature

32 Like
Cross DJ

Mix, scratch, sample, record: rock great parties with top-DJ features. Turn your mobile device into a complete DJ system. Mix your tracks in perfect sync, scratch, add effects, loops and more. Automix your songs for non-stop music. Record your set and share it on SoundCloud. Music lovers, mix at your next party and impress your friends. Pro DJs, Cross DJ uses the same engine as Pioneer’s rekordbox. It’s like having 2 CDJs in your pocket.
- Does not let you sequence audio files Guest • Jun 2015 • 2 agrees and 0 disagrees
Freemium Mac Windows Android iPhone Android Tablet ... iPad
BPM Detection Mix Music Add a feature

21 Like
Carla

Carla is an audio plugin host, with support for many audio drivers and plugin formats. It has some nice features like automation of parameters via MIDI CC (and send output back as MIDI too) and full OSC control. Carla currently supports LADSPA (including LRDF), DSSI, LV2, VST2/3 and AU plugin formats, plus GIG, SF2 and SFZ file support. It uses JACK as the default and preferred audio driver but also supports native drivers like ALSA, DirectSound or CoreAudio.

Free Open Source Mac Windows Linux
Rack Effects Support for VST plugins Add a feature

12 Like
Cakewalk

Cakewalk, formerly SONAR, is a comprehensive audio software for music composition, audio recording, editing, mixing and mastering. It features a full suite of high quality audio and MIDI effects and instruments and composition tools ranging from drum sequencer and piano roll editor to a sophisticated score composer.

Free Windows
Ad-free Support for VST plugins Customizable Melodyne Intergration ... Supports for MIDI MultiTrack Multitrack editing Mix Music Music Composer Works Offline Piano Roll Step Sequencer Add a feature

31 Like
WaveShop

WaveShop is a free, open-source audio editor for Windows XP/Vista/7. WaveShop is fast, lightweight, and bit-perfect, meaning samples aren't altered unless they need to be. Editing a portion of an audio file only affects that portion; the rest of the file is untouched. Blocks of audio can be cut and pasted without changing their contents at all. This is especially useful for patching a finished master without corrupting its dither.
- Discontinued The program is no longer updated. Last version, 1.0.14, released in November 2013, can be still downloaded from the official website.
Free Open Source Windows PortableApps.com
Audio Editing Audio Recording MultiTrack Mix Music ... Music Composer Portable Add a feature

21 Like
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Soundtrap

Make music online by recording vocals, guitars and using loops. Invite friends to collaborate. free and no download is required. Works on Mac, Windows, iPad, Android tablets and phones, Linux and Chromebooks.

Freemium Mac Windows Linux Web Android ... iPhone Chrome OS Windows S iPad Chrome
Audio Editing Audio Recording Automatic Looping Music Composer ... Web-Based Add a feature

4 Like
MuLab

MuLab is a rich and rock solid sound and music production tool for Mac OSX and Windows, designed to create, record, edit and finalize Your Music!

Freemium Mac Windows
Audio Editing Audio Recording Modular System MultiTrack ... Mix Music Music Composer Piano Roll Portable Support for VST plugins Add a feature

23 Like
Pro Tools

Working with audio files and creating music at a professional level is definitely a job that requires specialized tools as well as a high degree of knowledge in the domain. Among the most powerful utilities that can be utilized for this you will find Pro Tools M-Powered.

Freemium Mac Windows
Audio Editing Audio Recording MultiTrack Mix Music ... Music Composer Virtual instrument Support for VST plugins Add a feature

42 Like
Magix ACID Pro

ACID Pro software is a DAW powerhouse that combines full multitrack recording and mixing, MIDI sequencing, and legendary ACID looping functionality for a seamless music-creation and post-production environment. More creative partner than production tool, ACID Pro software inspires you like nothing else. With its Transparent Technology design, ACID Pro software removes typical barriers to the creative workflow so you can effortlessly transform ideas into real results.

Commercial Windows
Mix Music Music Composer Add a feature

43 Like
Mixcraft

Mixcraft is a recording studio with effects, featuring Reverb, Delay/Echo, EQ, Compression, Flanger and Chorus, as well as resonant filters and a powerful loop editor. The high performance 32 bit sound engine supports broadcast quality WAV files and will even import compressed MP3, OGG & WMA files. Use it to record your own music, your band or even a remix for a dance recital. Mixcraft is arguably the closest thing Windows users have to GarageBand for Mac OS X.
- Mixcraft is a great little studio Guest • Jan 2016
- It has many of the same features and actually MORE of other features. But really, buy a Mac. Guest • Jun 2015 • 1 agrees and 1 disagrees
Commercial Windows
Multiple languages MultiTrack Mix Music Music Composer ... Piano Roll Support for VST plugins Add a feature

31 Like
MAGIX Music Maker Jam

Start a jam session - anytime, anywhere! Music Maker Jam is the first app that combines easy music creation with maximum fun. In no time at all you'll be producing your own hits thanks to a huge selection of professionally produced loops and styles! Simply combine the song parts and instruments to get the sound you want, then adjust the key and the tempo or add some spectacular effects in real-time.
- As someone else said, it's just a loop mixing app. You could try it out, but I don't think it's worth the time if you're looking to create full-fledged songs that you want to sell. Guest • Jun 2019
- This is just a loop mixing app for non-commercial use only, meaning you don't have the freedom to sell your music or put it on Monetized videos on Youtube. Guest • Jul 2017 • 2 agrees and 0 disagrees
- This is a loop mixing software that has a big variety of loops that can be purchased in packs. However you get 4 packs of your choice for free. Note: can not save until track is completed. Guest • Jan 2017 • 0 agrees and 1 disagrees
Freemium Windows Android iPhone Windows S Android Tablet ... iPad
Mix Music Music Composer Save-as-mp3 Add a feature

12 Like
LinuxSampler

LinuxSampler - free, open source pure software audio sampler with professional grade features. The LinuxSampler project was founded with the goal to produce a free, streaming capable open source pure software audio sampler with professional grade features, comparable to both hardware and commercial Windows/Mac software samplers and to introduce new features not yet available by any other sampler in the world.

Free Open Source Mac Windows Linux
Load midifiles Simple installation Add a feature

26 Like