Cakewalk Alternatives

Cakewalk is described as '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' and is a popular digital audio workstation in the audio & music category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Cakewalk for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPad apps. The best Cakewalk alternative is Audacity, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Cakewalk are LMMS, FL Studio, Reaper and Tenacity.

Cakewalk alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps but may also be Digital Audio Workstations or Audio Editors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Cakewalk.

Cakewalk

Free Personal • Proprietary
Digital Audio Workstation

Cakewalk, formerly SONAR, is a comprehensive audio software for music composition, audio recording, editing, mixing and...

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Cakewalk alternatives page was last updated

Audacity
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Audio Editor
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
LAME
133 Audacity alternatives
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.
- - Audacity is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Cakewalk.
- - Audacity is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Cakewalk.
Suggest and vote on features
Audacity Features
1. Ad-freeAudacity doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. PortableAudacity can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. LightweightAudacity consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Support for VST PluginsAudacity support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
5. Works OfflineAudacity can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Audacity without registration.
7. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsAudacity can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
8. No TrackingAudacity will not track you or use your personal data.
9. Lossless AudioAudacity has lossless audio support, basically studio quality sound.
Multitrack editing
Mix Music
Remove Noise
Track editing
Noise Reduction
Music Recording
Support for Android Things
Music Sequencer
Record to tape
Privacy focused
Comments about Audacity as a Alternative to Cakewalk
Some users think Audacity is a great Cakewalk alternative, some don't.
Guest
It's not a DAW, but an audio editor
Negative comment •
1

sedeti
Audacity is just 'audio editor
Negative comment •
0

Guest
audacity is sound editor, sonar is daw
Negative comment •
7
LMMS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Haiku
89 LMMS alternatives
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...
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LMMS Features
1. Support for VST PluginsLMMS support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. PortableLMMS can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with LMMS, by handling note and performance information.
4. DRM FreeNo Digital rights management (DRM), i.e. no copy protection.
Piano Roll
Export to MP3
Export to MIDI
MIDI Keyboard Input
Customizable
Royalty-free music
Lossless quality
Free API
Beat bassline
Mix Music
Comments about LMMS as a Alternative to Cakewalk
Some users think LMMS is a great Cakewalk alternative, some don't.
sedeti
Miles behind from cakewalk
Negative comment •
-1

Guest
A long way away from Sonor
Negative comment •
-1
FL Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
HUAWEI AppGallery
iPad
91 FL Studio alternatives
FL Studio (originally known as FruityLoops) is a full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) offering a complete range of professional tools for everything from audio editing and beat creation to advanced arrangement, composition, mixing and mastering.
- - FL Studio is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Cakewalk.
- - FL Studio is the most popular commercial alternative to Cakewalk.
Suggest and vote on features
FL Studio Features
1. Support for VST PluginsFL Studio support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. Live PerformanceListen to and adjust your music productions with FL Studio based on incoming audio in real time.
3. LightweightFL Studio consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Works OfflineFL Studio can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Voice Recording
Piano Roll
Synth rack
MIDI Keyboard Input
Beat slicer
Visualize Music
MultiTouch
Context-aware help
FFMPEG support
Great Opus codec support
Opinions about FL Studio as a Alternative to Cakewalk
Most users think FL Studio is a great Cakewalk alternative.
Reaper
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Digital Audio Workstation
Music Production App
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
81 Reaper alternatives
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.
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Reaper Features
1. Support for VST PluginsReaper support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. Support for scriptingReaper supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Support for MIDIReaper includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
4. PortableReaper can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Ad-freeReaper doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. LightweightReaper consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
7. Dark ModeReaper supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Customizable
MultiTrack
Extensive customisability
Spectral editing
Convert audio to MIDI
Multi Channel
Built-in routing
Patch Management
Pitch shift engine
Piano Roll
Comments about Reaper as a Alternative to Cakewalk
Most users think Reaper is a great Cakewalk alternative.
anakin777
I don't know much about Cakewalk but reaper can be compared to professional DAW like Logic, Cubase or ProTools by its large amount of powerful functionalities : Audio multitrack recording, processing, looping, rewiring, MIDI handling, 32bits and 64bit VST support, interface customization etc. The only drawback I found is the limited MIDI creation, particularly with the quantization and step-by-step event recording
Positive comment •
0
Tenacity
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Audio Editor
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
88 Tenacity alternatives
Tenacity is an easy-to-use, privacy-friendly, FLOSS, cross-platform multi-track audio editor/recorder for Windows, macOS, Linux and other operating systems.
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Tenacity Features
1. Privacy focusedTenacity is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. Ad-freeTenacity doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Works OfflineTenacity can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
4. LightweightTenacity consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
5. Support for VST PluginsTenacity support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
Remove Noise
Mix Music
Ocenaudio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
46 Ocenaudio alternatives
Ocenaudio is a cross-platform, easy to use, fast and functional audio editor. It is the ideal software for people who need to edit and analyze audio files without complications. ocenaudio also has powerful features that will please more advanced users.
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Ocenaudio Features
1. LightweightOcenaudio consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Support for VST PluginsOcenaudio support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
3. PortableOcenaudio can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Ocenaudio without registration.
5. Ad-freeOcenaudio doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. Dark ModeOcenaudio supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
User friendly
Intuitive Interface
Native application
Spectrogram view
Multiple files
Specific for 64-Bit
Batch conversion
Support for Hotkeys
Multi-selection
Comments about Ocenaudio as a Alternative to Cakewalk
pros, cons and recent comments
sedeti
Oceanaudio is just an audio editor
Negative comment •
1
Ardour
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Open Source
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
86 Ardour alternatives
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.
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Ardour Features
1. Non Destructive EditingArdour can make changes to a file without overwriting the original data, which remains available in case you want to revert to it.
2. Support for VST PluginsArdour support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
3. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with Ardour, by handling note and performance information.
4. Music LooperArdour supports a grid of musical loops and phrases that you can trigger and manipulate in real time.
5. Lossless AudioArdour has lossless audio support, basically studio quality sound.
6. Ad-freeArdour doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Works OfflineArdour can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
8. Virtual InstrumentArdour uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
9. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsArdour can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
Multitrack editing
Mix Music
Live Performance
Support for MIDI
Opinions about Ardour as a Alternative to Cakewalk
Most users think Ardour is a great Cakewalk alternative.
Ableton Live
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
82 Ableton Live alternatives
Live is software for creating musical ideas, turning them into finished songs, and even taking them onto the stage.
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Ableton Live Features
1. Live PerformanceListen to and adjust your music productions with Ableton Live based on incoming audio in real time.
2. Support for VST PluginsAbleton Live support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
3. Virtual InstrumentAbleton Live uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
4. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with Ableton Live, by handling note and performance information.
5. Works OfflineAbleton Live can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Batch EditingAbleton Live allows you to select multiple items (tasks, files, images etc) and edit their properties all at once.
Mix Music
MIDI Keyboard Input
Pitch Shifting
Drag and Drop
Piano Roll
Music Recording
GarageBand
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
iPhone
iPad
102 GarageBand alternatives
Welcome to the school of rock. A Mac-sized practice space. Your own recording studio. If you want to learn to play an instrument, write music, or record a song, GarageBand can help — whether you’re a rookie or a rock star.
Suggest and vote on features
GarageBand Features
1. Works OfflineGarageBand can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Virtual InstrumentGarageBand uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
3. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with GarageBand, by handling note and performance information.
Preset beats
Audio Samples
Piano Roll
Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
Comments about GarageBand as a Alternative to Cakewalk
Some users think GarageBand is a great Cakewalk alternative, some don't.
anakin777
A very intuitive/straghtforward tool for music creation, with both MIDI and audio. Supports Virtual instruments and extensions (with Apple format)
Positive comment •
0
Adobe Audition
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Audio Editor
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Mac
Windows
95 Adobe Audition alternatives
Adobe Audition is an audio editing and post-production suite.
Suggest and vote on features
Adobe Audition Features
1. Support for VST PluginsAdobe Audition support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
Spectral editing
Multiple metering standards
Waveform Seekbar
Audio restoration
MultiTrack
Multiple window layouts
M/S metering
Rack Effects
Effect automation controls
Sidechain compression
Opinions about Adobe Audition as a Alternative to Cakewalk
Some users think Adobe Audition is a great Cakewalk alternative, some don't.