The advances in technology in recent years means we don''t have to pay thousands in hard earned cash to buy a recording studio, or slave away multi tracking with reel-to-reel tape decks to make music. Most modern computers and laptops give you all you need at your finger tips. Yes, you can pay for top of the range software and a collection of VST plugins, hardware interfaces, studio monitoring, mixing desks and spend hours learning to play the instruments, but you might just want to dip your toe into the water first and have some fun.
Audicity - Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.
WavePad - This sound editing software is a full featured professional audio editor for Windows or Mac. It lets you make and edit music, voice and other audio recordings.
Wavosaur - Wavosaur is a free sound editor, audio editor, wav editor software for editing, processing and recording sounds, wav and mp3 files. Wavosaur has all the features to edit audio (cut, copy, paste, etc.) produce music loops, analyze, record, batch convert.Wavosaur supports VST plugins, ASIO driver, multichannel wav files, real time effect processing.
Traverso DAW - Is a GPL licensed, cross platform multitrack audio recording and editing suite, with an innovative and easy to master User Interface. It''s suited for both the professional and home user, who needs a robust and solid DAW.
Ardour - Ardour is a digital audio workstation. You can use it to record, edit and mix multi-track audio. You can produce your own CDs, mix video soundtracks, or just experiment with new ideas about music and sound.
Rosegarden - Rosegarden is a well-rounded audio and MIDI sequencer, score editor, and general-purpose music composition and editing environment. Rosegarden is an easy-to-learn, attractive application that runs on Linux, ideal for composers, musicians, music students, and small studio or home recording environments.
Kangas Sound Editor - Fun Kangaroo-themed program that allows the user to create music and sound effects. It uses a system of frequency ratios for pitch control, rather than conventional music notation and equal temperament. It allows instruments, both musical and percussion, to be created. Of course you''ll need some samples to play with if you can''t play any instruments.
SampleNet- Free loops, samples and sounds.
Freesound - Freesound: collaborative database of creative-commons licensed sound for musicians and sound lovers.
