Making your beats and tracks can be one of the most rewarding experiences in music, but there are some hefty costs, namely beat-making software and instrument plugins.
Some artists and producers may have to shell out hundreds of dollars every month to keep their beat-making habit going, which can be difficult if you’re starting or are on a tight budget.
With that in mind, here are 8 free beat making software programs you can use to make music on a PC. All you need is a computer! Let’s take a look at what’s available!
8 Best Free Music Maker Software For PC
1. FL Studio
Produce music, create beats, mix audio, and more with FL Studio. This free program is compatible with various OS platforms, including Windows XP and Vista and Mac OS X 10.5 or later.
While it can be downloaded for free, some features like video export require upgrading to a paid version of FL Studio Producer Edition.
There are also free add-ons that allow you to create videos within FL Studio. The latest version is FL Studio 12. 0.2, which was released in August 2017.
It comes in three editions: Fruity Edition, Producer Edition, and Signature Bundle edition. In addition to creating your beats, loops, and samples, you can use FL Studio as a MIDI sequencing tool.
You’ll need prior knowledge of recording software such as GarageBand if you want to get started quickly with FL Studio. It is considered one of the major alternatives for GarageBand.
You can download FL Studio from here.
2. LMMS
Free software based on MTV’s Virtual Studio Technology, LMMS, is designed to help you make music on your computer.
Unlike some of its competitors, it’s geared more toward artists than DJs. The program features a wide range of built-in synthesizers and effects but can also import MIDI files for playback, so you can play an instrument along with a track you made.
It’s compatible with Windows XP and later and OS X 10.4 and up. At the time of this writing, the iOS version is in development.
The free version includes fewer features than paid versions, such as limited exporting options and audio importing from CDs. If you want to upgrade, there are three levels available:
Essentials ($59), Signature ($99), Signature Pro ($299). You can try out all three versions with a 30-day trial period. You don’t need prior musical knowledge to use LMMS; download it and start making music!
You can download LMMS from here.
3. MuLab
An Integrated Music Studio. MuLab is an application that combines everything a musician could need to make music.
In addition, its large set of general-purpose modules offers an intuitive environment for sequencing instruments, placing effects, and recording and editing audio.
This makes it ideal for scoring and sound design work and remixing or simply playing around with loops and samples – also known as beat making! The real benefit of using MuLab is that it keeps everything in sync during playback, with no complex routing needed. Of course, you have to connect your MIDI controller, ready to go.
You can download MuLab from here.
4. GarageBand
GarageBand is a free and simple app created by Apple to make music on your computer, and it’s built with less musical prowess in mind. But don’t let that fool you.
This is a great tool for creating sounds, not just instruments, and can be expanded upon with other software or apps.
If you enjoy creating music more than ever, remember to save it if you produce an international pop hit.
You can download GarageBand from here (For macOS) and here (For Windows).
5. Mixcraft 9
It is a powerful music creation program. It is loaded with features and gives you everything you need to record, arrange, edit, mix, and master music tracks.
Its beat sequencer makes it possible to create drum loops without knowing how to use external VST software.
If you can’t stand complicated programs or are on a tight budget, Mixcraft 9 is probably your best bet for free beat-making software.
However, some bugs in its latest version may prevent you from completing certain tasks. In addition, its mixer interface looks like something from the early 2000s.
Nevertheless, it does come with all of the basic features needed to create high-quality beats. In addition, there are many useful tutorials available online that will help you get started.
You can download Mixcraft 9 from here.
6. iMaschine 2
If you’re an iPhone, iPad or Mac user, iMaschine 2 is a free app that helps you create beats and edit your recording. It comes with an extensive library of sounds and beat kits to keep you busy.
The app also includes in-app purchases of new sounds, which helps make it even more cost-effective.
You can also use it on Android devices through Google Play Music and additional purchase content via VST plugins on both iOS and Android. 18.
7. Bitwig Studio
Completely reimagined music creation and production, Bitwig Studio is perfect for beatmakers. An extremely powerful tool that integrates with plugins and hardware, Bitwig has almost every feature you could want to create music.
It is currently in version 1.0 and offers a 30-day trial period to test out all its features. While it does have a steep learning curve, it’s an incredibly powerful piece of software once you learn how to use it.
You can download Bitwig Studio from here.
8. Bidule
This highly rated, multiplatform DAW runs on Windows and OS X and is incredibly simple.n Despite its streamlined nature, Bidule still packs an incredible punch. It’s one of the best DAWs available for beginners because of its versatility, ease of use, and affordable price tag.
Its intuitive design makes it great for newbies, but since Bidule is open source and free to download, experienced producers will enjoy playing around with it.
Although some people have had issues installing Bidule on their computers, most reviewers report that it was easy to install and run.
You can download Bidule Studio from here.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a professional-grade solution, we recommend FL Studio. For beginners, Garageband is a good option as it is easy to operate. In case you want access to premium features but have a low budget, we would recommend buying Magix Music Maker 16 Premium for a cheaper alternative. The good thing about Magix Music Maker 16 Premium is that it has everything you need to start producing music right away – plus, you can upgrade later if you need more features.