Whether you’re just getting started with music production or are a bonafide audio pro, you already know how overwhelming the world of digital audio workstations (DAWs) can be. We’ve rounded up the best production software for both beginners and experts.
FL Studio – Best Music Production Software for Beginners
FL Studio is the best music production software for beginners. However, it has a bit of a learning curve, but if you’re willing to put in the time, FL Studio will reward you with features and capabilities that most other programs don’t have.
You’ll be able to do everything from recording audio and MIDI tracks to composing songs using virtual instruments (VSTs). And because there are so many plugins available through third-party developers, you can customize your studio to fit your needs.
FL Studio comes with an extensive library of samples and presets for sounds like pianos or guitars that let you get started making music right away—or modify them until they fit perfectly into your track. All told there are thousands upon thousands of different sounds available within this program so there’s no shortage when it comes time for inspiration!
PreSonus Studio One 5 – Best Overall Music Production Software
Studio One 5 is one of the best music production software available. This is what I’ve been using for the last 10 years. It combines all the essential production tools in a single easy-to-use package. The software is ideal for beginners who want a simple way to get started, but it also has enough advanced features to keep professionals happy and productive.
Studio One 5 works well with any kind of music, from acoustic folk songs to EDM tracks that are 100% made by bedroom producers. The software includes an impressive selection of audio effects and instruments that will let you record and produce virtually any kind of song or sound you can imagine.
Record, produce, compose, mix, master, and perform—all from a single, intuitive application. Only Studio One® 5 provides integrated tools that take you from initial inspiration to mastered production, from full-length album to setlist on stage. The standard for end-to-end production, Studio One is the DAW that does it all.
Ableton Live 11 – Best Music Production Software for Live Performance
Ableton Live 11 is a comprehensive music production software with a focus on live performance. The software allows you to record, mix and sequence in one place—and it’s also incredibly easy to use. This music production software has plenty of presets that you can use right out of the box, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it isn’t flexible enough for more advanced musicians. With Ableton Live 11, you can easily create your own sounds by layering loops and overdubs or editing recorded audio files using built-in tools like pitch correction algorithms.
Ableton Live 11 is best suited for people who want a powerful tool with which they can perform live shows while simultaneously creating original music tracks from scratch at home or in an office setting such as an online course where creativity requires flexibility between multiple roles (e.g., recording teacher versus student).
Pro Tools – Most Popular Music Production Software
Pro Tools is the most popular music production software, and it’s also the industry standard…for now. Pro Tools is the most powerful, stable and flexible software you can use today to make your own music. You can use Pro Tools to record almost anything: vocals, guitars and drums or even orchestral instruments like strings or woodwinds.
Pro Tools comes with a lot of features packed into a single package including mixing and mastering tools; virtual instruments; loop libraries; plug-ins (including effects); sample packs; automation tools for mixing automation data such as volume level changes over time etc…
Apple Logic Pro X – Best Mac Based Music Production Software
Apple Logic Pro X is a professional music production software that many professional musicians, producers and composers use. It’s one of the most powerful digital audio workstations (DAW) available on the market today, making it ideal for serious sound designers and music producers.
Logic Pro X has been redesigned with an elegant new interface that makes it easier to access your instruments, tracks and effects than ever before. Plus with features like Smart Controls allowing you to quickly apply parameter changes from one control point to another, as well as Touch Bar support for MacBook Pro owners this makes editing faster and more intuitive than ever before.
We’ll leave you with this: remember that music production is not a competition. Whether you’re an aspiring bedroom producer or a seasoned professional, the most important thing is that you enjoy what you do. So if a particular DAW feels intuitive for you, embrace it! Instead of worrying about which software is better than the rest, focus on creating music that sounds good to your ears and reflects who you are as an artist.
