Recording Software

A Quick Guide to Selecting the Best Program for You

by Jason Borisoff

Read full story at MakingMusicMag.com

Audacity

This is a great choice for someone who wants to experiment with audio recording, but doesn’t want to spend any money. Audacity is completely free, but don't expect any bells and whistles. It only records audio, and has a bare bones, no frills interface.

MSRP: Free

Mixcraft

This is an entry-level option, with many of the same features as higher-end software, but at a very modest price. Also, new to the latest version of Mixcraft is a video editing feature that allows you to edit video and sync in audio to create soundtracks.

MSRP: $75

Protools

This was one of the first software recording platforms to emerge and be taken seriously. Most commercial studios use ProTools, and though it's a little pricey, it is a very stable, straightforward program to use.

MSRP: $495 (comes with the Mbox 2 interface)

Cubase

You can do almost anything with Cubase—record audio, sequence MIDI, create loop-based songs, and the list goes on. However, with all of Cubase's capabilities, it can be a little overwhelming for a beginner to sift through all of the features.

MSRP: $196 (Cubase Essentials)

GarageBand

If you own a Mac, you may have this program preinstalled. Available only for Mac, GarageBand is surprisingly powerful software, capable of easily creating loops, MIDI sequences, and recorded sound.

MSRP: $79 (with iLife software bundle)

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