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===What is out there?==
There are plenty of musical software options to download, it doesnt matter if you are a windows, a linux or a mac user.
From Audacity, the opensource audio editor available for WinWin, Mac and Linux, to Reaper, the freindlyfriendly, affordable DAW for Windows, to Ardour for Mac and Linux rivaling 1000+ Euro/USD Software like Pro-toolsPro-Tools - the choice is yours. All
All this software can be extended using so-called plug ins - smaller programs that offer sound-synthesis, sampling, effects and more.
===From no-cost to lifetime investments==
For MSWindows there are several proprietary programs on the market ranging from 50 EURO/USDEUR/USD (Reaper, MAGIX Musicmaker) to 200-300 for basic versions of Steinbergs Cubase, MAGIX Samplitude or Abelton Live! up to feature-packed DAWs like NUENDO or Pro-Tools availagbelavailable for 1-2000 EURO/USD. Plug-ins1000-2000 EUR/USD.
Plug-ins are also available for free or to pay for. Under Linux you can use about 200 free effect-processors and softsynths as standalones or in LADSPA or LV2 format. There are also some plug-ins in Steinbergs VST-format running OK under Linux. VST-plug-insThere are alsothousands of VST-plug-ins available as freeware for MSWIN and as to pay for packages ranging from 20 EURO/USD up to 2000. Under MacOSX you can use AU-plug-ins.
===What you need for starters==
Basically you will need a hd-recording system like Ardour or Samplitude and if needed a MIDI-sequencer like Rosegarden (can be synced with ardour under Linux) or Cubase or Reaper (both(the latter have MIDI-Sequencers on board and serve as very good hd-recorders also). If you are on MACOSXMacOSX you can make your first stepps with garage-band, that is bundeled with MacOSX.
All these programs can export single tracks so you can start with Reaper or garage-band and switch to bigger beasts like ardourArdour or Cubase later by simply importing the tracks you have made with other software.
===Audio-software plays live...==
Ther are many linux-based live-cd/dvd out there. These systems run on your computer whithout any installation on harddisk:
musix is a latinamerican distro created for music creators, designers and for day to day use.
artistx is one of the best distros for linux musicians, it has tons of open software, and many tools to achieve great results. It is based on the popular UBUNTU-Linux distribution.
jad 1.0 is another linux distro, created by musicians for musicians, though jad is not developed anymore it has initiaded excellent sound-software support for OpenSuse Linux.
64studio is very stable and developed with the needs of a stable working studio-pc in mind, so is pure:dyne bothpure:dyne. Both are available as linux live cds.
For older computers the linux distro dynebolic could be a good choice itchoice. It is tested to run even full-force video-editing on a computer with less then 256MB RAM.
The most important Linux audio program is called ardour. It is a hd-recording/editing system with all the features, a professional producer really needs. Its recent stable version lacks MIDI-tracks but can be synchronized with several MIDI-Sequencers. Ardour is free software natively available for Linux and MacOSX.
So it is up to you:
* start with a live-CD, Audacity or the free test version of Reaper or under MacOSX with Garage-Band to make your first stepps without risking much.
* find out, what works for you and tune your OS and install bigger software as needed or install a Linux-audio distro like 64Studio or artistix (that is installable from the live-session)
I do all my music-production work with Linux: it works ;-)
(zettberlin)
Message from zotz -the initial editor of this page:
I wrote up a blog post over at kompoz, [[http://www.kompoz.com/compose-collaborate/storyId-1026/p-Free_Software_and_Kompozing/view.story.blog|Free Software and Kompozing.]] That may be useful for here as well. (zotz)
There are plenty of musical software options to download, it doesnt matter if you are a windows, a linux or a mac user.
From Audacity, the opensource audio editor available for WinWin, Mac and Linux, to Reaper, the freindlyfriendly, affordable DAW for Windows, to Ardour for Mac and Linux rivaling 1000+ Euro/USD Software like Pro-toolsPro-Tools - the choice is yours. All
All this software can be extended using so-called plug ins - smaller programs that offer sound-synthesis, sampling, effects and more.
===From no-cost to lifetime investments==
For MSWindows there are several proprietary programs on the market ranging from 50 EURO/USDEUR/USD (Reaper, MAGIX Musicmaker) to 200-300 for basic versions of Steinbergs Cubase, MAGIX Samplitude or Abelton Live! up to feature-packed DAWs like NUENDO or Pro-Tools availagbelavailable for 1-2000 EURO/USD. Plug-ins1000-2000 EUR/USD.
Plug-ins are also available for free or to pay for. Under Linux you can use about 200 free effect-processors and softsynths as standalones or in LADSPA or LV2 format. There are also some plug-ins in Steinbergs VST-format running OK under Linux. VST-plug-insThere are alsothousands of VST-plug-ins available as freeware for MSWIN and as to pay for packages ranging from 20 EURO/USD up to 2000. Under MacOSX you can use AU-plug-ins.
===What you need for starters==
Basically you will need a hd-recording system like Ardour or Samplitude and if needed a MIDI-sequencer like Rosegarden (can be synced with ardour under Linux) or Cubase or Reaper (both(the latter have MIDI-Sequencers on board and serve as very good hd-recorders also). If you are on MACOSXMacOSX you can make your first stepps with garage-band, that is bundeled with MacOSX.
All these programs can export single tracks so you can start with Reaper or garage-band and switch to bigger beasts like ardourArdour or Cubase later by simply importing the tracks you have made with other software.
===Audio-software plays live...==
Ther are many linux-based live-cd/dvd out there. These systems run on your computer whithout any installation on harddisk:
musix is a latinamerican distro created for music creators, designers and for day to day use.
artistx is one of the best distros for linux musicians, it has tons of open software, and many tools to achieve great results. It is based on the popular UBUNTU-Linux distribution.
jad 1.0 is another linux distro, created by musicians for musicians, though jad is not developed anymore it has initiaded excellent sound-software support for OpenSuse Linux.
64studio is very stable and developed with the needs of a stable working studio-pc in mind, so is pure:dyne bothpure:dyne. Both are available as linux live cds.
For older computers the linux distro dynebolic could be a good choice itchoice. It is tested to run even full-force video-editing on a computer with less then 256MB RAM.
The most important Linux audio program is called ardour. It is a hd-recording/editing system with all the features, a professional producer really needs. Its recent stable version lacks MIDI-tracks but can be synchronized with several MIDI-Sequencers. Ardour is free software natively available for Linux and MacOSX.
So it is up to you:
* start with a live-CD, Audacity or the free test version of Reaper or under MacOSX with Garage-Band to make your first stepps without risking much.
* find out, what works for you and tune your OS and install bigger software as needed or install a Linux-audio distro like 64Studio or artistix (that is installable from the live-session)
I do all my music-production work with Linux: it works ;-)
(zettberlin)
Message from zotz -the initial editor of this page:
I wrote up a blog post over at kompoz, [[http://www.kompoz.com/compose-collaborate/storyId-1026/p-Free_Software_and_Kompozing/view.story.blog|Free Software and Kompozing.]] That may be useful for here as well. (zotz)