Free Audio Software and some Trialware - (Mostly for Windows PCs)
Index
To Sections in this page.
Sound and Music Editing
Some of these are not tested. Some went from free to paid-for and will have dropped off this list. I actually have a 'Certificate of Competence' for Steinberg Nuendo which was used for film sound track-building but I never liked it for wave editing.
Key: W = Windows, M = Mac, L = Linux.
- Audio Editing
- Ardour - (M, L, W) (Trialware)
A professional digital audio workstation (DAW) for audio and MIDI. It does 'look the business' and would be tempting to use for any composer. The older free version used to be nobbled to go silent after 10 minutes unless you paid something, but they now describe it as free and Open Source. So that's good.
- Audacity - (W 64/32, M, L) For desktop and laptop computers, no mobile version.
The industry standard 'Wave Editor' but it went through a bad patch a while ago when people accused it of 'going rogue' and sending back user information when it changed hands. Now Open Source, it has regained some reputation and is recommended again. Being always popular in schools, any kid can use it, if the school hasn't gone over to tablets-only. The program records and edits sounds as a basic wave editor. It can use VST plug-ins for a variety of useful add-on effects and fixes and appears to accept even the high-level plug-ins from Izotope. You can't 'Rip' audio from CDs with Audacity but Windows Media Player or VLC Media Player can do that. See also the note below about recording into Audacity from another source.
- Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve (W, M, Rocky Linux) - Very Pro (Win 64, Mac and Linux). Needs decent hardware for best results.
It's really a video editor to edit video and audio in unlimited tracks but you can also use it for audio-only editing using its Fairlight section. Probably not the best app to use for audio. Find Resolve tutorials at Casey Faris, PremiumBeat and old ones at Goat's Eye View.
- Goldwave - (In web browser) New in 2026.
This is a very old name which goes back probably to pre-Windows days. They have products for sale but this one appears to be free and just runs in a web browser.
- OcenAudio - (Win, M, L) Free but donations accepted. (Don't use Edge to download it as it will either try to block it as an unusual program or won't let it install once you have got it. Use a different web browser and install from the downloaded file location).
Suggested by Computer Active mag as a replacement for Audacity. Much simpler (not necessarily a fault), without the security issues and it supports VST plug-ins.You can copy, paste, trim, fade and apply effects and noise reduction. Multiple timeline selections might be useful too and you can display spectrograms but not operate on them. It is lightweight and won't bog down when editing large audio files. Most versions are 64-bit but older PCs can use the Windows Portable version (32-bit). It grows on you and the makers often update it and add features. It is not as accepting as Audacity when it comes to plug-in compatibility and doesn't 'see' some of the high-level Izotope ones.
- Reaper - (Win from XP to 10, Mac but not Linux) (Perpetual Trialware).
A very professional and well-regarded general DAW and Midi Sequencer. This is not strictly free but you can use it fully functional for a 60-day evaluation. The serious amateur musician would be happy to buy the $60 licence (Commercial Licence $225). Some of its VST plug-ins are downloadable from the Reaplugs FX Suite for use with other DAWs.
- Tenacity -
This is a 'forked' version of Audacity which is still being tested. Confusing Github download page, as they alwaysare. They are aimed at computer whizzkids, not us. .
- Wavosaur - (Win only) Seems to be stuck in 2023 but might still be Okay.
Another basic wave editor with support for VST plug-ins and ASIO. Simpler and more lightweight than Audacity but with a useful oscilloscope and spectrum analyser bolted on. Windows only but it appears to work well on Linux using 'Wine' (ignore errors - it still works).
- Music Creation
- Acid Express - (Win only - Requires registration to download prog and loops)
Loop-based music creation and Midi sequencer. This is actually a free 'taster' to get you to purchase Acid Studio or Acid Pro and some features are blocked, such as VST plug-ins and multi-track recording. Note the URL change here which might be for an older version (do a virus check). It was originally Sony, later Magix, but the free version is not visible on the official Magix website.
- LMMS - (W, L, M) (Now moved to the dreaded Github, and you will soon become lost, like a rudderless ship).
A nifty Midi Sequencer with wave capture, particularly good for looping. LMMS is 'Linux MultiMedia Studio' but an identical Windows version is available and it's a lot more 'Pro' than most Linux apps. Its demos are good and it supports MIDI, VST and VSTi. It looks good for loops/samples but lacks direct audio recording. Audacity would cover that. Some tutorials can be found at brycecoulson.com and the supplied sample sounds are out of this world. Great fun. Read a review.
- Media Organisation and Players
- Media Monkey - (W only) Trialware
Not tried personally but this was recommended somewhere as a useful utility to organise audio (and video) files and will download Gracenote information. It comes with a CD/DVD ripper, file conversion, auto re-namer, find duplicate files and some other goodies. The free version is a cut-down version of the paid-for 'Gold' version, which is not expensive (use Paypal). Some features, such as the MP3 encoder, will time-out after 30 days in the free version.
- VideoLan VLC Media Player - (W, M, L)
This the Industry Standard Media Player and still free. It easily surpasses Windows Media Player and plays just about any video or audio file format. You can even view those amateur smartphone videos that are always 90 degrees on one side, to save your neck muscles. Probably the very first thing you would install on a new laptop or PC.
Recording into Audacity from Another Source
Supposing you are playing a Youtube video and want to record the sound, you can do that with Audacity. According to a v e r y s l o w Youtube tutorial (yawn), you set the input audio source to 'Windows WASAPI' and whatever 'loopback' option there is in the speakers selection box. It is tempting to skip forward in the tutorial video (to stay awake) but the details are all there.
The input and output selections used to be at the top of the Audacity screen in old versions but you get there via: 'Edit' > 'Preferences' > Audio. It also uses the 'dark' theme if your system is using that already. Try a few settings with music playing in VLC to find the best one. Also make sure that the input is set for stereo recording, and away you go. With it set up, press 'Record' (red dot icon) in Audacity first, then press 'Play' on the source app (VLC, Youtube or whatever). Press 'Stop' (small square) then top and tail the recording to remove long silences.
VST Plug-ins
There are hundreds of free VSTs out there to bung into your DAW editing app such as Audacity. The plug-in is often just a 'dll' file download that you copy straight into your VST folder, no matter which system you use. If it is in the right folder, your DAW will usually discover it on the next start-up. Most plug-ins add a sound adjustment or effect but some might be wave or tone generators. Some modulate the sound with a built-in oscillator. Not all of them work with every DAW but, if they hang or crash, you just ignore them next time.
There are heaps of good, free VSTs out there. Beware that some sites require you to register before downloading (I never do), but you can often find the popular ones on other websites which don't nag. I have not tested most of these. As always, do a virus check first on any downloaded files before installing anything.
For best compatibility, make a new folder if it doesn't exist for the VST plugins and bung them all in there: C:/Program Files(x86)/Steinberg/VstPlugins
- Komplete Start - Free bundle from the Native Instruments experts, with generators and wondrous music effects. Includes Ozone Equaliser (What's inside).
- ReaPlugs (FX Suite) - As referred to above, the Reaper plug-ins are good quality.
- GVST - Not tried but a usergroup member recommended them.
- Bluecat Freeware Plug-ins - Six free products in the bundle. Quite a big file. Not tried but a usergroup member recommended them.
- Mellow Mouse - Free equaliser for Mac or Windows. Not tried but a usergroup member recommended them.
- Tokyo Dawn - Some nice freebies, such as a dynamic equaliser.
- Voxengo - A collection of sound tweaks, including a mid-side encoder.
- Wavedraw - I like the look of this VST2 one. Sketch your own audio waveform and then do things to it. A lovely idea.
- Handy Archive - Heaps of VST effects, etc. I tried a few out without any problems.
- VST Warehouse - Free plug-ins with links to various sites. I liked the Kjaerhus Classic Series but the original site appears to have discontinued them.
- DSK Music - Not tried or tested but it looks interesting.
- Crystal VSTi (Instrument) - Another freebie that is well-regarded in reviews.
- Izotope Ozone Plug-in - (Registration needed). Updated to version two in 2019, this stereo-width freebie is from the highly acclaimed Izotope company.
- Forty best VST Plug-ins (2020)
- Free VST Plug-ins - Old article 2010, at Sound on Sound. Links go to:
Blogs for Audio, Post-Production and VST Plug-ins
FX Freebies
Most free sound effects websites require you to register before downloading, but Auntie is more helpful.
- Premium Beat - Lots of useful guides and tutorials for the audio or video-maker, and loads of sound and vision freebies.
- Premium Beat - ... such as this page with 280 free sound FX for non-commercial use.
- Premium Beat - All about sound FX, Jack foley and more.
- BBC Sound FX - 16000 free sound effects from the BBC sound archives for non-commercial use (direct link).
- Pixabay SFX - Free, royalty free sound effects.
- GR Sites - Free SFX again.
- Sound Jay - More SFX, without having to sign in or create an account.
- Sound Bible - Free sound effects but some might require attribution in the cast list.
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