Music producers use DAWs for everything from the arrangement, sound design, mixing, mastering, and everything in between. But what is a DAW, and what music production software is the best for you?

This blog will share eight of the best music production software on the market right now, sharing the best parts of each one. After reading, you will also learn what DAW means and how to learn your DAW in the fastest way possible.

Let’s dive in.

List of 20 Best Music Production Software in 2023

1. Ableton Live

Ableton Live is a popular music production software used for music production, live performance, and DJing. It was first released in 2001 by the German company Ableton AG and has since become one of the most widely used DAWs in the music industry.

One of the main features of Ableton Live is its Session View, which allows users to create, edit, and arrange musical ideas in a non-linear way.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
20.99$/Month Yes 90  Days Yes 4.8 Yes

2. Logic Pro X

Logic Pro X is a professional music production software developed by Apple Inc. It is widely used by musicians, producers, and audio engineers for music production, composition, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.

Logic Pro X provides a comprehensive set of features and tools for audio and MIDI recording, including support for up to 1000 audio and MIDI tracks, flex time and pitch manipulation, and advanced automation capabilities.

It also includes a vast library of virtual instruments, effects, and samples, which can be used to create a wide variety of musical genres and styles.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
20.99$/Month No 7 Days Yes 4.5 Yes

3. FL Studio

FL Studio is a digital audio workstation (DAW) and music production software developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. It allows users to create, record, edit, and produce high-quality music and soundtracks.

FL Studio is known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive workflow, making it a popular choice for both amateur and professional music producers.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
31.49$/Month No 7 Days Yes 4.4 Yes

4. Pro Tools

Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) software developed by Avid Technology for music production, sound recording, sound editing, and post-production. It is widely used by professionals in the music, film, and television industries.

Pro Tools offers a comprehensive set of tools for recording, editing, and mixing audio tracks. It supports multiple audio formats and allows for advanced audio processing, including time stretching, pitch shifting, and audio effects.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
9.00$/Month No 30 Days Yes 4.4 Yes

Cubase

5. Cubase

Cubase is the best music production software used for music production, recording, editing, and mixing. It is developed by Steinberg and is available for both Windows and Mac operating systems. Cubase offers a wide range of features and tools that cater to the needs of music producers, composers, and audio engineers.

With Cubase, users can record and edit audio and MIDI tracks, apply effects and virtual instruments, arrange and mix their projects, and export the final product in various file formats. The software also includes features such as automation, tempo and time signature changes, quantization, and groove editing to help users achieve a professional-sounding production.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
12.00$/Month No 3 Days Yes 4.2 yes

6. Reason

Reason is a music production software developed by Propellerhead Software, which is now known as Reason Studios. It is a popular digital audio workstation (DAW) that is used by music producers, musicians, and sound designers to create, record, and edit audio and MIDI tracks.

Reason is known for its unique user interface, which resembles a hardware rack of synthesizers and effects modules. Users can easily route audio and MIDI signals between different modules to create complex sounds and arrangements. The software also comes with a vast library of samples, loops, and presets, making it easy to create professional-quality music without the need for additional plugins or software.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
9.99$/Month Yes 30 Days Yes 4.3 yes

7. Studio One

Studio One is a digital audio workstation (DAW) software used for music production, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. It was developed by PreSonus and was first released in 2009.

Studio One features a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality and a wide range of tools and features for creating music. It supports both MIDI and audio recording and includes virtual instruments, effects plugins, and a variety of loops and samples to help users get started.

One of Studio One’s standout features is its “Mix Engine FX” feature, which allows for advanced mix processing and mastering without needing to route tracks to external plugins. It also has a built-in mastering suite with professional-grade tools to finalize tracks and prepare them for release.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
9.99$ No 14 Days Yes 4.3 Yes

8. Bitwig Studio

Yes, Bitwig Studio is a music production software designed for music production and performance. It was first released in 2014 by the Berlin-based software company Bitwig GmbH.

Bitwig Studio features a modular interface, allowing users to customize their workspace and workflow. It supports multiple audio and MIDI tracks, virtual instruments, and effects plugins. It also includes advanced features such as clip automation, per-note editing, and the ability to use external hardware devices.

One unique feature of Bitwig Studio is its “The Grid” modular sound design environment, which allows users to create custom synthesizers, effects, and other sound processing tools using visual programming.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
49.99$ No 10 Days Yes 4.1 Yes

9. Reaper

Reaper is a digital audio workstation (DAW) software used for music production, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. It was developed by Cockos Incorporated and was first released in 2005. Reaper is a cross-platform software that can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

Reaper is known for its flexibility and customization options. It supports a wide range of audio formats and can handle multitrack recording with ease.

The software includes a vast array of plugins and effects that can be used to enhance and shape the sound of your recordings. It also offers MIDI support, which allows you to connect MIDI devices and create music using virtual instruments.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
34.95$/Month No 15 Days Yes 4.2 Yes

10. GarageBand

GarageBand is a music production software developed by Apple Inc. for macOS and iOS. It is a popular digital audio workstation (DAW) that allows users to create and record music, podcasts, and soundtracks. GarageBand offers a variety of tools and features, such as virtual instruments, pre-recorded loops, and audio effects, that users can use to create music.

The software includes a range of virtual instruments, including pianos, guitars, drums, and synthesizers. Users can also connect a real instrument, such as a guitar or keyboard, to their computer or iOS device to record and manipulate sound.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
Free Yes Yes Yes 4.4 Yes

11. Maschine

Maschine is a music production software and hardware system developed by Native Instruments. It combines a software sequencer, sampler, and effects with a hardware controller, allowing for a tactile and intuitive approach to creating music.

The software is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems and is used by musicians, producers, and DJs for creating beats, loops, melodies, and entire tracks. Maschine also includes a large library of sounds and samples, as well as the ability to import and manipulate external audio files. The software can be used standalone or as a plugin within a digital audio workstation (DAW).

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
11.50$/Month No Yes Yes 4.3 Yes

12. Cakewalk by BandLab

Cakewalk by BandLab is a music production software that provides a complete digital audio workstation (DAW) for music creators. It offers a wide range of features such as recording, editing, mixing, mastering, and publishing music.

Cakewalk by BandLab comes with a user-friendly interface and supports VST3 plugins, which means that users can use third-party plugins to enhance their music production capabilities. It also includes a variety of virtual instruments, MIDI editing tools, and audio effects to create professional-quality music.

One of the unique features of Cakewalk by BandLab is the integration of the BandLab online music community, which allows users to collaborate with other musicians, share their music, and get feedback from the community.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
Free No 7 Days Yes 4.1 Yes

Serato Studio

13. Serato Studio

Serato Studio is a music production software developed by Serato, a company known for its digital DJ software. Serato Studio is designed to help musicians and producers create beats and tracks quickly and easily, using a streamlined interface and powerful tools.

Beat-Making tools: Serato Studio includes a range of tools for creating beats, including a step sequencer, drum machine, and sampler. You can create patterns and sequences quickly and easily, and tweak them to your liking.

Sample library: Serato Studio comes with a built-in sample library that includes a wide range of sounds and loops, from classic drum machines to modern synth hits. You can also import your own samples and use them in your tracks.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
$49/year Yes 15 Days Yes 4.4 Yes

14. Acid Pro

Acid Pro is a digital audio workstation (DAW) software that is used for music production. It was originally developed by Sonic Foundry and is now owned by Magix. Acid Pro is known for its loop-based music production capabilities, which allow users to easily create and manipulate loops of audio and MIDI material.

Some of the key features of Acid Pro include its ability to automatically match the tempo and pitch of audio loops, its extensive library of built-in loops and samples, its support for multiple audio formats and VST plugins, and its powerful mixing and mastering tools.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
4.99$/Month Yes 7 – 14 Days Yes 4.1 Yes

15. Audacity

Audacity is a free, open-source digital audio editor and recording application that can be used for music production, as well as various other audio-related tasks. It runs on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Audacity provides a range of tools for editing and manipulating audio files, including features like noise reduction, equalization, compression, and amplification. It also supports a wide range of audio formats, including WAV, AIFF, MP3, and more.

As a music production software, Audacity can be used for recording and mixing multiple tracks, adding effects and filters to individual tracks, and exporting the final mix as a stereo audio file.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
9.99$/Month Yes 7 Days Yes 4.5 Yes

16. LMMS (Linux Multimedia Studio)

LMMS (short for Linux Multimedia Studio) is a free and open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) software that is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is designed to allow users to create music using various tools and plugins.

LMMS provides a user-friendly interface that allows users to compose, sequence, mix, and automate music in a professional manner.

It comes with a range of built-in plugins and instruments, including synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, and more. Additionally, users can import and use third-party plugins and virtual instruments, allowing for more customization and flexibility.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
79.99$ No 30 Days Yes 4.5 Yes

17. Mixcraft

Mixcraft is a digital audio workstation (DAW) software designed for music production, recording, and mixing. It is developed by Acoustica, Inc. and is available for Windows operating systems.

Mixcraft offers a range of features and tools for music production, including a variety of virtual instruments, loops, and effects. It also includes MIDI sequencing and audio recording capabilities, allowing users to record live instruments and vocals.

One of the unique features of Mixcraft is its ability to support video editing and scoring.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
9.00$/Month Yes Yes Yes 4.1 Yes

18. Renoise

Renoise is a digital audio workstation (DAW) and music production software that is known for its unique approach to music composition and sequencing. It was first released in 2002 and is developed by a company called Renoise.

One of the defining features of Renoise is its use of a tracker interface, which is a type of sequencer that displays vertical columns of notes and other musical data. This interface is reminiscent of the software used in the early days of computer music and has become popular among certain types of electronic music producers.

Renoise also includes a range of features and tools for music production, including support for VST and AU plugins, MIDI mapping, sample manipulation, and effects processing.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
4.99$/Month No 15 Days Yes 4.5 yes

19. Tracktion Waveform

Tracktion Waveform is a digital audio workstation (DAW) software designed for music production, recording, editing, and mixing. It offers a user-friendly interface with a range of features for composing and producing music, including MIDI sequencing, audio recording and editing, virtual instruments, effects, and automation.

Waveform supports a variety of audio file formats, including WAV, AIFF, MP3, and FLAC. It also includes a number of virtual instruments and effects plugins, such as synthesizers, drum machines, and equalizers, as well as support for third-party plugins.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
29.99$/Month Yes 7 Days Yes 4.1 Yes

20. Sound Forge Pro

Sound Forge Pro is a digital audio editing and mastering software developed by Magix. It is designed for audio professionals and musicians who need to edit, record, mix, and master audio files. The software supports a wide range of audio formats and has many powerful editing tools that enable users to remove noise, apply effects, and manipulate audio files in various ways.

Some of the key features of Sound Forge Pro include waveform editing, spectral editing, batch processing, audio restoration, mastering tools, and support for high-resolution audio formats.

Starting Price Free version Free trial Support Customer Ratings Training
9.99$/Month Yes Yes Yes 4.2 Yes

Conclusion

In conclusion, music production software has revolutionized the music industry by making it more accessible and affordable for anyone to create music.

These software programs offer a vast array of features and tools that allow users to compose, record, edit, mix, and master their music with ease.

From beginners to professionals, there is music production software that fits every level of expertise and budget. Therefore, if you want to create music, it is essential to invest in good music production software that suits your needs and preferences.