Tools for Creating Music

Software

Non-Free

Pro-grade (thus quite costly) applications:

• Cubase Mac / Windows
• Logic Studio Mac
• Sonar Windows
• ProTools Mac / Windows

Less expensive alternatives:

• REAPER Mac / Windows
• FL Studio Windows

Free

• Jack - Software Patchbay, a base requirement for professional audio on Linux
• Ardour Linux/Mac Digital Audio Workstation
• Audacity - Cross platform Digital Audio Editor
• LMMS - Windows/Linux Digital Audio Workstation
• MusE - Audio/MIDI Sequencer with recording and editing

Samples

Non-Free

• Garritan Personal Orchestra $200 Full orchestral samples.

• East West Samples (Platinum, Gold, Silver) Check other websites for much lower prices than retail. One of the most expensive, but most powerful samples commercially available.

Free

• FreeSF2 Brought to you by the Wesnoth Music Dev team.

• G-Town Percussion Excellent orchestral percussion sounds.

• Maestro Concert Grand 985MB concert grand piano by Mats Helgesson.

• Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra Free orchestral library with around 500MB of samples by Mattias Westlund.

See Also

• Music Contribution FAQ
• Music Tutorials