Your Mac has the potential to be a powerful music studio for recording and editing, and that'southward simply using GarageBand – an app that comes gratis with your device. In that location are plenty of options out there, though, and we've pulled together twelve of the all-time in this article.

GarageBand (macOS)

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Full review: GarageBand ten.four for Mac review

Features: While GarageBand'due south nature every bit a pack-in may dissuade you from considering information technology as a professional audio suite, nosotros'd recommend giving it a effort. Not only has Apple tree's free option grown into an splendid DAW, it's got a surprising corporeality of depth and utility, allowing for up to 256 tracks.

Information technology also offers a sound library featuring a huge variety of software instruments and pre-fabricated packs from the likes of Mark Ronson, too as iOS and iPadOS companion apps that add together to the ways y'all tin can create.

Ease of utilise: All of Garageband's features are readily accessible from the become-go, and y'all can find even more if you dig just beneath the surface.

In that location'southward even a suite of music lessons, both for guitar and piano, and artist lessons that characteristic the likes of Blitz and Fall Out Boy that'll have you playing (and recording) megahits in no fourth dimension.

Mixing, however, remains a weak spot, with no traditional mixing console view that can make setting levels a little slower than you'd find in the likes of Logic.

Supported formats: AIFF, CAF, WAV, AAC (except protected AAC files), Apple tree Lossless, MIDI and MP3. 64-bit.

Supported third-party plugins: Audio Units.

Supported third-party hardware: Cadre-Audio devices and MIDI controllers.

Notation characteristic: Yes.

Read more: GarageBand for iPad & iPhone review

Apple Logic Pro

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Full review: Logic Pro X 10.7 review

Features: Logic is Apple's premiere music creation tool, and for good reason. It offers a huge number of pro features that you lot won't find in GarageBand, including components like Alive Loops and a Pace Sequencer.

It can hold i 1000 tracks per project, too, pregnant if your Mac has the memory, the sky really is the limit. For those with cinematic aspirations, the motion to Apple Silicon has meant that users can create dynamic Spatial Audio mixes within Logic, even on a laptop like the new MacBook Pros.

Whichever Mac yous're using, you lot'll gain access to Flex Pitch for tweaking pitch, Smart Tempo for keeping your software instruments in lock footstep with each other, and Sampler can turn your MIDI keyboard into, well, a fully-fledged sampler.

The Footstep Sequencer is probable the most 'fun' manner to create music in Logic, though, letting users plough pre-programmed beats and sounds on and off with a click, and the "old school" Piano Roll functionality is rolled into it, too. Information technology's a breath of fresh air for long-time users

Ease of use: GarageBand and Logic share a very like, elegant layout, then if you like the style the complimentary version works then you'll be right at home with its bigger brother. Some of the advanced features are initially subconscious, just it just takes a couple of clicks to become them upward and running.

Owners of the MacBook Pro with Bear upon Bar will discover Touch Bar support welcome, bringing the ability to control various aspects of editing equally well every bit using it to play certain virtual instruments, merely now that the Touch Bar has effectively been discontinued past Apple information technology'due south going to be a feature only users of older Mac laptops can enjoy.

The real depict now is Apple Silicon support. If you're using a Mac with an M1 scrap, you'll discover operation is slicker than ever before, plus you lot'll accept access to the Spatial Audio mixing we mentioned earlier. You'll besides find you can edit more before needing to reach a charging point, likewise.

Logic is one of the friendliest powerhouses effectually, and yous can also use an iPad as an boosted control surface via the Logic Remote app. Plus, Apple offers the option for iPad and iPhone users to upload Logic files to iCloud and then add together to them when they're out and near via the iOS version of GarageBand.

Supported formats: AAF, OMF, Open TL, and XML (Final Cut Pro) projects. Plus AIFF, WAV (BMF), CAF, SDII, ReWire, MP3, MP4 and MIDI output options.

Supported third-party plugins: Yes, although they need to be 64-flake.

Supported third-political party hardware: Core-Sound devices are compatible, every bit are MIDI controllers and diverse command surfaces.

Notation feature: Yes.

Read more than: Logic Pro vs GarageBand.

Reason 12

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Features: It's been all modify for Reason users since we terminal put together this list, and the cheaper, more GarageBand-adjacent Reason 11 Intro has been put out to pasture.

In its place stands two purchasing options, each targeting different crowds. Reason 12, the full-fat, more Logic-style DAW builds on the excellent version 11 with a crisper await that's ideal for larger screens, and brings the long-running application into the 21st century visuals-wise – fifty-fifty in the third-party extensions.

There's also a new Mimic sampler, while there's as well a new Combinator that lets users create even more patches than always before.

The other side of the coin is, as you may look in 2022, a subscription service called Reason+. Not only does the £19.99/$19.99 per calendar month service give users unlimited admission to Reason 12, but it's also total of additional goodies like new sound libraries.

That can, withal, brand information technology feel like you lot need both to become the total package, depending on what you're using it for.

Ease of utilise: As with Reason eleven, Reason 12 requires a fair corporeality of practice and tweaking. In truth, y'all'll get a lot more wrong than y'all do right, at least in the early on stages merely it's fun to larn.

Reason also maintains a defended community, likewise, but we'd recommend investing in a MIDI Controller to get equally much functionality out of it equally possible.

Supported formats: AIFF, WAV, REX.

Supported third-party plugins: Reason Rack Extensions, VST

Supported third-party hardware: Pretty much any MIDI controller.

Notation: No.

Ableton Live 11

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Features: Ableton is, in some ways, two apps in one. Information technology'due south a buttoned-up DAW that records in sequence, with multiple tracks, but switch it to Session mode and it's a solo artist'due south dream.

Layer individual Clips, then trigger them similar the world'south most powerful sample pad. Information technology rewards experimentation but but beingness so fun to use, and Ableton Alive 11 adds a host of new features, likewise, including Comping, MIDI Polyphonic Expression, and Tempo Post-obit.

Comping condenses your multiple takes into one perfect i, while MIDI Polyphonic Expression makes each individual notation experience unique by bending and irresolute the pressure level. Finally, Tempo Following will arrange the tempo based on incoming sound, meaning playing forth with a drummer becomes much more of a measured "button and pull".

Ease of use: Await to brand some wild music from Session mode, just it'll take fourth dimension. Timing is everything, and accounting for input delays and the creation of Clips in the beginning place can mean information technology'll be a while before everything becomes second nature.

Once information technology does though, at that place'due south nothing quite like it, and it'south exactly the kind of affair that can wow an audition, or just print your friends.

Supported formats: WAV, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC.

Supported third-party plugins: VST2, VST3, Sound Units, ReWire.

Supported third-party hardware: Various MIDI controllers, plus a bespoke Ableton command surface (Push) that starts at £599/$799 bundled with the Intro version.

Notation: No.

Audacity

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Features: While GarageBand has 1 of the richest companies in the world backing information technology, some other gratis option is Audacity, which is an open up source project built and maintained by volunteers.

At first this might seem similar a bones, no frills production, merely in fact Audacity is a very capable organization that can accomplish impressive results. Alongside the general recording and editing functions that you lot would expect, at that place are besides the options to record multiple channels at once, add cross fades, and even overdub an existing track - say for clever song harmonies or Queen-mode multi-octave solos.

Avant-garde tools such a racket elimination feature as well allows you to sample any groundwork hums and rattles then use filters to a runway. Information technology might not eradicate everything, simply its however a great improvement. Another interesting tool is the ability to change the pitch of a track without altering the tempo (and vice versa), plus a decent amount of born furnishings that tin can be applied to recordings.

Audacity 3.1, the current major release, lets users resize clips in a non-destructive way so you lot don't have to worry nearly losing the originals, and introduces playback looping among other things.

The latest patch, 3.1.3, improves operation by upwards to fifty times the 3.one version while adding additional keyboard shortcuts.

Ease of use: Brazenness is powerful, but it certainly isn't pretty. The user interface is probably the biggest trouble with the software. Whereas GarageBand is neat, tidy, and sports a modern design, Audacity feels very much like a program built by engineers. Menus and buttons are somewhat colourless, with an initial impression that can be a chip intimidating. Once you get used to the perfunctory nature of it though, things make sense and yous tin can produce complex projects in relative comfort.

Recent updates have introduced navigational improvements, refinements to the light and dark themes, plus a built-in LAME mp3 encoder, which all shows that the enthusiastic programmer base is as dedicated every bit ever.

Supported formats: WAV, AIFF, AU, FLAC and Ogg Vorbis. MP3, AC3, AAC, and MP4 are likewise bachelor via costless downloadable add-ons.

Supported tertiary-party plugins: LADSPA, Nyquist, VST, and Audio Unit.

Supported third-party hardware: No official list, merely many USB devices and microphones are known to work, with a user-created list kept here.

Notation: No.

6.

PreSonus Studio 1 4 Prime number

Presonus Studio One Prime

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Features: The Studio One range has congenital an impressive reputation as a solid, capable, and well idea out DAW. Now in its fourth major iteration Studio One is bachelor in three tiers: Prime number, Artist, and Professional.

Prime is free, and while information technology doesn't have the full toolset of its more powerful stablemates, it remains a fully functional bundle that offers unlimited audio tracks, MIDI tracks and FX channels. These are aided by a plethora of effects, loops and samples, aslope the Instrument and Drum editor, plus the recently overhauled Ampire selection of guitar amps, cabs and effects.

The paid versions add together a raft of more than advanced options and content, including the Chord detector, and the powerful Sample I XT sampler. Just as an alternative to the free GarageBand, Studio One Prime is a great starting bespeak in the PreSonus world.

One drawback of the free version is that is doesn't back up third-political party plugins such equally AU, VST2, VST3 and Rewire, which does limit your options somewhat.

But if you're willing to move up to the paid tiers then you'll find a hugely powerful and modernistic production suite that can match most of the features establish in its rivals.

New features with the latest version of Studio One 5 include Projection Page Automation to automate rails and master volume, while also calculation the option to monitor through a separate output without irresolute the chief output.

PreSonus too offers a monthly membership selection chosen Sphere, which offers unlimited admission to the visitor's assortment of plug-ins, add together-ons, and Notion annotation software. It starts at £fourteen.11/$14.95 per month - more details here.

Ease of use: The layout and full general design of Studio 1 is modern, clean, and very piece of cake on the eye. Information technology bears a passing resemblance to Logic and GarageBand with its darker palette, and shares a number of similar functions. Everything is intended to work on the one chief screen, so no popup windows hiding behind each other to confuse, and while this keeps things uncomplicated information technology does hateful that the software works amend on larger displays.

Supported formats: A wide range, with MP3 encoding/decoding at present standard on all versions.

Supported 3rd-party plugins: Not on the Prime edition.

Supported third-party hardware: Core Audio compliant audio interfaces, Mackie interfaces, and MIDI controllers.

Notation feature: No.

Reaper 6

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Features: Reaper is the linguistically gymnastic acronym of Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering and Recording. With the corporeality of idea that went into the name lone you know this is going to exist something good.

The program itself boasts an extensive listing of features with which you lot tin can create entire albums from scratch. Multi-track recording for live audio or MIDI, layering takes, deep editing functions, the ability to embed FX plug-ins into runway controls, time-stretching to lock in parts, and even pitch correction software come included in the price. Reaper is also very customisable, with diverse GUI elements being available for the user to modify with new skins.

Ease of employ: The make clean layout and customisable nature ways that Reaper can apace become a very familiar surroundings. It is a hugely detailed programme though, and then expect to spend more fourth dimension working things out than you would with GarageBand, but conversely this also means that you lot can achieve a great deal more once you've mastered the environment.

The Reaper forums are also well populated by friendly and wise users who tin assistance you learn, many of whom also create new plugins for the platform.

Supported formats: Pretty much everything, and even a few we hadn't heard of.

Supported third-party plugins: VST3, DX, AU, ReWire, JS (user scriptable plug-ins), and others.

Supported third-party hardware: Reaper's creators claim compatibility with "nigh any audio or MIDI sound carte or interface".

Notation: Yes.

MuLab 8

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Features: This product suite is another complete studio that can handle recording, editing and mixing. Information technology comes from a good pedigree likewise, every bit the designer was responsible for the gratuitous CMusic sequencer that used to arrive with copies of Computer Music Magazine.

Now on its 9th major version, Mulab's tagline of 'enjoy making music' has never been more applicative. The app has now combined both the cadre composer and MUX Modular Plugin so you can utilize Mulab every bit a standalone synth if y'all choose. It's yet geared toward relative newcomers, but it'southward still plenty powerful thanks to granular editing controls.

A complimentary trial allows you to sample the joys of MuLab, but after that you lot'll demand to upgrade to the total version for £61/$78/€69.

Ease of use: The MuLab interface has received some very contradictory reviews, with many maxim that the UI is easy to go to grips with due to its basic layout, and the use of menus and pop up boxes means that they now what's happening all the fourth dimension. The other schoolhouse of thought is that things are more cumbersome than they need be for precisely the same reasons. Thankfully the trial allows you to decide for yourself.

Supported formats: Not listed.

Supported tertiary-party plugins: VST, ReWire.

Supported third-party hardware: Not listed.

Notation: No.

Cubase Elements 12

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Features: Cubase has been a reliable DAW for years, with the platform going from strength to strength. While the full Cubase 12 application will set you back a few hundred dollars, and the Artist option is a niggling less, Elements is an platonic starting betoken that has a lot to offer.

It offers 192kHz output, 64 MIDI tracks, and 48 audio tracks, too as MixConsole, a Sampler, and enough more. For a newcomer, it'south a keen option, and while you may demand to upgrade to make the well-nigh out of the platform, it's nice to know that Cubase Artist offers a solid middle ground that adds additional features but won't cost half a grand.

Ease of use: Developer Steinberg nevertheless has a wealth of tutorials to help you settle in, only make no error – Cubase is powerful, simply even the Elements version has a fairly steep learning curve based on the number of options and plug-ins available. Once you're in, though, you'll have plenty of power at your fingertips.

Supported formats: WAV, AIFC, AIFF, MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Wave64.

Supported 3rd-party plugins: VST, ReWire.

Supported third-political party hardware: ASIO, MIDI, and Mackie devices.

Note: Yes.

Ardour

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Features: Ardour is an open-source project that offers a fully featured DAW, allowing recording unlimited tracks, importing files or MIDI, editing features that include crossfade, transpose, quantize, and just most annihilation y'all need to put together cool-sounding sound.

Version 6.7 added back up for Apple'south M1 architecture via nightly builds, but these are at present standard as of 6.9.

Ease of apply: If you lot've used whatever kind of music production software before and so Ardour will brand you lot feel right at home. For newcomers it'south no more intimidating than any other capable organisation, plus the customs seems vibrant and helpful if you do run across any problems.

Supported formats: WAV, AIFF, CAF, BWF, FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis

Supported third-party plugins: AU, VST2, VST3, and LV2.

Supported third-party hardware: Various MIDI controllers.

Notation: No.

FL Studio 20

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Features: FL Studio, formerly known as Fruity Loops, has been around for years, and that's a attestation to its ease of admission and powerful features. Information technology also offers lifetime upgrades for free, so if y'all picked it upwardly two decades ago, you'll be able to grab the latest version right at present.

Information technology's been used by the likes of Afrojack and Martin Garrix, with a focus on building songs chop-chop with an splendid piano roll. It's also got support for a huge number of plugins, although well-nigh of them are paywalled behind a pricier package.

It's also worth noting that while y'all can buy a version for effectually one-half the toll above, this 'Fruity' edition won't let you record audio. Instead, information technology'south solely a sequencer.

Ease of utilize: FL Studio 20, the latest version, comes bundled with a demo rail that you tin tinker with and edit to your heart's content, and that's specially handy considering the wealth of options can exist a little chip intimidating at showtime.

Once you lot become the hang of it, FL Studio is really well versed in communication with whatsoever hardware interfaces you may accept, making it easy to record songs or sounds straight into the DAW before taking advantage of the huge number of options for manipulating it.

Supported formats: OMF, Open TL. Plus AIFF, WAV (BMF), CAF, SDII, ReWire, MP3, MP4 and MIDI output options.

Supported third-party plugins: Yes, available as part of a bundle.

Supported third-party hardware: MIDI controllers and diverse command surfaces, as well equally most any audio interface.

Pro Tools

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Features: Pro Tools developer Gorging recently dipped its toes in the 'gratuitous version pool' just it'due south Pro Tools Outset was short-lived. Instead, you'll at present need to plump for the full version, which is now bachelor on a subscription footing.

While the more advanced version (dubbed 'Ultimate') offers a huge range of pro-focused features, the £29.99/$29.99 monthly subscription offers over $two,000 of free plugins, libraries and more.

It's arguably the closest you'll become to a full, professional studio in your home, with excellent mixing and multi-rails recording support. Sadly, that price is likely to brand fifty-fifty the standard version too pricey for some, although there is a discount for students.

Ease of utilise: While that $ii,000 bundle of goodies does include some learning fabric, Pro Tools is for the virtually office aimed at experienced studio engineers which means it'due south non the all-time option if you're new to sound editing.

Supported formats: OMF, Open TL. Plus AIFF, WAV (BMF), CAF, SDII, ReWire, MP3, MP4 and MIDI output options.

Supported third-party plugins: Available equally part of a membership.

Supported third-party hardware: MIDI controllers and various control surfaces, as well equally almost any audio interface.