Best Free DAWs [Free Software to Make Music] (2021)

SophiaBolton
Updated on 2023-06-29
In this article, each FREE DAW will have a section for key features and minimum computer requirements. Then, I'll show you what the sequencer, piano roll, and mixer look like with a quick overview of their features.

In this article, each DAW will have a section for key features and minimum computer requirements. Then, I'll show you what the sequencer, piano roll, and mixer look like with a quick overview of their features. And don't worry, none of these are free trails or restricted. They are all 100% Free, no strings attached. 

What is a DAW? Explained

Just in case you don't know what a DAW is, it's short for Digital Audio Workstation, as music making software. Essentially, it's a host for plugins you download, such as virtual instruments and audio effects. 

Free DAW #1: LMMS

The first one in this top 5 is LMMS. This is a great choice, regardless of the operating system you use. Its availability on Windows, Mac, and Linux makes music production accessible to anyone with a computer.

It doesn't use much CPU either but, it is a very basic Digital Audio Workstation. And it's even open-source, meaning it has been developed by many people - which could include you too if you wanted to contribute. There's even a computer keyboard to MIDI, which means you can play virtual instruments with your computer keyboard as if it was a piano. 

Chapter-3

LMMS Sequencer / Arrangement Window

The sequencer (or song arrangement window) isn't too bad in LMMS, but it is fundamental and doesn't offer much freedom, but it still gets the job done and makes it easy to manage your samples and patterns. 

Chapter-4

LMMS Piano Roll

This is what the piano roll (or MIDI editor) looks like in LMMS. It's pretty clean and easy to use and has a great feature that lets you write any chord based on any scale with one click. 

Chapter-5

LMMS Mixer

The mixer does have the same simplicity, but it does come with the basics. Even though it looks dead-simple, it does include the ability to make a send track (or mix bus) just like every other DAW on this list. 

Chapter-6

LMMS Con / Downside

The one drawback I found to suck for this DAW is that you can't record audio. But, you can always use Audacity to record that and then import the audio files into LMMS. 

Chapter-7

Free DAW #2: SoundBridge

At number two, we have SoundBridge. This DAW started as a Limit when it was crowdfunded, but it has evolved since then. This one is available on Windows and Mac in both 32 and 64-bit. Just make sure to download your plugins in the same bit version as the DAW for them to work. So, for example, if you downloaded the 32-bit version of SoundBridge, you'll need to download 32-bit plugins. 

Chapter-8

SoundBridge Sequencer

The center of this DAW is its sequencer and is better than the one in LMMS. You get much more control over the tracks and each pattern. It's also directly linked to a panel that displays whatever you have selected, making it very easy to adjust an audio file or pattern. For audio patterns, this includes straightforward pitch, time, and volume controls, to name most of them, 

Chapter-9

SoundBridge Piano Roll

And to write notes in those patterns, the piano roll in SoundBridge is good and lets you change the length of a MIDI note while you draw it instead of after in LMMS. But, LMMS does have some features over this one, as I mentioned with the one-click chords. 

Chapter-10

SoundBridge Mixer

Last is the mixer, and it does have a bit more features than the one in LMMS, but they both have their pros and cons. I do prefer this one, though. And it even comes with a mini-view of the mixer that can be viewed while the sequencer is open. 

Chapter-11

SoundBridge Con / Downside

The only downside is that it bugs you for a donation every time you open the DAW. 

Chapter-12

Free DAW #3: Ohm Studio

Next up, we have Ohm Studio. As far as I know, it has something NO OTHER DAW HAS - Real-time Collaboration. This means you can work on the same project simultaneously with more than one person from anywhere in the world. You can also see what anyone is doing in the projects you choose to collab on, real-time. There's even a general and project-based chat room in the DAW so you can talk to anyone currently using Ohm Studio or only those you are collaborating with. 

Chapter-13

Ohm Studio Sequencer

The sequencer has a bunch of flexibility, though, letting you quickly zoom in and out of a pattern or the entire playlist, adjust volume fade points, loop, and resize in both directions. I think this has a better sequencer than the last two DAWs, but the next one has an impressive set of features. 

Chapter-14

Ohm Studio Piano Roll

But with this DAW comes an interesting piano role. Being located in each MIDI pattern inside the sequencer itself makes it one of a kind. Quite unusual, but it's not bad at all. 

Chapter-15

Ohm Studio Mixer

As for the mixer, it's pretty straightforward, and the guides help you understand what you can and cannot do, but it can also be switched over to a more analog kind of view. It even changes focus depending on what track you select in the playlist. 

Chapter-16

Ohm Studio Con / Downside

The two things I noticed that are a bit of a drawback are that you can only export to OGG format with the free version, and you need to be connected to the internet to use the DAW. OGG isn't that bad anyway, but you can export to WAVE if you pay 39 Euros for the advanced version of this DAW. 

Chapter-17

Free DAW #4: Waveform Free

If you've used Tracktion T7 before, this may look familiar. That's because Waveform Free is the latest version of it - just with a new name. What Tracktion as a company does, is every time they publish a new version of their paid DAW, Waveform, they will typically release an older version of it for free.

This DAW does have the ability to use your computer keyboard as a MIDI controller, but it's kind of a hassle and awkward to use. At least it's there if you need it.

Chapter-18

Waveform Free Sequencer

The sequencer in Waveform is confusing at first. But once you get the hang of it, the workflow isn't all that different, and it has many unique features. You can anchor the MIDI and move the pattern around it, or vice-versa. And, it's super easy to bounce to audio; all you have to do is click this option and drag it. 

Chapter-19

Waveform Free Piano Roll

Waveform's piano roll is perfect. You can adjust the velocity of each note when you are drawing it by dragging up and down and the width going right and left. You can even make chords with whatever notes you have selected, whether multiple notes or a single note. 

Chapter-20

Waveform Free Mixer

As for mixing your audio, you can either use the integrated mixer to the right of the sequencer or a dedicated mixer window by going up to the top right and bringing it into view. The mixer is quite standard, but when making send tracks (aka a mix bus), they are called sub-mixes and have to be created in the sequencer but can then be routed in the mixer or the sequencer. 

Chapter-21

Free DAW #5: Cakewalk by Bandlab

The last DAW on this list is Cakewalk by Bandlab. This DAW was once called Sonar when it previously cost money, but it was acquired and made free-to-use! From my experience, this has got to be the best (free) Digital Audio Workstation out there. And yes, it does have a computer keyboard to MIDI, but it's through a window that needs to be selected. 

Cakewalk Con / Downside

The downside is that Cakewalk is only available for 64-bit Windows - with 32-bit plugin support - so some of the previous options I talked about maybe your only choice. If you can use this DAW, though, I would highly recommend it. 

Chapter-23

Cakewalk Piano Roll / MIDI Editor

In my opinion, this DAW has the best piano roll out of the five on this list. There are a lot of features packed into it, and it's easy to use. And if you are a more traditional composer, it has a great notation editor that you can use to write sheet music. 

Chapter-24

Cakewalk Sequencer

As for the sequencer, it is good. Everything is where you need it, and there are many features, including a video display to edit the audio with the visuals. Unique for a free DAW, let alone any DAW in general. 

Chapter-25

Cakewalk Mixer Rack

There's a lot you can do with the mixer in Cakewalk, and it has the most features out of all the DAWs in this video. There is an integrated EQ window for quick changes, and it's linked to the main EQ built into the "pro channel" on every track. This includes a compressor, the EQ I mentioned, Tube saturation, and a console emulator. And the EQ opens up into an even bigger EQ to make it easier. I don't know why they have three different sizes.

Now, I would have mentioned Garageband, but you probably either heard about it or have it already if you have a Mac. But I do think it would have made a list otherwise. So be sure to check it out if you use a Mac - especially if you are interested in using Logic Pro in the future. I hope this free software helps you make great music, sound effects, or other audio-related projects.