Zenith12

Well I decided recently that I want to make music and entertain people, I've never made music in my life so nothing complicated. I'm looking to buy some music maker software for my PC (Windows 8 64bit), don't know what to get so I thought I'd come here and ask the experts. I want to make electronic music like Trance, hip-hop, downtempo/chill, house, stuff like that. I don't want any equipment (don't have room in my small apartment) I just want some music maker software, and I intend to publish my music and sell it and I don't want any issues with the software's copyright, for fully-licensed software (no surprise licensing fees) my maximum budget it $60.00, best I can do.

Which software would you recommend?

Zenith12

Seriously I need help.

The Bullet

You can't do **** with $60. I mean, there's insanely powerful freeware out there like SuperCollider that only a small handful, maybe ten thousand people in the world, will be able to use as well as paid software, but aside from that, you'd be better with around a thousand bucks if you want to legitimately create electronic music. You can't usually get a basic DAW (main program/composition software) for under $50-$100, and most good VSTis (used for sound design and sometimes mastering, although the DAW often takes care of the later. You will use multiple VSTis) will cost you around $200, although there's better freeware in that area. Crystal, DaHornet, Synth1, TAL Noisemaker and U-NO-LX, and Zebra are all decent free VSTis, Crystal being my personal favorite, but aside from maaayyybe Crystal, they can't hold a candle to expensive VSTis like those made by Native Instruments or Image-Line (both of these companies put their best ones in bundles.) They're a good start, though.

Personally, as far as DAWs go, I use FL studio (also by Image-Line), which costs around $100. I know Sony Acid costs a little less, but I usually use that for recording, so I can't tell you how it compares when making electronic music. Logic, Ableton Live, Reason, Pro Tools and Cubase are also common ones, but I don't have any experience with them and I think most of them are much more expensive.

I know there's plenty of people on here who are far more knowledgeable than I am, and I hope they'll pitch in. Just my $0.02. Good luck!

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SabreMetrik

Unfortunately your going to find it hard to get anything for $60. The main DAWs are Logic (Mac Only), Propellerhead Reason, Ableton Live and FL Studio. But all are way above your budget.

Honestly, if your serious about making music you need to at least use one of these. There are some other alternatives but you'll get what you pay for.

If you want anymore info on these DAWs just let me know.

terreror

There's nothing you could get for 60$,a delay plugin alone costs that much.Otherwise Ableton Live is the best DAW on the market I think,Propellerheads Reason as well,Steinberg Cubase etc.

Plankton

Lessee here... Audacity (free DAW), Hydrogen (free Drum app), and VST Host (free).

Should get you started until you come up with some $$.

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Manuel Marino

my question is, why do you want to make music? for yourself? for fun?

then the free plugins and free software are a good starting point. If you want to produce music professionally, then you need to invest a good amount of money.

TheUnusualMusical

every piece of software has its own distinct sound..Abelton Live is probably the easiest to use but pro tools sounds the most professional