best free recording software

#1 01-01-2009, 12:00 AM

that is NOT audacity. please and thank you.

tomzilla23 · #2 01-01-2009, 12:07 AM

This is what my bro uses and he knows alot about that **** its called Reaper

http://www.cockos.com/reaper/

debassr · #3 01-01-2009, 12:11 AM

Garageband.

chjohnst · #4 01-01-2009, 12:22 AM

Whats wrong with audacity? (just curious as I use it pretty much exclusively and works well)

CoffeeBass · #5 01-01-2009, 12:24 AM

I have been using reaper and am pretty pleased with it. It is as full of features as I need it to be. You should note, however, that while it is technically free, they do ask that you pay $50 if you are going to continue using it for more than a month. There is no restrictions on the program, it is totally on the honor system, but there it is. I was happy to pay the $50 for a good basic recording program.

Cheers,

Coffee

AndrewClaycomb · #6 01-01-2009, 08:57 PM

I'm doing some really complicated stuff with Reaper. Cheap enough it might as well be free.

Ampeg SVT · #7 01-01-2009, 09:04 PM

Reaper is a great program, Audacity is alright but I don't feel like it works as well as Reaper.

Dave Muscato · #8 01-02-2009, 12:33 AM

No offense intended, but I have never understood why people are always after the best free recording software (besides the obvious)... That's like asking what the best free preamp is, IMO. If you want a free preamp, use your soundcard... If you want good recording software (or a good bass, or a good preamp, etc), get out your wallet. Good software isn't cheap, just like everything else that goes into making quality recordings (preamps, mics, cables, acoustic treatment, instruments, etc).

When setting up a home studio, save some room in your budget for recording software... There are some okay free ones, but just because it's intangible doesn't mean there's no reason to spend some money on that aspect of your set-up.

Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't always look for the best deal, or avoid spending money unnecessarily; I'm just saying that you get what you pay for.

Frankly, I'd rather record with a Mexican Jazz and some decent software than a MIA J and whatever I happened to be able to download for free.

Hope this helps.

WarofAges · #9 01-02-2009, 02:11 AM

Is reaper some thing esasy to use also?

Ive been wanted to start recording some stuff, and i finally got my own computer, but im pretty technilogicaly retarded when it comes to computers

daffy · #10 01-02-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

... If you want good recording software (or a good bass, or a good preamp, etc), get out your wallet. Good software isn't cheap, just like everything else that goes into making quality recordings ...

With respect Dave, this simply isn't true. Reaper is a GREAT DAW and it's a complete steal. I have used ProTools, ACID, Sonar, SoundForge and Nuendo, and I have Sonar, ACID and SoundForge on my main computer, but I realised as I typed this that I have used nothing but Reaper for the last year. I think that says a lot.

I would recommend using Reaper and putting the money you save on the DAW into better preamps, interfaces etc.

Ampeg SVT · #11 01-02-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarofAges

Is reaper some thing esasy to use also?

Ive been wanted to start recording some stuff, and i finally got my own computer, but im pretty technilogicaly retarded when it comes to computers

Just sit down and go over everything, its not as easy to use as Audacity. It can be your best friend if you can use it really well.

GreyBeard · #12 01-02-2009, 12:10 PM

My 2cents on Reaper.
First of all, it isn't free, it is shareware. If you use it on a regular basis for amateur recording the author asks for $50. If you use it professionally I think the price is $250. There is nothing to make you pay this, you are on your honor.

Reapers author updates Reaper on a very regular basis. You can contact him directly at the COCKOS site and if he likes your suggestions he will incorporate them into the next up-date.

As for features, if you are into audio recording, Reaper can hang with the best of them. I've compared it to Cubase LE, Audition 2.0, and Sonar. It may not be as glitzy but, once you get a feel for how it works I think it's easier and faster. If MIDI is your thing, Reaper is pretty limited and you may want to look elsewhere.

There is a 400+ pdf users guide ($5 donation) available at the Cockos site, along with a manual and several tutorials. There is even a users forum with pages for beginners up to advanced users.

So as you can see, I'm sold on Reaper. I do wish they would change the name simply because people give me a funny look when you mention what DAW you're using.

http://cockos.com/reaper/download.php

Count Bassie · #13 01-05-2009, 06:35 PM

Yeah, the name is kind of weird. Good prog though. And cheep is fine- the technology is 'out of the bag', and some enterprising young folks have put it to use and made it accessible to We the Proletariat. No need to go corporate, esp if your needs are pretty straightforward.

Snarf · #14 01-05-2009, 08:05 PM

n-track. Not free, but cheap, powerful, effective. Rewires nicely too.

chjohnst · #15 01-05-2009, 08:35 PM

Curious can the software record from multiple devices at the same time? For example two small soundboards USB/Firewire connected with multiple channels. Audacity has a limitation of only being able to record from one device at a time. Multiple channels though.

Count Bassie · #16 01-05-2009, 09:38 PM

In most of these apps- probably all of them- you have an Options menu, one of the choices having to do with Audio Devices. Your interfaces will be listed among the available devices (including your computer's soundcard).

Cool Edit Pro (for instance) has a Device Order window, where you can choose the priority of each interface. A priority for one device won't necessarily negate use of another: In your case you have what amounts to 2 soundcards. If they are from the same manufacturer you might be able to use 2 of them at the same time.

One problem this kind of thing brings up is that if the internal 'Word Clocks' in each device aren't sync'd up properly you'll get unwated results. I can't get into the tech of it all, but you'll get screwy results.

The Presonus Inspire can be linked up with several in a chain, meaning you get more inputs. Don't know about your USB mixers there; find out from the manufacturer if the word clocks will link up- if so you're good I'd think.

Edit: I'd recommend Reaper highly- if only for the small footprint the code takes up and the pretty danged flawless operation of it even on an old or limited system. Not certain n-Track can make the same sturdy claim, although I loved n- before v4.

MindSpark · #17 01-06-2009, 05:10 AM

There's a piece of open source software (which is absolutely free and even comes with the source code in case you're interested to change the software to suit you). It is called ardour.
I am not sure if anyone uses Linux on here, but there are a couple of complete platforms (Live CD's for which you only need a computer that doesn't even need to have a hard drive) specifically designed for music production.
Ubuntu Studio is one example. Dynebolic and Agnula are two more handy distributions. These distributions are completely free of charge and can be directly downloaded from their project websites.

nonfatmatt · #18 01-06-2009, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindSpark

There's a piece of open source software (which is absolutely free and even comes with the source code in case you're interested to change the software to suit you). It is called ardour.
I am not sure if anyone uses Linux on here, but there are a couple of complete platforms (Live CD's for which you only need a computer that doesn't even need to have a hard drive) specifically designed for music production.
Ubuntu Studio is one example. Dynebolic and Agnula are two more handy distributions. These distributions are completely free of charge and can be directly downloaded from their project websites.

All of my stuff is on Ardour, compares favorably to Pro Tools / Cubas / Sonar / Sequoia and is completely free software (as in beer and as in speech)...however, you need a mac or linux to run it, and I realize that's a hurdle for a lot of people.

I've been messing around with Traverso lately - does useful DAW like stuff but it's better than Audacity, and it's also truly free software.

Kraken · #19 01-06-2009, 05:42 AM

i recently started using reaper, nothing wrong with it best i can tell

optikhog · #20 01-06-2009, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

When setting up a home studio, save some room in your budget for recording software... There are some okay free ones, but just because it's intangible doesn't mean there's no reason to spend some money on that aspect of your set-up.

I'd have to disagree with Dave on this one - better advice might be "find what works for you" and then spend what's necessary. With that said, I gave up Protools for Reaper because it's faster, less resource intensive and does everything I need it to do quickly and easily.