It’s our Make Music For Free issue so it’s time to round up the best music software out there that won’t cost you a dime. And it’s a pretty crowded one, with a tonne of freeware synthesisers, effects, drum machines, ROMplers, guitar effects and much, much more available. So much, in fact, that we have managed to round up 100 amazing free plugins for you over the following pages that could (indeed should!) transform your music making. A couple of caveats first though…
Before we enter the sometimes murky world of freeware, we should point out that it’s a world that is not so essential as it once was because of this very magazine! That’s because you could argue that the Plugin Suite – that huge and free selection of Mac and PC plugins that we give away to every reader, every month – is so well endowed, with close to 100 plugins, that you really have no need to download anymore. Add to that the very real problem of plugin bloat – the issue faced by producers these days whereby having too much choice when it comes to plugin instruments, can actually get in the way of music production – and you could argue that freeware has had its day
Yes, you could argue that, but we’re not going to, because freeware can be great and, if you pick the right titles, can be inspiring, productive and creative, so that’s what this feature is about – picking the right, choice titles from a sea of freeware.
So in order to give you a usable picture of this vast world of free music making we’ve – broadly speaking anyway – broken it down into sections covering the best 100 plugins to download for free, so over the next 16 or so pages you’ll find best synths, best drum machines, effects and so on, but we’ve also scattered some step-by-step tutorials in there too so you can get the best from them.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2020 من Computer Music.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2020 من Computer Music.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Sonuscore The Score $399 PC MAC
The Score comes up with a film soundtrack based on your stylistic choices, but that’s just the start of it. Andy Jones scores The Score
Baby Audio Humanoid $129 PC MAC
Humanoid brings the ‘extreme’ and ‘radical’ to the world of vocals, but is also one of the easiest plugins to use and abuse, says Andy Jones
The Synth Factory Horizen $129 PC MAC
A synth/sampler that packs in a lot of power at an almost silly price - despite its low profile, Andy Jones gazes at Horizen...
Flow Mastering Suite $15/month PC MAC
Mastering your music just got as easy or as complex as you want. But, Andy Jones asks, is it worth yet another monthly subscription?
Universal Audio LA-6176 $299 PC MAC
UA has bundled three of its classic emulations into one channel strip. Is this analogue dream your ideal plugin team? Andy Jones finds out
Rack'em up...
IK Multimedia has announced a comprehensive update to its mixing and mastering software, T-RackS, that brings some smart mastering additions
FX Collection 5 €499
Arturia's huge bundle of effects gets its regular update and it's still easily as essential as the company's V Collection
Make a pulsing bass with GForce Axxess
Get mechanical, with a garage-inspired bass patch, which gets right to the pulsing heart of the Axxess synthesiser
The software that shaped us
Computer Music has had a 25-year history, and over the life of this magazine, the technology behind music production has changed beyond recognition. Here are the products that set the stage for the modern world…
PERFECT VIRTUAL GUITAR!
Need a great guitar sound, but lacking any guitar-playing contacts, or the skills to play it yourself? Have no fear, your computer is here! With a few pointers, buying advice and hands-on tips, you and your PC or Mac can emulate the greatest guitarists in the world…