free mixing music pc software resources

back - from free mixing music pc software

Freeware, shareware and demoware all provide musical software options that might not otherwise be available. To top is off, these programs are either free or inexpensive. Below is a categorized review of some of the options online today.

Sequencing - free mixing music pc software

Numerology, Shareware $85, Mac compatible

What is it:
A modular sequencing studio, that excels as a performance sequencing instrument, yet also functions as a studio free mixing music pc software power tool

-Sequencer modules that are connected to construct a personal composition or performance setup.
-Sequencing machines control Audio Units instruments, effects and MIDI devices
-MIDI output can be recorded by and routed to a MIDI sequencer
-A collection of modules comprises a group and a session consists of a number of groups, all of which can be saved in one of the 64 presets
-Presets can be recalled manually or automatically in the Tracks view
-MIDI directly controls free mixing music pc software Numerology modules

Energy XT, Demoware £28, PC compatible

What is it:
energyXT is a true multi-task machine. It acts a fully-featured VST host, a live performance instrument, a MIDI processor and router, and an audio/MIDI multitrack sequencer free mixing music pc software construction kit.

-Connect VST instruments and effects to a MIDI and audio system
-Adds step sequencing to the VST filter plug-in
-Virtual modules and processors combine to create a studio
-Acts as a standalone rack of VST instruments

Tu2:, Shareware $35, PC compatible

What is it:
A sampling workstation geared toward creating free mixing music pc software samples and loops. It then assembles them into songs.

-Use Tu2’s instruments, step sequencers and effects to create your own sample
-Use up to 12 different samples in a single pattern
-Blend a more linear approach with standard pattern-based sequencing

Renoise, Shareware €50, PC and Mac compatible

What is it:
A traditional free mixing music pc software tracking tool that blends incorporates VST plug-ins and real-time MIDI control.

-Works well with external MIDI devices
-Good user interface with a proper blend of mouse-driven GUI and classic tracker keyboard
-Demo and tutorial songs

Multi-Track Audio Editing

HyperEngine-AV:, Freeware, Mac compatible

What is it:
A ‘trackless’ audio editing that enables you to place audio clips anywhere on the free mixing music pc software arrange page.

-Each audio clip can have its own effects
-Effects applied during playback or rendered to a new file
-Special plug-in format only available for HyperEngine-AV
-Useful for assembling samples or making quick work-ups

Kristal:, Freeware, PC compatible

What is it:
A 16-track digital audio workstation

-Handles sample rates up to 192kHz
-Uses 32-bit floating point processing
-Supports VST plug-ins
-Work nondestructively with audio parts that can be freely arranged, split, spliced and copied

Audacity:, Freeware, PC and Mac compatible

What is it:
A multitrack audio editor that’s compatible with a large number of file formats

-Each track can operate at a different sample rate
-Handles conversions during playback and mixing
-Offers DSP processing and VST plug-in effects
-Record 32-bit floating point audio files
-Export projects in standard 16-bit and 24-bit formats

Audio Processing - free mixing music pc software

Awave Audio:, Demoware $50, PC compatible

What is it:
A batch processor that enables the application of DSP processing to a group of files

-Converts between a wide range of formats
-Handles high sample up to 192mHz
-Processing done at 32-bit floating point quality

Sample Manager:, Shareware $70, PC compatible

What is it:
A batch processor of a variety of audio file formats through a simple interface

-Converts between many formats, including Acidized WAV to Apple Loops
-Broad range of DSP processing commands
-Bit and sample rate conversion
-Group mixing and assembly of files

SoX, Freeware, Mac compatible

What is it:
A software utility developed as part of an open source initiative

-Shuns flashy GUI for command line operation
-Powerful in conjunction with OS X’s shell scripts or Windows’ batch command files
-Converts files from format to format
-Apply DSP processing
-Alter sample rates
-Change bit resolution

MIDI Tools

MIDI-OX & MIDI Yoke:, Shareware (MIDI-OX $49, MIDI Yoke $12), Free for non-commercial use, PC compatible

What is it:
A multi-function package free mixing music pc software that brings together a number of useful utilities

-Monitor shows MIDI activity on any port
-Software can play MIDI files
-Patchbay feature can filter messages and connect any input to any output
-Adds virtual MIDI ports to your system so that applications can pass MIDI information between each other
-Multi-client ports; up to 4 applications can send data to the same destination

MIDI Pipe, Freeware (donations requested), Mac compatible

What is it:
A programmable MIDI patchbay capable of filtering, processing and routing MIDI data

-MIDI file player
-On-screen virtual keyboard
-Create ‘pipes’ connecting input and output MIDI ports which can transform data
-The patchbay can run AppleScript routines to generate or process


MIDI Monitor and SysEx Librarian, Freeware, Mac compatible

What is it:
A program that enables the viewing of MIDI data as if flows in and out of physical MIDI ports or between applications

-Choose which ports to display
-Capture SysEx messages sent by MIDI devices and save them as files
-Use SysEx Librarian to share MIDI data dumps
-Saves against common problems encountered when using a sequencer to update MIDI products

Plug-in Hosting

VSTHost and SaviHost:, Freeware, PC compatible

What is it:
Two co-mingled programs that run VST instruments without using a host sequencer

-Use software instruments for live performance
-Load multiple instruments to create layers
-SaviHost lets you copy it to your VST plug-ins folder and rename it the same as the instrument’s .dll file name
-Supports plug-in presets and banks
-On-screen mini-keyboard

MiniHost:, Shareware $20, PC compatible

What is it?:
A features packed plug-in host

-External audio processing
-WAV file recording
-Step sequencer
-Control gater for modulating plug-in settings
-Preset randomizer

Rax:, Shareware $30, Mac compatible

What is it:
A plug-in host that lets you create a rack of software instruments and effects

-Mixer channels can each be assigned an instrument and effect plug-in
-Send up to eight send effect chains
-Control the rack with MIDI hardware or virtual ports
-Link MIDI control surface to plug-in controls

Sample Organization

Audio Finder:, Shareware $60, Mac compatible

What is it:
A program that will have a dramatic affect on your studio by locating, organizing and processing your audio files

-Browser view navigates the file structure
-Scanner view searches for all audio files; scans can be saved for recall later
-Drag files into the sequencer
-Process files with plug-ins and built-in functions

Loop Horse:, Freeware, PC compatible

What is it:
A system to collect, copy, archive and delete sound files

-Can be limited to only display certain files
-Drag files to collect them to the copy list
-Audition candidates for the final selection

SampleCatalog:, Freeware, PC compatible

What is it:
An organization tool that uses a catalog system to store descriptive information about each file

-Libraries can contain other libraries and sound files
-Place the same files in multiple libraries without duplicating the file
-File name and category search
-Create a collection of files and archive them to CD or DVD

Audio Tools

ASIO4ALL, Freeware, PC compatible

What is it:
A low-latency, hardware independent ASIO driver

-Works on top of Windows instead of at the driver level
-Stable operation
-Easy removal when not required

www.jackosx.xom, Freeware, Mac compatible

What is it:
A program to pipe audio from one program to another

-Record from software that does not have audio recording capability
-Manages connections between applications
-Manages connections to and from the soundcard
-Reduce latency by patching output directly to a soundcard output

Soundflower:, Freeware, Mac compatible

What is it:
A system using virtual audio buses to pass audio between applications

-Two CoreAudio drivers.
-Assign the dual-bus as the source program output driver to process the output of one program with another.
-Works like a mixing desk bus.

back - from free mixing music pc software