Best Music Production Software of 2024

As the Indian music scene continues to thrive, with a rich blend of traditional and modern sounds, the right music production software can be a game-changer for aspiring artists and seasoned producers alike. Whether you’re crafting the next Bollywood hit or experimenting with fusion genres, digital audio workstations (DAWs) provide the tools to record, mix, and master your work with precision.

Choosing the ideal music software depends on your specific needs and comfort level with different interfaces. Many options offer similar features, so your personal workflow preferences often take precedence. Most music-making applications also include built-in sound libraries, which can be particularly useful for incorporating traditional Indian instruments or modern electronic sounds.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best music production software available today, highlighting key features, product strengths, and pricing to help you make an informed decision.

1. Ableton Live

Ableton, with roots in Germany and California, has become a favourite among recording artists worldwide, including many in India. Ableton Live is particularly popular with electronic music producers and DJs, thanks to its intuitive interface and extensive audio and effects packs. These features make it exceptionally useful for live performances, a crucial aspect of India’s vibrant music scene.

As of March 2022, Ableton Live offers three versions, each with a one-time price. Higher-priced plans provide more features and enhanced audio handling capabilities.

• Intro: A solid basic plan with 16 audio and MIDI tracks, 16 scenes, 2 send and return tracks, 8 mono audio input channels, and 8 mono audio output channels.

• Standard: Expands capabilities with unlimited audio and MIDI tracks, unlimited scenes, and 256 mono audio input and output channels. Adds audio-slicing and audio-to-MIDI features.

• Suite: Significantly increases the amount of content you can manage per track and includes a vast array of built-in content, including audio and effects packs.

For those on a budget, the Intro version of Ableton Live 11 offers excellent value. It includes features such as Comping, MIDI polyphonic expression, tempo following, and note and velocity chance. Standard and Suite versions provide convenient linked-track editing, allowing you to manage multiple tracks simultaneously.

Key Features:

• One-time payment

• 3 versions: Intro ($99), Standard ($449), Suite ($749)

• Popular among producers and performers

• Extensive built-in sound library

2. Avid Pro Tools

Avid Pro Tools is undeniably one of the most popular studio software options globally, with a strong presence in India’s professional recording studios. Like Ableton, Pro Tools is feature-rich and supports a companion hardware line, with most of the interface designed to integrate seamlessly with a full-scale studio environment.

For career musicians in India with a reasonable budget for production, Pro Tools is superb music-maker software that supports both quality and quantity. The latest version is available in two tiers via a monthly subscription, granting access to all features.

• Pro Tools: The starting Pro Tools plan offers much of the same functionality as Ultimate, with less support for complex workflows and extensive hardware suites.

• Pro Tools Ultimate: Substantially boosts the scale and complexity of supported audio, with numerous added features. Includes in-the-box dubbing, advanced audio editing, field recorder workflows, and more.

Pro Tools is a top-tier choice for professionals, especially engineers and hardware-enthusiasts. It’s no longer restricted to studio hardware, making it accessible for home setups, which is particularly beneficial for Indian artists working in smaller spaces.

Key Features:

• Monthly subscription

• 2 tiers: Standard ($29.99), Ultimate ($79.99)

• Popular with studios and professionals

• Established industry benchmark

3. PreSonus Studio One

Founded in Louisiana, circa 1995, PreSonus was created to help musicians Jim Odom and Brian Smith prepare their music for CD recording. Their PreSonus Studio One offers many of the same capabilities as its competitors but with a more intuitive interface. The recent acquisition by Fender adds to its credibility and potential future developments.

Studio One is currently offered in three formats, with a streamlined free version, Studio One Prime, ideal for newcomers. Here’s what you get with the paid options:

• Artist: Features a “drag-and-drop workflow” system and unlimited tracks, effects, and plug-ins. PreSonus recommends it for musicians and podcasters.

• Professional: Adds support for native plug-ins, Celemony Melodyne Essentials for managing vocals, more workflow features, and built-in audio content.

• Sphere: Available only as a monthly ($14.95) or annual ($164.95) subscription. Adds the Presence XT Editor for editing samples, notation software from Notion, and even more content and plug-ins.

Studio One’s intuitive interface and workflow features make it an attractive option for Indian artists looking for a user-friendly yet powerful DAW. The connection with Fender could lead to exciting developments, especially for those using Fender products in their setups.

Key Features:

• Monthly subscription and/or one-time payment

• 3 versions: Artist ($99.95), Professional ($399.95), Sphere (monthly/annual)

• Strong candidate for fans of Fender products

• Popular workflow and interface

4. Audacity

Developed by two students at Carnegie Mellon University, Audacity is an open-source, free music-making software with more than two decades of development. It allows users to make their own modifications and additions to the core program and even sell their own version of the software. Its streamlined design ensures smooth operation on most operating systems, making it accessible to a wide range of users in India.

You can write your own plug-ins for Audacity, but it also supports LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST, and Audio Unit effects. If you’re not working with digital source material, you’ll need a microphone and a mixer, but this software is an excellent starting point. It’s also a favourite among podcasters and other audio professionals in India.

Key Features:

• Free to use

• Open-source and customizable

• Simple interface

• Easy to run on virtually any system

5. Waveform Pro & Free

With roots in U.K. studio technology, Traktion’s Waveform Pro 12 stands out for its unique interface. Traktion also offers Waveform Free, which is an exceptional free music production software with minimal content limitations and restrictions compared to other free offerings.

Here’s how the two versions differ:

• Free: One of the most feature-rich free DAWs available. Thanks to extensive functionality and limited restrictions, Waveform Free can help you start making music at any scale.

• Pro: Available in various bundles to address different needs, the core Waveform Pro 12 software is $149. The “Everything Bundle” costs $999 and adds extra audio content and production tools.

While there are plenty of reasons to consider the Pro version, Waveform is a strong contender for the best free music-making software. Its lack of content limitations means even professionals can get significant mileage out of it, making it an attractive option for Indian artists on a budget.

Key Features:

• One-time payment, plus add-ons

• Available in multiple bundles

• Extensive features for a free DAW

• No track limits

6. Steinberg Cubase

Released over three decades ago, German audio tech firm Steinberg’s Cubase software began its life as a MIDI sequencer based on the Atari ST. With such a long history, Cubase’s interface has evolved greatly over the years through continued innovation.

Cubase 12 is available in three different packages:

• Elements: A bread-and-butter DAW with notable built-in features, though it includes limitations on complexity that may feel restrictive.

• Artist: At the artist level, this package unlocks more workflow features needed for a true studio environment. These include combined select tools mode for using object and range selection simultaneously, and ARA 2 support to get the most from your plug-ins.

• Pro: Dramatically expands plug-in support and management options for composition and mixing. Ideal for brisk workflows and artists who need an extensive built-in sound library.

Key Features:

• One-time payment

• 3 versions: Elements ($99.99), Artist ($329.99), Pro ($579.99)

• Support for mobile music making

• Long history in the industry

7. Reaper

Reaper is designed for simplicity and efficiency. It’s popular for its easy-to-run software, affordable licensing options, and emphasis on practical recording features. You’ll find minimal restrictions and plenty of support for most standard plug-ins.

There are two license packages for Reaper, Discounted and Commercial, but both provide the same functionality. This makes it a useful tool for home and teaching environments in India, where budget-friendly options are often appreciated.

Key Features:

• One-time payment

• Discounted ($60) or Commercial ($225) licenses

• Discounted license is perfect for home and school use

• Easy-to-run software with very few built-in restrictions

8. iZotope Music Production Suite

The iZotope Music Production Suite is a solid standalone DAW you can buy outright or as part of a bundle. If you opt for the latter, you’ll find ways to expand your studio tech or sound library.

The core suite includes numerous useful plug-ins for instrument balancing, fine reverb control, and mastering your tracks. You can upgrade some of the included tools to pro versions or experiment with other features as part of the subscription tier. Base costs and bundle prices vary, but subscriptions are currently priced at ₹16,499 per year or ₹1,655 per month.

Key Features:

• One-time payment or subscription

• Available in multiple bundles

• Good audio repair tools

• Comprehensive core plug-ins

Summary

There is a wide range of prices and features in today’s music creation software, but the good news is you have plenty of options to consider for almost any application. Free music makers like Waveform Free or Audacity are more than adequate for basic needs. For professionals in India’s competitive music industry, options like PreSonus Sphere or Steinberg Cubase Pro might be considered the best music-making software.

To get the most out of your chosen software, you’ll need a reliable and powerful laptop. Consider the HP Pavilion Laptop 14-dv2015TU, which offers excellent performance for music production with its Intel® Core™ i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM. For those needing more power, the HP OMEN 40.9 cm (16.1) Gaming Laptop 16-wf1096TX provides top-tier performance with its high-end processor and ample storage, perfect for handling resource-intensive music production tasks.

Whatever your music production needs, there’s a software solution and an HP laptop to help you create your next masterpiece. Happy producing!