The BEST Free Music Tools for Beginners
In this feature I’m going to share with you the BEST free music production tools for beginners.
There’s a good mix of stuff in here that I think you’ll find really useful and the best part is that they won’t cost you a single penny.
Watch the full video feature below:
Klanghelm
Klanghelm are well known for creating great sounding and fairly priced plugins for desktop.
Their MJUC Variable Tube compressor is particular popular and with good reason. I have it, it’s banging and well worth the £25 I paid for it.
They also have several free effects that You really should check out, most notably the MJUC jr.
MJUC jr. is the little brother of the MJUC compressor I just mentioned.
It’s a variable-tube design with lots of vibe, capable of smooth leveling but also heavy pumping effects. With its two gain stages and interstage transformer simulation it offers a very deep and lively soundstage. If you want a compressor that’ll add a bit more character to your audio than GarageBand’s stock compressor, then this is the plugin for you.
Klanghelm offer their IVGI saturation plugin and DC1a compressor for free as well. While I think the MJUC jr is the standout here, the others are well worth adding to your plugin arsenal too.
Find Klanghelm’s free tools here: Klanghelm.com
Izotope Ozone Imager
Control the width of any track, perfect for making super-wide sounds or creating narrow, mono-like sources. Make your pianos, synths, and cymbals fill up your stereo image, or tighten up your low end by narrowing bass and kick drums! Izotope’s Ozone Imager also sounds great on the master track, adding width and depth to any project.
It comes with three different vector-scope meters that help check your stereo width and see if your left and right channels are lining up properly. Version 2 adds the stereoize function, which can turn mono into stereo, with no need for reverb or doubling. Use the new stereoize II mode for subtle enhancement, or stereoize I for a colorful phasing effect.
Giving you a wee taste of the kind of features that the Full Ozone mastering plugin offer, Ozone imager stands on it’s own as a must-download music tool in its own right.
Get Ozone Imager here: Izotope Ozone Imager
Spitfire LABS
Spitfire LABS is essential.
I won’t go into too much detail as i’ve made multiple videos about it in the past, but it’s just incredible.
At the time of this video there are 28 free instruments available that range from soft and subtle piano , to airy synth pads, weird atmospheric layers and everything in between. Go and get it!
Get Spitfire LABS here: Spitfire LABS
Komplete Start
Komplete start is a massive free production suite from native instruments. Using the free Komplete control plugin you’ll get access to over 2000 studio quality sounds including drums and percussion, bass, acoustic instruments, synths, pads and atmospheres, effects, and more.
You’ll also get your hands on 16 pro-grade synths and sampled instruments, plus effects, loops, and samples to boot.
A fantastic introduction to the world of Native Instruments, there are more than enough sonic goodies here to keep you busy for days, weeks and beyond.
Find Komplete Start here: Komplete Start
SLAPS
Finally, Slaps is a brand new Platform from the folks at Distrokid that essentially emulates Soundcloud, or rather the glory days of Soundcloud, before it became a hollow, souless, profit driven parody of itself…
Distrokid have really nailed the fundamentals of how a site like this should work.
Users are encouraged to cultivate a balanced comment to track ratio, with the tantalizing prospect of having your tracks featured on Slap’s homepage if your CTR is high enough. This results in most tracks getting a ton of comments and feedback.
They’ve just introduced Groups to the platform which are not only a great way to hear the genre of music you’re into but interact and mingle with other likeminded creators.
Slaps has seen exponential growth since launch and seems to be growing by the day.
Check out SLAPS.com here: SLAPS.com
