Audio Recording Software
Only a few years ago you needed thousands of dollars to create an audio recording studio. Now you can do it nearly for free. Of course there are many limitations with the audio recording software and you will soon discover the need to upgrade to better programs like Protools, Propellorhead Reason, Cubase, Cakewalk and Logic Pro.
Yet for someone creating their first audio recording studio there is free software available that will do the job – often very well. Amazingly, some very good audio recording software is available free to download. Here we present the best free audio recording programs available.
Audacity tops the list!
Audacity
Audacity is a cross-platform digital audio editor and recording application. It was created by Dominic Mazzoni while he was a student at Carnegie Mellon University. Mazzoni now works at Google. Audacity is free and open source. You can use Audacity to:
- Record live audio.
- Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
- Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files.
- Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
- Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
You can Cut, Copy and Paste with unlimited Undo, mix tracks and apply effects to your tracks. There is a built-in amplitude envelope editor, a spectrogram and frequency analysis window for audio analysis. Built-in effects include Echo, Tempo Change, and Noise Removal. VST plug-in effects are supported.
Audacity works on actual audio, and has no midi features.
Krystal Audio Engine
Kristal Audio Engine is another a free audio recording software package for multi-track recording.
- 16 audio tracks
- 32 Bit floating point audio engine
- 44.1 to 192 kHz sample rate
- 3-band parametric EQ
- 2 VST insert slots per channel
- 3 VST master effect slots
- ASIO low latency audio driver support
- 4 KRISTAL PlugIn slots
You can connect your guitar and play through KRISTAL using VST effects in realtime. For MIDI, look elsewhere.
Check the KRISTAL User Forum where users meet to share KRISTAL Audio recording tips and problem solving.
Freecorder
- Records what you hear from your speakers.
- Saves audio recordings as MP3 files.
- You can also record from the microphone or line-in inputs on your PC.
On the website you can see a video of Freecorder in action. An incredibly useful little utility.
The GarageDoor is an excellent site about HOME RECORDING for users of both Mac and PC software. It is full of tips about live recording, effects, loops, finding free loops, etc. Check it out:
Home Gear Loops Instruments Live recording Editing & Mixing
Quartz Audio Master 
QuartzAudio Master is a free 4 audio track software programme with a 16 track midi sequencer. Only has delay, reverb, phaser and chorus but supports Quartz plug-ins. You can purchase more audio tracks and it has excellent guides to learn how to use the recording software. Quartz has its limitations as audio software but is useful to lay down a few audio/midi tracks with basic effects.
Anvil Studio
Anvil Studio is a multi-track audio and midi recording program with support for loops, lyrics and sheetmusic. It has only a basic interface and is best for midi recording and editing (unlimited tracks), as you only get a one minute audio track with the freeware version. Upgrade to eight audio tracks for $19.
FREE Hi-Q Recorder 
FREE Hi-Q Recorder records streaming audio, Internet radio, webcasts, music, meetings, classes, DVD sound, convert LP’s, records, tapes and a lot more. It outputs any sound source directly to MP3. The MP3 quality can be adjusted by selecting the Bitrate and stereo or mono. Hi-Q Recorder can also be used as a universal audio or video sound file converter.
The MP3-only format makes it of limited value for serious recording, but ideal for podcasting and for use with iPods and other portable MP3 players.
Like all Software4free.org‘s recommendations, Hi-Q Recorder is 100% free and has no time limits on recording. There is an upgrade available for high end recording for US $29.95