Best Free Audio Recording Software

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.

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.
And more! See the complete list of features.

Kristal Audio Engine is a powerful multi-track recorder, audio sequencer and mixer - ideal for anyone wanting to get started with recording, mixing and mastering digital audio.

It is designed as a modular system. The main application provides a mixing console, while the audio sequencer, live audio input and so on are loaded as separate Plug-Ins.

Features

16 audio tracks
32 Bit floating point audio engine
44.1 to 192 kHz sample rate*
Downmix to 16/24/32 Bit audio files
3-band parametric EQ &
2 VST insert slots per channel
3 VST master effect slots
ASIO low latency audio driver support
4 KRISTAL Plug-In slots
Load/Save KRISTAL project files
Supported file formats: WAVE, AIFF, FLAC, OGG Vorbis

Quartz AudioMaster Freeware will allow you to record, edit, mix, share and deliver your productions driving a fully integrated 4 tracks digital mixer, recorder, sound and time line editor in perfect synch with a 16 tracks MIDI sequencer.

Features

4 audio tracks
1 Audio Inputs (2 channels)
1 Audio Ouputs (2 channels)
16/24 bits / 32->44.1 Khz sample rate
2 Aux Buses
Quartz Plug-in Support
4 Quartz Plug-ins supplied
Stereo Delay
Chorus
Phaser
Reverb

Per-track fixed frequency 3 band EQ
Mixdown to stereo file
Mpeg 3 Decoder
Compressed Compiled Sequence/Track import
Compressed Compiled Sequence/Track export on option
Juke Box
Video File Sync
Karaoke lyrics viewer
Spacialization display
Navigator

Anvil Studio is a free Windows Vista(32-bit)/XP/2000/ME/98/95 program designed for people who want to:

Record music with MIDI and Audio equipment
Compose music for MIDI and Audio equipment
Sequence music with MIDI equipment or
Play with music using a computer and sound card.

Features

Editors: Staff, Lyrics, Piano Roll, Drum, Loops, Audio, Events.
File formats: standard .MID and .WAV files.
Includes extensive integrated help.
Piano Roll / Rhythm editor
Per-track On/Mute/Solo, device, instrument, channel, fader, pan, and effects controls.
Record audio tracks from any sound card's Mono, Left, Right or Stereo channels, from any soundcard source including Microphone, Line-In, CD-Audio, etc.
Audio effects: native reverb, native EQ, third-party DirectX effects.
Sequencing as MIDI Master or Slave
Unlimited number of MIDI Tracks.
And many more! See the complete list of features

Cantabile Lite is a lightweight version of the full retail version of Cantabile. It has no nagscreens, is not crippled in anyway and is completely free.
Cantabile is a simple, easy-to-use VST host, MIDI recorder/sequencer and audio recorder. Designed primarily for real-time playing of virtual instruments and effects, Cantabile includes an optimized audio engine to minimize system load and reduce audio drop outs.

Features

Simple, powerful real-time VST host.
Supports VST instruments, audio effects and MIDI effects.
Plugins are arranged in to racks for easy but flexible way of connecting plugins.
Highly optimized audio engine.
Support for ASIO and DirectSound audio drivers.
Support for MMX and SSE CPU instructions.

Ok, you have your recording software installed on your computer, now what. You need a way to get sound into the program.

You need some sort of soundcard or audio interface, a microphone and a microphone pre-amplifier. Most computers have very basic soundcards built in that you can plug a computer microphone into, but these tend to be very limited. However, they will work to get a signal to the program if you just want to play around. I strongly recommend that you upgrade once you decide that you want better sounding recordings and the option to record more than one thing at a time.

I have had great success with my M-audio card that I have (the
M-Audio Delta 66), that is why I am recommending M-Audio.

For a desktop computer this PCI card would be a great starter soundcard.

M-Audio's Audiophile 2496 card is the latest addition to its highly successful Delta family of soundcards. The Audiophile 2496 is an all-in-one high fidelity soundcard solution for a wide variety of applications, ranging from multi-track recording to computer-based home theatre. Click on the picture for more info.




This thing is all you would need to record your guitar on a laptop or desktop over USB. You can also plug a microphone directly into it.

M-Audio Fast Track USB Audio Interface with GT Player Express Software If you make music with GarageBand or other software recording programs, Fast Track USB is the easiest way to record your guitar with professional results. Just connect Fast Track USB to the USB port of your computer and you're ready to rock. Fast Track USB has an input for instruments like guitar, bass and keyboards, plus a microphone input for recording vocals or other acoustic sounds. The included GT Player Express software gives you killer effects and virtual stomp boxes so you don't need any other gear to sound great. GT Player Express also plays standard audio files like AAC, MP3 and WAV that let you learn and jam along with your favorite music at variable speeds. Fast Track USB is the easy and professional way to add guitar, vocals, and more to your computer music experience.




If you have firewire on your computer, this will work great. Like the Fast Track, you can plug a guitar or microphone directly into it.

M-Audio Firewire Solo Audio Interface The FireWire Solo is designed from the ground up as an easy-to-use, high-quality interface for songwriters to record guitars, vocals and more on the computer. Compatible with most popular music software, this compact bus-powered unit is small enough to go anywhere you want to take your music. In addition to the 1/4 in. guitar input right on the front panel, a professional XLR microphone input also lets you record vocals and acoustic instruments. There are also dual line inputs for effects, drum machines and other outboard gear. FireWire connectivity, up to 24-bit/96kHz sample rate support and digital I/O all add up to outstanding sonic performance. As simple to connect and operate as it is powerful, FireWire Solo is the foundation of your computer-based songwriting studio.




Check out the full range of audio interfaces at Zzounds by clicking here.

This one is an industry standard, not to mention a very good performer in the studio.


For more than 40 years, Shure's SM58 has been the "go-to" microphone for musicians, producers, and sound-engineers around the world. No other mic in your arsenal can match its legendary reputation for great sound and rugged dependability. The Shure SM58 is a unidirectional (cardioid) dynamic vocal microphone designed for professional vocal use in sound reinforcement and studio recording.




A perfect large diameter condenser for the home studio.

The Anniversary Model NT1-A is a complete redesign of the now legendary NT1 classic studio microphone. From the new nickel-plated body to the state-of-the-art surface mount electronic circuitry, the NT1-A will leave you asking "how can RODE offer a microphone that sounds this good, for so little money?" It takes advantage of the huge RODE investment in advanced large scale manufacturing allowing premium performance, durability, consistency, and construction at a price that anyone can afford.




These come as a matched pair and are great for acoustic guitar.

These Behringer C2 professional condenser microphones for studio recording and live applications have all the big-time features packed in an extremely compact form factor. They are sold as a matched pair -- perfect for stereophonic recording -- for a price you wouldn't even consider it bought you a single one.





Check out the full range of microphones at Zzounds by clicking here.