However, the program isn’t for everyone. It’s a professional-grade program that can be difficult for new users to master. Other users might not want to pay a premium subscription if they’re just using the tools as a hobby or mixing one or two tracks. I downloaded and tested more than a dozen digital audio editors and recorders to find the best free alternative to Avid Pro Tools. My goal was to find completely free programs, but it didn’t take long to see that most free programs don’t have the features I needed. Some just claimed to be free but required a subscription to access any of the features, and others used outdated technology that crashed my computer or installed malware on it. Therefore, I included programs with free trials so that you can get started without having to make a purchase. Magix Sound Forge was the best alternative I found. It’s a relatively easy program to use with powerful tools for recording, editing, and mastering audio files. You can try Magix Sound Forge free for 30 days, and you’ll get unlimited access to all the tools you need to mix, enhance, and produce your audio files. Download Magix Sound Forge for Free!
Quick Guide: The 3 Best Avid Pro Tools Alternatives in 2023
What I Look for in a Free Avid Pro Tools Alternative
If I’m going to switch from Avid Pro Tools to a free alternative, I need to ensure that I can still complete my mixing and recording projects. Therefore, I was looking for these factors:
Professional Grade Tools: I need a full range of features to get the job done. The software needs multiple tracks, so I can add multiple elements and adjust the levels, so it sounds good. Compatible with Third-Party Extension: Plug-ins and extensions extend the software’s capability, making it more powerful. These extensions can give me access to advanced editing tools, new mix options, remastering tracks, instruments, and sound effects. Ease of Use: Each program has a different setup and style, so a quick tutorial should be enough to get me started. Free or REAL Free Trial: I included free trials in my list on the condition that I could activate the trial without using my credit card. This way, I can work on my projects and produce professional-level digital audio files for free.
5 Best Free Avid Pro Tools Alternative with Similar Features
1. Magix Sound Forge: Powerful DAW with 32 Channels for Recording and Editing
With more than 30 years of experience in the audio and music editing industry, Magix Sound Forge has built a reputation as a reliable and comprehensive platform. Most of the Sound Forge features can be divided into three categories: The latest version of Sound Forge has some excellent features that can help you take your music and audio files to the next level. The modernEQ tool gives you the flexibility to customize the sound to match your style. The precision editor works in real-time, so you can sample the sound before moving on to the next track. Another tool is modernReverb. It has customizable presets for creating the reverb effect while maintaining the high-quality sound with all your audio files. There is also an updated resampling engine that gives the option to mix and master your files with an easy-to-use tool. The engine is compatible with a wide selection of codecs and files. Magix has a 30-day free trial of its latest version of Sound Forge. This should give you plenty of time to edit and produce your first few audio projects and test all the premium features. Download Magix Sound Forge for Free!
2. FL Studio: Tools to Compose, Mix, Edit, and Master Music
The FL Studio software transitioned from a basic Musical Instrument Digital Interfaces (MIDI) sequencer to an all-in-one digital audio workstation (DAW). The intuitive soundboard mixer is touch-friendly, which is a nice feature if you’re working from a tablet or a computer with a touchscreen. It has an intuitive layout with the instruments, media files, and preset sounds docked on the left side of the mixing board. Next to them is a Channel Rack, where you can add effects and sounds, such as drums, bass, treble, and more. FL Studio can handle up to 500 tracks for each project. You can add and mix all types of instruments, recordings, beats, and sound effects. The software comes with built-in instruments, such as the piano, bass, and chords, so you can add new music, create loops, and make presets. Each of the instruments has a full complement of mixing tools, so you can edit them to your liking. There are hundreds of plug-ins that you can download to increase the functionality of the FL Studio. One of my favorites is the Effector. It simplifies the process of adding sound effects to the tracks by creating grids. Another popular plug-in is the Soundgoodizer. It adds a dial to the soundboard to quickly adjust the sound through four frequency ranges. You can download FL Studio and activate an unlimited free trial, although you won’t have access to some of the premium features.
3. Audacity: Multi-Track Editing Board
While Audacity doesn’t have the same professional-level mixing board and features as Magix Sound Forge, it’s a good option for recording and editing audio files. The software is very easy to use and has all the tools you need to splice, cut, and move segments of the audio file. There are also tools for adjusting the levels, frequencies, adding or removing bass, and the overall volume. I also isolated some recurring background noise, and Audacity removed it for me, which did a great job cleaning up the finished product. Audacity doesn’t have native support for MP4 files. So if you want to import the audio for an MP4, you will need to download a plug-in. Audacity not only edits audio files, but you can record directly to the soundboard. You can use a microphone or record the sounds directly from your computer or tablet. Monitor and adjust the levels in real-time, and then you can edit the recording before final production. Audacity is a free, open-source software, although not all of the plug-ins are free.
4. Cubase: Create, Mix, and Produce Audio Tracks
Cubase is a flexible DAW that has the basic tools needed to edit and produce digital audio files. It’s compatible with most audio file formats and works with RAW files. If you have a file that’s not compatible, you can probably find a plug-in that makes it possible to work with the file. For such a complex program, Cubase is actually pretty easy to use. It allows you to edit both regular audio tracks and MIDI. The software has virtual instruments that you can record to add some different sounds to your tracks, and you can adjust the level, treble, bass, and volume of the recording to fit with the other tracks seamlessly. Cubase has an audio alignment feature. It uses AI to analyze multiple tracks and ensure that they are in sync. This checks both the volume and levels and prevents empty spaces between tracks that would create an empty space. The MixConsole History tracks all changes to the tracks, which makes it easier to undo an edit or revert the levels if you don’t like the way to track sound. While there is no long-term free option, you can download Cubase and activate a free 30-day trial and test the software for yourself.
5. VirtualDJ: Auto Sync, Cue, and Broadcast Your Audio Files
VirtualDJ has four customizable layouts, so you’re sure to find a layout that meets your expectations. The music mixing software is designed to look like a two deck console and has all the necessary features for recording and mixing beats. Once the music is ready, you can preload playlists, add samplers, and schedule songs or clips to play at a predetermined time. In addition to playing music, you can edit musical tracks with VirtualDJ. It has built-in sound effects like a siren, air horn, explosions, cheering crowds, and more. The platform is compatible with third-party plug-ins to add tons of extra features. It also has an extensive library of songs, beats, and instrumentals that you can mix into your music. I was impressed with the integrated search engine that made it easy to find the tunes I needed. The VirtualDJ free version is limited to two decks instead of the four-deck premium option.
When Avid Pro Tools isn’t for You…
Avid Pro Tools is one of the leading DAW tools. However, it’s not for everyone. I found some good alternatives throughout my testing that have the tools needed to get the job done.
If you want to record and edit audio tracks, Magix Sound Forge has a full range of features. The professional software has 32 channels, and the audio editor is professional-grade. Try it free for 30-days. If you need a lot of editing tracks, try FL Studio. You can add up to 500 tracks, and integrate musical instruments to make it easy to create presets, samplers, and effects.
Is Magix Sound Forge free?
Magix sound Forge has a limited free version. If it’s not enough for your needs, you can upgrade to the premium plan and take advantage of the 30-day free trial – no credit card required. The free trial begins when you download the software and should give you enough time to try the advanced features and begins editing and producing your audio files.
Does Magix Sound Forge have a multi-track editing board?
The Magix Sound Forge editing board has the editing features needed for everyone from amateurs to professionals. The editing board has 32 channels, and it is compatible with all types of audio media formats. You can adjust the levels, add effects, and edit each track separately. It’s important to download the latest version of Sound Forge to ensure you have all the updated features.
What is better, Sound Forge or Avid Pro Tools?
Sound Forge and Pro Tool are both highly rated DAWs with professional-level editing and recording features. Each program has some things that it does better than the other, but at the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either one. If you’re looking for an alternative to Avid Pro Tools, get a free 30-day trial of Sound Forge and you can start editing, recording, and mixing your audio and music files. Download Magix Sound Forge for Free!
