I want to start producing music.

[Muslim]

I've been listening to the Alchemist and instrumentals for a while now, and I figured now was the time I stepped up to the plate and made something that wasn't stuff, like on my SoundCloud. Something along the lines of the instrumental to this. I am on a strict budget, no money, on a Mac, all I've got is Garage Band. Anyone got any ideas/free software I could use to start out?

[Ad Bot]

[BluetoothBoy]

This may sound weird, but... GarageBand. Find some good plugins/synths that are compatible (for example, look up a neat one called Automat), and start messing around.

[.:FancyPants:.]

under no attempt would i like to steal OP's thunder but if anyone could also toss in a few non-free options that they might consider the best, that'd be nice

[ßlöükfáce]

You don't have any money at all?

[danisaac5]

under no attempt would i like to steal OP's thunder but if anyone could also toss in a few non-free options that they might consider the best, that'd be nice

Cubase Elements 7. Affordable, yet professional. Costs about £80, I don't know what that is in dollars.I use it and it's great, gonna link one of my songs here for reference.
Link: http://soundcloud.com/dan-fretwell-1/icebreaker

[foulprairiedog]

Costs about £80, I don't know what that is in dollars.

website says it's $99.99!
... so pretty much a hundred.

[danisaac5]

website says it's $99.99!
... so pretty much a hundred.

As music production software goes, something decent like Cubase 7 for $100 is nothing compared to the studio versions of the likes of Cubase, Reason and I think, Fruityloops which can all cost upward of $400 if I remember correctly.

[crythor]

This guy looks like he could produce some music

[Dragonslayer182]

Bump because I'm also interested

[BluetoothBoy]

This may sound weird, but... GarageBand. Find some good plugins/synths that are compatible (for example, look up a neat one called Automat), and start messing around.

Wow, completely ignored, ok...

Also, since some people think you need to spend money, and you say you have none, take a look at REAPER - its trial version has no limits and doesn't run out, so you can just purchase the $60 license when you're ready.

Another free alternative is http://audiotool.com. It's one of the things I got started on, plus it has a great community built in. Oh, and did I mention completely free?

[Nonnel]

This guy looks like he could produce some music

those look like instrument lockers behind him.

[lolz??]

This may sound weird, but... GarageBand

[Muslim]

what

Wow, completely ignored, ok...

Also, since some people think you need to spend money, and you say you have none, take a look at REAPER - its trial version has no limits and doesn't run out, so you can just purchase the $60 license when you're ready.

Another free alternative is http://audiotool.com. It's one of the things I got started on, plus it has a great community built in. Oh, and did I mention completely free?

I didn't ignore you, actually. Thanks for the information about both GarageBand, and that REAPER sounds good. Audiotool looks amazing, and I'm going to try it it out today. 

[Muslim]

Oh yeah Audiotool is perfect, but how do I save songs that I have recorded? I don't know where it saves.

[Caribou]

It costs a lot of money, but I recommend Logic Pro. No other music producing software is comparable to it.