Is there any free music creation software available?

The topic title explains it. I would like to be able to create music, or at least try, but I don't want to spend money on a program because I'm afraid I won't like it or just won't get how to use it effectively. Does anyone know of any free programs I can create music in?

Linux MultiMedia studio is awesmoe.
Its still in beta though, so there might be a few bugs in it. I didn't see any when I tried it tough, so you should be alright.

There's plenty. ModPlug Tracker, MilkyTracker... um... hey, isn't there a topic covering this already? There was, at least.

EDIT: Apparently there isn't one on the new forum. Also, musicshake is a good program for people who don't have enough patience to use trackers and the like, but most of the songs end up being quite similar, unless you go totally nuts on the thing. Then they're just slightly similar.

Linux MultiMedia studio is awesmoe.
Its still in beta though, so there might be a few bugs in it. I didn't see any when I tried it tough, so you should be alright.

I personally don't like lmms. My songs were literally the same.

PXtone.

What sort of music are you interested in making?

I want to make quiet, nature-like ambient music for Knytt stories. I tried out lmms and figured it out fairly quickly, but it dosen't have the kind of sounds i'm looking for. I'm sure I can get them elsewhere on the internet though.

Quote from: Razzorman on August 11, 2009, 07:46:40

Linux MultiMedia studio is awesmoe.
Its still in beta though, so there might be a few bugs in it. I didn't see any when I tried it tough, so you should be alright.

I personally don't like lmms. My songs were literally the same.

That has got less to do with lmms and more to do with you. The software doesn't make the music, you do.

Well i think i worded that wrong.
I meant they sounded the same because they all had the same sound samples 
I can make good music with other programs but lmms isn't really my type.
Ive seen very good things done with it! 

You can use what I'm using for years.

MODPlug Tracker. Its free, has a good tutorial to get you started (yeah, I wrote that one ) and a very good and helpfull community.

OpenMPT is one of the best free music programs there is. It can be made portable and is open source too, has support for VST effects and VST instruments. (samples too ofcource)

I used to use OpenMPT, but now I use LMMS.

If it 'doesn't have the kind of sounds you're looking for', have a look for some free VST instruments, or find some SoundFont files in the style you''re looking for and use those.

And if you don't want it to sound the same, don't use default sound samples

Seriously, LMMS can make just about anything. You should try OpenMPT too though- you may prefer it.

If you have a Mac...
GarageBand FTW!!!!
and it comes free with your computer WOOT!
and it comes with heaps of default clips WOOOOT!
and you can record straight fram the aux-in port on your computer WOOOOOOOOOOT!
and you can download clips other people made WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!
[pants]huff-puff[/pants] that was one loong sentence!

I have Windows Vista. Thanks for the advice though.

Some free sound software:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/  and  http://www.reaper.fm/

Maybe  http://www.freesound.org/  would be useful for making atmospheres

Many people would suggest trackers, however, I'm not a huge fan of those.
I find them to be very time-consuming for larger projects.

I'd recommend Audacity (mentioned above) for a free recording and mixing program, but don't expect to be blown away.

If you really want to get into music making, you're going to want to get a quality program. And there's always demos.
I personally love Reason, and find it to be one of the most useful, time saving, and learnable programs out there. But since this is a "free" topic, I won't delve more into it.
Reason demo (it's the full program, but saving and exporting is disabled.): http://www.propellerheads.se/download/

Also, here's one of my fave freebie VSTs (a VST is a virtual instrument, in case you didn't know) . You'll need a VST host to run it (which can be downloaded here), but can export into MIDI (which can be imported and edited by Audacity.) http://www.amvst.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=39
VSTs are good tools, and there's a lot of em out there. This one has over 200 presets (instruments) on it, so it could keep ya busy for a while. (I like number 8.) If you have any more questions on VSTs, feel free to PM me.