So I've recently gotten really into music production, problem is I can't find any decent free music making software anywhere. I tried fruity loops and was more confused then anything, I'm familiar with Cubase but can only use version 5 or lower - which is agonizingly hard to find a trial version of - as I'm on XP. I was wondering if anyone either had a link to a trial of Cubase 5 or a good alternative?

Quote from bubbles

So I've recently gotten really into music production, problem is I can't find any decent free music making software anywhere.

not to be that guy, but I popped that phrase word-for-word into google and the first two results were lists of music production freeware (16 programs total) along with product descriptions, plus a link to cnet with 1,600+ downloads related to music production/editing and a blog with categorized links to literally everything you need to get started


cubase and other steinberg products require a USB dongle for authentication, including trials, and it looks like the Cubase 5 trial hasn't been available for years. the URL to the trial version is just a 404 page now. that's why you can't find one.

I don't know what kind of music you want to make, why you found FL Studio confusing (it's widely regarded as the most accessible DAW for new/amateur producers) or what you mean by a "good alternative" to cubase 5 (FL fits that description, so does any other standard DAW) so if you're looking for personal suggestions, I'd be happy to help, but I have no idea what it is you're looking for or why you can't find it based off of what you wrote.


as a general suggestion, you should join a music production forum, or at least look through their resource/help sections. in those forums this kind of thread is their equivalent of "what program do you use to animate stick figures?" and any halfway decent community will have everything you're looking for. if there's anything else you need, feel free to ask, especially if it's related to FL studio. oh and sorry if this sounded crass. I'm at work and rushing through this.

Thanks man, that really clears up the whole issue on Cubase. I think the million bells and whistles in FL studio flabbergasted me, like I said I'm completely new to the whole music production thing; I'll definitely read through the blog and pick up what I can, it looks extremely useful. Like I said, thanks and uh...sorry for being a bit of a dunce xD

how bout reaper?