REAPER (Rapid Environment for Audio Prototyping and Efficient Recording) is a powerful but sensible Windows application that lets you record, arrange, edit, and render multi-track waveform audio. REAPER provides an extensive set of features, but is a very small and lightweight application as the installer is less than 1 megabyte, and includes many effects and a sample project.

Basic features:

• Supports ASIO, Kernel Streaming, WaveOut, DirectSound for playback and recording
• Reads WAV, OGG, and MP3 files, records WAV files
• Lets you arrange any number of items in any number of tracks
• Supports audio processing plug-ins (DirectX and Jesusonic)
• Volume, pan controls and envelopes per track
• Multi-layer undo/redo support
• User creatable color themes

Advanced features:

• Unlimited bus support with collapsable bus views
• Item grouping
• Selection length granularity to ease in loop cutting
• An architecture that allows you to easily cut loops of many tracks simultaneously
• Support for plug-in generated media
• 64-bit floating point sample pipeline for high quality
• Advanced recording and monitoring options
• Options to build peaks for recorded files on the fly
• Controls for the user to specify where recorded files go
• Template support to make it easy to load a project template
• Input channel name aliasing

Download REAPER 2.55 in Softonic

The music world has truly been revolutionized by the use of software, and nowadays you'll find a plethora of application to help you from production to recording, mixing and playback.

UltraMixer, as the name suggests, is a mixing program aimed at DJs. Fitted with two channels a mixer and library, it allows you to store your tracks and play them consecutively, adjusting sound settings along the way.

I found the interface pretty clear, if not a little dull, yet first time DJs will probably find it handy to get grips with the different elements. Use of typical features like the crossfader, equalizer or cue are just like you would expect on a regular mixer.

The library is well organized in a tree structure, and allows you to keep all your different tracks the way you're most comfortable with.

If there is one big turnoff, according to me, it's the installation process. I found it way too long and suspect that it's intended to encourage you of going for the more advanced, and more expensive versions of UltraMixer. Effectively you'll find there is only one file to download, which contains all three versions: professional, basic and free. You'll need a key to activate the demo, and the process just takes even more time.

If the installation wasn't so complicated, I'd recommend UltraMixer as a good all around mixer for aspiring DJs. However for now I'd recommend turning to other programs.

Download UltraMixer Free 2.3.4 in Softonic

Music Makers fall into two categories for me - inspirational and a pleasure to use or cluttered and down right depressing.

Music Maker 14 is one of the better efforts on the market containing so many features that it's almost impossible to go through them in depth. However, this is no bad thing because many of the features are a little overkill but the basics are so easy to get to grips with, you'll be making sweet music in minutes. The program works with sixteen tracks laid out at the top of the screen although you can only see six at one time. You can drag and drop music samples from the soundbar into any track, and building a basic tune is simply a matter of picking out some drum, guitar, bass and keyboard samples. Then just add some special effects and the tunes you create will really impress. To get the mix and pitch of your composition right, there's a list of pitches labelled one to seven from where you can experiment and make it sound pitch perfect. On the left of the track, you'll find a panel which allows you to adjust the overall beats per and apply effects such as those simulated by a guitar pedal.

Overall, this one of the most powerful and fun music makers out there and if you can't make decent music on it, then try another hobby.

Download MAGIX Music Maker 14 (UK) in Softonic

If you're throwing a party at home and would like to have some nice background music without having to pay an expensive DJ, this tool is what you need.

Zulu DJ is a free music mixing app that will enable you to perform as a professional DJ by yourself, just with the help of your computer and using your favorite songs. To be honest, the program is not the most complete DJ tool I've ever seen (meaning, don't expect it to be remotely similar to Virtual DJ, for example). However Zulu DJ is an excellent choice for beginners and DJ newbies who prefer an easy-to-use tool to a feature-ridden mixer that they can hardly use at all.

The program includes two main tracks to load the songs you want to mix, plus a series of sound effects you can apply on the go. It works with MP3 – among other formats - and supports drag-and-dropping of files, which makes it really handy. I especially liked the automatic BPM synchronization and the possibility to "preview" a song only through earphones before actually mixing it with the one on air. Just be aware that Zulu DJ is meant to mix music live and does not record your mixes.

With Zulu DJ you can give your first steps as DJ and easily mix your favorite songs. It may however fall short of expectations for more experienced DJs.

Download Zulu DJ 1.00 in Softonic

If you need to mix two music tracks, or maybe you have a baseline and you would like to add your voice on it, try this easy to use mixer which lets you move, cut andmix all the tracks you need.

By simply dropping the audio files into the time table display, you will see a wave display of your music, one per channel. Once you have all your files loaded, try to move them in the timeline, to cut and move the bits or to apply radio, add more bass, club sound mode and flanger effects.

If you feel like to sing your favourite song and you wish to record your voice, give it a try with the function provided in Easy audio mixer. Although the application claims to remove voices from any song, so that you can add your voice, it didn't quite work with me. The final effect was just the original song with a lower volume. The program also fails to resize the frame as you need. This can be really annoying when you are working with more than two channels and you need to move tracks on the timetable.

Whether what you need is to mix a song with a base, or you want to sing and add your voice to the original track, give Easy audio mixer a try, although you will soon find some usability issues.

Download Easy audio mixer 1.0 in Softonic

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a DJ, or you like to put together mixes you can share with your friends, then Pacemaker Editor can awaken the DJ inside you.

This simple to use music mixer allows you to record songs in the way you want them so if you don't like an intro or bassline, you can change it to make it exactly the way you want them. You view your song in a timeline like with a classical editor. You can drag and drop transitions such as fade in and fade out, add loops, reverb etc. The good thing is that any mixes that you create can also be transferred to other tracks and vice versa. The editing interface is extremely simple - it will be a bit too simple for some that are accustomed to multi track editors - but it's to make it accessible to everyone. When you've made your creation, simply upload it to the Pacemaker.net web community and let others decide exactly how good you are. At the moment, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of users but this will surely change as it becomes more popular. Note that to share songs also requires you to sign-up which is a bit annoying although it doesn't take too long.

An interesting way to debut as a DJ on the internet but experienced editors and music fans may be disappointed.

Download Pacemaker Editor 1.0.2.7581 in Softonic

I'm not a professional DJ at all – not even an amateur one – but I can still appreciate a good DJing tool when it comes to my hands.

Ots Turntables Free is a basic yet fully featured DJ application with which you can have your very own DJ sessions at home. Feeling creative? Mix your two favorite songs and create a unique blending with the software mixing capabilities. Throwing a party? Spice it up with your most lively songs, mixed together in a continuous loop.

The good thing about Ots Turntables Free is that it's loads of fun, even for those o us who have almost no experience in mixing music. The program's intuitive interface, designed just like a real double turntable, makes it very easy to use: you can adjust the volume, speed and tempo of each sound source, and even make some scratching effects by dragging the turntable with your mouse. Plus, the program features a couple of samples to get you started but you can easily add your own MP3 files.

On the downside, however, this free version of Ots Turntables has been slightly crippled to keep some of the extra tools for the Pro version. While I understand this decision, I find that some limitations, such as not being able to record your mixes, are a bit too restrictive.

Even if you're not a professional DJ, you can have lots of fun with Ots Turntables Free. However, its basic functionality may disappoint more experienced users.

Download Ots Turntables Free 1.00.027 in Softonic

Audio mixers tend to be complicated tools that only those with some mixing skills and music knowledge can really take full advantage of their features. But now you have TrakAxPC, a mixing app for both audio and video files that everyone can use.

The program displays a slick interface, perfectly organized in different areas: a media browser, a video preview window and also special tools dedicated to edit and mix audio loops. The first time you launch the program you'll be able to play a sample mix, which, along with some useful tooltips displayed on the interface's right side, are a great help to get you started. The only drawback to this interface would be that the actual working space is too small and makes it a bit uncomfortable to use.

TrakAxPC includes some audio loops that you can use in your musical creations, but sadly no video loops. In any case, you can buy new loops online from the program itself or rip certain fragments from your music CDs with TrakAxPC's built-in ripper.

An excellent audio and video mixer, with great tools for advanced users but also easy enough for everyone to use.

Download TrakAxPC 2.0.108 in Softonic

n-Track Studio 4 is an Audio & MIDI Digital Multitrack Recorder that transforms your PC into a powerful audio recording studio. You can record, playback, overdub just like with a tape multitrack recorder, but you can exploit the flexibility and power of today's PCs for applying effects, realtime input processing, automated aux channels sends and returns, destructive and non-destructive wave editing. The program supports 24bit-192 khz recording, multiple channels soundcards, live input processing, CD burning, mp3 encoding and much more.

Download N-track Studio 5.1.1 Build 2306 in Softonic

Being the owner of two turntables, I enjoy playing my records and creating my own mixes. Don't get me wrong though, I limit myself purely to the bedroom dj experience, and I'm quite happy with it. I bought my turntables nearly 6 years ago, and in that small time span it's interesting how the MP3 has made them close to obsolete. Nowadays the majority of DJs, carry their tracks around on laptops and mix with sophisticated applications like Virtual DJ. These offer all the classic characteristics of a mixer and turntables but usually add sampler-like effects and loops to customize your set.

With Virtual DJ, you can do all your djing on your PC. Drag and drop your tracks from your music database to the turntables. Adjust the sound levels, synchronize the songs by adjusting pitch, smoothly drag the cross fader to create the transition between the tracks and set high, mid and low to ensure that your mix is flowing. If you don't want to worry about your transitions, press the auto mix button and let Virtual DJ do all the work for you.

What makes Virtual DJ exciting to aspiring DJs are the sample loops and jingles you can spontaneously add to your mix. Drag and drop effects like backspin, flippin double and brake to play around with the tracks. Bring in loops to add a rhythm or melody to the music. If you know how to introduce and time these effects well, you can really turn the set to your own flavour and create your own signature sound.

Virtual DJ also lets novice djs dominate the dance floor. If you're really not confident about your djing capabilities you can choose to prerecord your own mix. Saving your recording as an MP3 is probably the best option, although in Virtual DJ you can also create a mix CD, handy if you want a backup or if you're not planning on bringing your laptop to the party. If you have your own show on the net, you can connect to an internet radio server and broadcast your own session live. That way you can attract a bigger audience and make your name known on the internet.

Virtual DJ is accessible to beginners and packed with extra features. The only real downside however, is that Virtual DJ has a tendency to jam when you're adding effects, samples or tweaking the equalizer during a mix. There's nothing worse when you're in the middle of a set and you've got people on the dance floor. To avoid surprises, we suggest that you record your mix beforehand or that you use effects sparingly.

On the whole, Virtual DJ is an intuitive and exciting application for beginning and aspiring DJs. You'll get the chance to showcase your very own styled mix without having to buy and carry around expensive and bulky equipment.

Download Virtual DJ 5.0 in Softonic

Mixcraft is a great multi-track audio recorder that enables you to record your band, create a podcast, create mash-ups or remix a song. Mixcraft functions as two programs in one! Use it as a multi-track recorder or as a music loop remix program.

As a multi-track audio recording program, Mixcraft allows you to record and play multiple tracks at one time. Add effect processing such as reverb, delay, flanger or any 3rd party VST or DirectX effects. Mix down your recording to CD or MP3 directly in Mixcraft. No need to dust off your old four track recorder! As remix software, it supports Apple Loops, Acid Loops and our own custom loop format. Mixcraft’s Song Kits allow you to create your own song in dozens of styles to sing along or rap to.

Creating your own loop or extracting a loop from a well known song is a few clicks away. With Mixcraft, you can always be on the beat! Even with all this power, Acoustica engineers have kept the design easy-to-use and clean.

This is what Mixcraft has to offer:

• Clear, colorful, and intelligently designed interface to streamline your work
• Custom loop library includes hundreds of royalty-free sounds and loops in dozens of musical styles
• Works with Acid and Apple Garage Band Loops
• Add unlimited tracks and effects (including VST and DirectX effects)
• Record multiple tracks simultaneously
• Visually time stretch sounds with FlexAudio
• Includes 16 ultra-high quality effects
• Mix down to MP3, WAV, and other audio file types
• Burn CDs of your mix with just one click

Download Acoustica Mixcraft 3.1.38 in Softonic

A tabletop controller for DJs who yearn for the control they left behind when they switched from traditional mixers to the multi–processing power of laptop DJing. This fully class–compliant USB MIDI device is the ultimate for any performing computer DJ.

Total Control's 31 buttons, 20 knobs and 5 faders send MIDI data from the controller to your DJ software of choice, making the inconvenience of mouse or glide–pad software control a thing of the past. No assignment of software parameters for the Total Control is necessary – simply connect the controller to a computer with a USB cable, enable it on the user's computer's "config" menu, and watch the virtual controls respond to Total Control's actions.

Total Control comes packaged with Numark's Cue LE and Native Instruments' Traktor LE software, with pre–mapped controls and overlay "skins" for both applications.

Download Numark Total Control 4.1 in Softonic

Deejaysystem™ is a series of digital audio and video mixer applications designed to cover the needs of professional discjockeys/videojockeys during live or automated mixing sessions. Deejaysystem™ players are a plain, precise and reliable emulation of real DJ-CD/DVD players, but also including mixing capabilities and many handly features.

Download Deejaysystem Audio Mk-II 1.8.0 in Softonic

Deejaysystem Video VJ-II is a multi-screen player for movies, music videoclips and audio files. It's able to play two videos in DJ style and perform live audio and video mixing.

Deejaysystem Video VJ-II is the best choice for pubs, clubs, discos, and any other place with public TV screens.

Features:

• TRUE dj-style playback control with videos: play, cue, positioning (cueing), pitch, pitch bend. Precise positioning frame-by-frame, forward and backward.
• TRUE video previews simultaneously with mixed full-screen output. The mixed output is projected full-screen to output devices (TV, projector, etc.) while maintaining preview interface on your PC monitor.
• Simultaneous Master-PFL audio outputs. Dual audio output even with a single-output soundcard. Can be used with an external audio mixer.
• Dual audio/video playback in two independent decks with audio/video mixing among them (crossfader).
• Live recording. You can record the mixed output onto DVD, VCR or HD recorder by using the secondary video output of your PC.
• 6 different video mixing effects including fade.
• Mouse, keyboard and joystick controlable.

Download Deejaysystem Video VJ-II 2.0.2 in Softonic

Mixxx is a DJ'ing tool for both professional and semi-professional users. Mixxx was started in early 2001 as one of the first digital DJ systems. Today Mixxx includes many features common to digital DJ solutions, but also some very unique features: It is free, and runs on all major desktop operating systems. Futhermore Mixxx has a number of key features to help the DJ in the live mix: Beat estimation, parallel visual displays, and support for many DJ input controllers.

Download Mixxx 1.5.0.2 in Softonic

Deckadance is a DJ mixing application that works either as a standalone program OR as a VSTi plugin inside your favourite host. Deckadance itself can also host any VST compliant softsynth or effect.

You can control Deckadance using most (if not all) existing midi controllers & timecoded vinyl and CD systems.

Image-Line, the company behind Decka- dance, has more than 10 years of experience in writing and managing audio software such as FL Studio. In developing Deckadance, we didn't just bring in some consulting DJs to tell our software engineers what they wanted. Deckadance was written by a DJ (Argu) for DJs, so we are confident that it will take your DJing to the next level.

Of course, if you suck as a DJ, you will still suck using Deckadance, but you will suck better, faster, harder and more creatively than ever before!

Download Deckadance 0.35 Beta in Softonic

AdmixDJ was designed to address problems with other mixing utilities whereby automatic detection doesn't detect BPM properly for some songs, especially with broken beats, meaning and you can't change key of the song independently.

Key features include change tempo and key of mixed tracks independently, see audio graphics and beats and mix songs with beat matching.

It also includes manual & automatic beat detection, one sound card channeling (splitter mode)
and you can also save mixes to mp3, for later playback or burning on CD.

Bring new sound to your favourite tracks.

Download AdmixDJ 1.61 in Softonic

Quake 2007 is a full-featured DJ system idealy suitable for professional and home use alike. Quake 2007 redefines the concept of DJ software on the PC and offers features you simply will not find in other programs, at a price the competition simply cannot match. What's more, you won't need a degree in computer science to use Quake 2007.

If you know how to type your name using the keyboard and how to use a mouse; Quake 2007`s vast array of wizards will do the rest. The Quake 2007 design helps amateurs sound professional and professionals sound sensational.

CD Ripping & File import with MP3 conversion. Full Function Data management. Advanced track volume unification. Headphone Support (Pre Fade Listening). Play List and categories Manager. Dual Streaming Play Decks And Information Displays. Fully automatic Deck starts, panning and fade. Three distintly different automatic play modes. Dedicated Jingles Play Deck with autofade.

Download Quake 2007 1.0.99 in Softonic

Massive is a sonic monster. The analog concept belies the cutting edge, contemporary sound it generates. The high-end engine delivers pure quality, lending an undeniable virtue and character to even the most saturated of sounds. The interface is clearly laid out and easy to use, ensuring you will have Massive generating earth-shuddering sounds from the very first note.

Top features:

• High-end audio engine sets a new standard both in sound quality and sonic character
• Flexible signal flow delivers huge range of sounds: from deep, brutal basses to delicate, crystalline leads
• Wave Scanning oscillators generate sounds of both a digital and an analog nature
• Innovative and intuitive features allow fast and easy creation of fresh new sounds
• Combination of simplicity with revolutionary, advanced features make MASSIVE ideal for both beginners and experts
• Easy-to-use knobs with dynamic value indicators, drag'n'drop modulation assignment
• Integrated step sequencers and an effects section with 17 master and insert effects
• MASSIVE uses the KoreSound™ format, ensuring perfect integration with KORE
• KoreSound™ Browser for easy searching of 600 KORE-configured sounds
• Advanced sequencing and remote features make MASSIVE perfect for live performance

Download Massive 1.1 in Softonic

BPM Studio is a popular choice among Softonic users which might be down to the wealth of possibilities available in this music mixer. This application will allow you to read, edit, mix, encode and write your tracks with precision.

DJs and music fans alike will appreciate the hardware look of the interface and the inclusion of all the essential buttons and functions expected in a professional mixer. It’s very easy to switch between the 3 different views: lists, mixer and ripper, streamlining your music creation process without disruptions.

Thankfully BPM Studio Pro integrates an explorer view of your music library, for quick dragging and dropping of the tracks you need. Although the application only comes with 30 original sounds and tracks you can effortlessly add all the sound you need. The program keeps a record of the tracks you searched for and the play lists you created for quick access. You can use the search function to quickly find tracks in library.

Over to the editing functions, BPM Studio lets you set up to 6 different cue points in an individual track. The sample player is nestled between the two track modules and features a sample editor to modify saved sounds. Use the wave editing view to edit more precisely.

BPM Studio also diversifies your cross fading possibilities. You can manually switch from one track to the other, let the program do it automatically or set the track lines yourself. While this last option is the most enjoyable, it’s also the least precise of the three.

On the downside, while BPM Studio is studded with options for editing, mixing and writing, the interface often feels stuffy and overloaded and it can become difficult to read functions or drag counter switches. The equalizer for example is very complete and even offers a graphic view, yet there is no numerical indication of the changes you are making.

The audio presets are limited to 5 (lounge, DJ, party, office, radio) vague choices. We also believe that with only 30 sounds and tracks pre-included in the program, BPM Studio doesn’t have a rich enough library of sounds. However this is very subjective and it’s quite possible that you will be happy with this collection of tracks and sounds.

While there are some drawbacks to this application, we consider BPM Studio a solid application for anyone serious about mixing tracks. The interface is well structured and all your tracks, edits and functions are accessible. The extensive editing possibilities will open you up to hours of track tweaking and polishing.

Download BPM Studio Pro 4.9.6.3 in Softonic