Free tools for making and promoting music
Want to make, share and promote your own music? These tools will help.
Pick one of our four common goals, or just scroll to find out more…
Making a music video
A music video is a great way to share your music with other people. But where do you start with filming and editing? These tools can help.
Basic Tools:
Video Editor (Windows)
Built into Windows 10
Free to use
Very easy to use
iMovie (MacOS/iOS)
Free to install on Mac and iPhone/iPad devices
Very easy to use
Sound effects and Visual Effects included
Green Screen/Chroma Key support.
Cross-Platform – OpenShot
Built in tutorial
Fairly simple to understand editor
Easy to understand Online User’s Guide
Additional effects included for advanced users.
Advanced 3D effects require Blender to be installed
Android/iOS – CapCut
Available for free
No Ads
Visual Effects and Audio Samples included on install
Overlay abilities included
Integration with TikTok
Specialises in Vertical Video but Horizontal is available.
Advanced Tools:
Cross-Platform – KDenLive
Free and Open source
Pre-sets for most popular video types (1080p30/60, 2K, 4K)
Built in collection of visual and audio effects for enhancing videos
Built in access to free stock footage and audio libraries
Advanced – Colour grading tools for cameras that shoot raw video
Cross-Platform – DaVinci Resolve
Free for the standard version, paid Studio version available
Highly powerful colour grading system
First time setup helps guide you with settings best fit for your system
Step Based workflow for editing video + audio
Built in pre-sets for exporting Directly to social media (YT/Twitter/etc)
3rd Party Plugin support for Audio/Visual FX
Windows/Mac - Hitfilm Express
The little brother to the professinal video editor, Hitfilm Pro.
Includes tools that make it similar to a combination of Adobe’s Premiere Pro and After Effects
Out of the box, includes a range of effects and tools to add additional flare to projects.
Supports an app called CamTrackAR to allow superior tracking of a subject for adding greenscreen effects (iOS only)
Base program is free, but should you be able to in the future, Hitfilm Express is expandable with add-ons avalible in its store.
Skills developed:
Creative skills
Research
Visual storytelling through imagery, colour, mood, setting,
Experimentation
Storyboarding or screenwriting (pre-planning stage)
Styling / costume design
Technical skills
Lighting
Composition (considering how elements are arranged in a camera frame, for example: through the use of camera angles, set design)
Filming / camera operation
Editing (post-production)
Project management skills
Decision-making
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Team work / collaboration
Working towards a deadline / time-management
Working towards a brief and/or client
Careers this could lead you into:
Director, Art Director or Conceptual Artist
Production Assistant
Screenwriter or Storyboard Artist
Stylist, Costume Designer or Wardrobe Supervisor
Casting Director
Lighting Techinician, Camera Operator
Set Design
Additional Resources:
Music Video Production Roles & Responsibilities explained: Music Video Production: roles and responsibilities explained (epikmusicvideos.com)
Good breakdown of different roles involved in Film / TV which cross over with Music Video Production here: Careers in film and TV drama - ScreenSkills
Creating digital music
You can make music on nearly any device: a computer, a smartphone, a tablet. These tools will help you get started.
Basic Tools:
Included with MacOS and iOS
Simple and easy to use
Guided Tutorials included.
Built in instruments for creating basic beats.
Limited Plugin Support
Guided tutorials and video guides available from PreSonus
Free for everyone!
Online/App based Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
Works on anything from computers to phones.
Free to use forever without restrictions.
No VST or Plugin support.
Comes with a massive number of built-in styles and kits for creating music.
Online/App based DAW
Works on anything from computers to phones
Southampton Music Hub can provide accounts: get in touch to request access
Advanced Tools:
A traditional DAW in the same vein as Logic Pro.
An updated version of a previously paid DAW Sonar.
Free with a Bandlab account giving access to Bandlab online as well.
Full VST2 and VST3 Plugin support allowing any and all plugins to be used as long as they also work on windows.
Very unique editor in terms of look and feel.
Is free to download and use along with and includes a synth called WaveRazor LE
Treats everything including the volume controls as a plugin allowing full customisation
No Support for 32-Bit plugins, meaning older plugins will not work
Instruments and Effects Plugins
Add to your sound with software instruments, synths and other effect plugins. All free! Check out our guide below.
Recording Music
Sometimes you want to record instruments and voices for your tracks. These tools will help.
Cross-Platform – Built-in Recorder
Most phones and computers have this built-in right out of the box.
Some devices include very basic editing tools for audio as well.
Some devices support external microphones for higher audio quality.
Cross-Platform – Audacity
No frills audio recorder with basic to intermediate editing and effects
Plugins are available but usually not required.
Windows - Wavosaur
VST Support for audio effects.
Highly advanced tools to edit and visualize audio
Can be run off a USB drive for use in libraries/public computers
Can be used to create loops rapidly
Any program in the Making digital music section can be used for this purpose as well. It is more recommended to use the DAWs for audio recording especially if you wish to clean up the audio.
Careers this could lead you into:
Mixing Engineer
Studio Engineer (responsibilities generally involve recording & processing audio make it ready for release. they work with musicians, managing recording sessions and ensuring sound is captured at the desired quality)
Live Sound Engineer
Creating Album Art and Promotional Material
Having a great image is important. These tools can help create and edit photos, artwork and more that will help people find and get interested in your music.
Basic Tools:
Web-Based - Canva
Free to use for all with some restrictions
Has a mobile app for Android and iOS
Has the ability to directly export to social media as well as templates for popular media sites.
Cross Platform - Built-in Editor
Most newer devices include basic photo editing systems on board as do various social media apps.
Mobile - PREQUEL
An effect focused image editor with various styles.
Can be used on any image to help frame it in a style you think fits best
Advanced Tools:
Cross Platform - Krita
An alternative to the industry standard Photoshop
Has special effects support through G’Mic
Hundreds of effect and brush presets available online for free.
A helpful community of artists and designers on krita-artists.org
Cross Platform - Scribus
A desktop publishing tool for creating and designing any type of printed material.
Available for free with some base templates.
More available online for free.
Android - OpenCamera
A highly advanced camera app alternative.
Comes with a lot more “pro” settings that most built in camera apps
Constantly updated with new capabilities and features.
Utilities:
Windows/macOS - Caesium
Free to use Image compressor
Support for many file types from the common types to the obscure ones.
Allows batch renaming during compression.
Cross Platform - RawTherapee
An image editor and organiser similar to that of Adobe Lightroom
Supports all image file types available including those shot from DSLRs
Easy to sort and apply filtering and effects to help give images a vibrant edge.
Careers this could lead you into:
Social Media Manager
Graphic Designer
Artist or Illustrator
Digital Communications
Advertising Art Director
Music Promotion
We want your suggestions!
Is there something missing from our list? Do you have ideas or suggestions? We want to hear from you!