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“Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.” – Thomas Carlyle (Scottish writer and philosopher)
In a previous article, we looked at why you should always be ready to record your songwriting ideas.
This article goes through the best songwriting tools you can use to record those ideas.
Just to be clear, these audio tools are for recording your rough songwriting ideas, not your final recordings.
You’re the only one who will hear these recordings, so audio quality isn’t important at this stage. The goal is to get your ideas down quickly.
OK, on to the tools!
1. Voice recorders (my songwriting tool of choice)
A voice recorder is a small handheld audio recorder with a built-in microphone and speaker.
Voice recorders cost around $20 to $150 depending on the features.
Why I love voice recorders
My voice recorder is my favorite songwriting tool. It’s fast, easy, inexpensive, portable, and always ready to go.
I use an Olympus VN-5200PC digital voice recorder. It’s a few years old and nothing fancy. You can get something like it for less than $40.
To record I just turn it on and hit the record button. I don’t have to sort through menus or wait for it to load. It just works.
It also has a USB port and lets me drag and drop audio files on to my computer or MP3 player. It doesn’t need any special software.
It’s so easy!
If you’re shopping for a voice recorder, check out this list of popular brands.
Popular brands of voice recorders
- Olympus
- RCA
- Sony
- Yamaha
2. Smartphones
Smartphones are a good recording option. They have decent sound quality, and they are almost always with you.
Recording apps
Most smartphones come with a free recording app.
However, if you don’t like the recording app on your phone there are tons of free and paid apps to choose from.
“Audio Memos” is popular on the iPhone.
“Smart Voice Recorder” and “Easy Voice Recorder” are popular for Android phones.
Feel free to post your favorite recording apps in the comments below.
Note-taking apps
Many note-taking apps let you make recordings in addition to text notes and photos.
I especially like the free note-taking app Evernote. Evernote is available for iPhone, Android, Windows, and Blackberry phones. It also works on the iPad, Android tablet, Mac desktop, Windows desktop, and other devices. I use it on an Apple iPod Touch and a Dell Windows laptop.
You can get Evernote for free here.
Why I rarely record on a smartphone
The downside of recording on a smartphone is that you have to navigate through icons and options every time you record.
To make a recording you have to turn on your phone, swipe to unlock it, find the recording app, launch the recording app, wait for it to load, then start the recording.
This isn’t a big deal if you’re just making one recording. But when I’m working on a song I might make 30 short recordings in one hour.
Sorting through menus every time I make a quick recording can become a hassle. It’s much easier to just hit the record button on a voice recorder.
Songwriting is hard enough without technology getting in the way.
3. Tablets (like the Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle, or Google Android tablet)
Most tablets have built-in microphones and use the same or similar recording apps as smartphones.
If your tablet has a built-in microphone it probably also comes with a free recording app.
I don’t currently use a tablet, so feel free to add your favorite recording apps in the comments.
4. Computers
To record audio on your computer you’ll need a microphone and audio recording software.
Microphones
Most laptops come with a built-in microphone. I use the built-in microphone on my Dell laptop. The sound quality is terrible, but it’s good enough for recording rough ideas.
Most webcams have built in microphones, so if you have a webcam you probably already have a microphone.
If your computer doesn’t have a microphone you can get a cheap one for less than $20.
Audacity
For quick recordings I use the free open source music recording software “Audacity“. Audacity is available for Windows PCs, Mac, and Linux.
You can download Audacity for free here.
With Audacity I can start recording in 3 mouse clicks and 3 seconds. I launch Audacity, wait 3 seconds for it to load, then hit record. That’s it!
Audacity is fairly easy to use and there are lots of free tutorial videos on YouTube if you get stuck. This “Audacity Educast Series” is a good place to start learning.
GarageBand
If you have a Mac you can use the audio program GarageBand by Apple. I have never used GarageBand, but I’ve heard it’s good.
At the time this article was written GarageBand was included free on all new Macs. If you’re thinking of buying a new Mac be sure to ask if it’s still free.
Why I don’t use Pro Tools to record my rough songwriting ideas
For making quick recordings, free software like Audacity works better than the fancy professional software like Pro Tools.
Pro Tools is a powerful program, but it takes a long time to load and is complicated to set up.
I use Pro Tools for making final recordings, but I never use it for recording quick song ideas.
Computers can be frustrating, skip it if it’s too hard
Getting a recording to work on your computer can be frustrating. You might have problems with the microphone, recording software, operating system, or something else.
Unless you love your computer or have no other options, I recommend skipping the computer and using a voice recorder or another songwriting tool.
Even though my computer is always set up to record, I almost never use it. My voice recorder is easier and it sounds better.
However, I feel good knowing my computer is always ready in case my voice recorder isn’t around.
5. MP3 players
Many MP3 players have built-in microphones that let you record audio.
I have a SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 player with a built-in microphone.
Unfortunately, in order to make a recording on the Sansa Clip you have to navigate through a few menus. It’s not as easy as just pressing record on a voice recorder. Because of this I rarely use it to record my ideas.
Recording from the radio
Many MP3 players let you record from the radio.
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This is useful when you hear a cool chord progression or some other inspiring idea. You can easily capture that idea and save it for later.
6. Voice-mail
If you don’t have a Smartphone, you can call your own voice-mail and sing yourself a message.
How to record your ideas – even when you don’t have a recorder with you!
Remember, you can use any phone in the world to call your own voice mail. You don’t have to use your own phone.
How to record your ideas if you don’t have voice-mail
If you don’t have voice-mail, you can leave a message on your friend’s voice-mail.
Julio Sanchez, a songwriter I know, used to leave his song ideas on my voice-mail. It was cool to check my messages and occasionally find a brand new song. He’d say “Huey, this is Julio. Save this song for me.”
7. Digital audio recorders
Digital audio recorders are like hi-end voice recorders. Prices start around $100 and go up to $500 and higher.
Some units have built-in microphones, others require you to plug in external microphones.
Digital audio recorders are called many different names, such as:
- handheld recorders
- handheld digital audio recorders
- portable digital recorders
You don’t need a professional-quality digital audio recorder to make quick recordings of your rough song ideas. However, if you’re interested in finding out more, check out this list of popular brands.
Popular Brands of Digital Audio Recorders
- Alesis
- Line 6
- Marantz
- Olympus
- Roland
- Sony
- Tascam
- Teac
- Yamaha
- Zoom
Final thoughts
There are tons of songwriting tools out there. Use whatever works best for you.
I love voice recorders. However, I also like knowing that I always have other options.
In a future article we’ll go over the best ways to record your songwriting ideas for maximum awesomeness.
Until then, feel free to check out our Facebook page and click the like button. We send out regular updates of songwriting tips and inspiration.
All the best!
PS – If you use a tool we didn’t mention or have thoughts or questions be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
With the advent of Karaoke machines in the 1970’s, the term “Karaoke” quickly seeped into pop culture and became the staple source of entertainment at bars, pubs and parties across the world. Back in the day, Karaoke machines used to be bulky and expensive and were normally accompanied by a microphone with rolling lyrics. Not anymore though. Nowadays anyone can recreate the same experience in their home for free. But, a decent professional karaoke software is hard to find especially when there are hordes of knock-offs online. So, how does one get a free professional karaoke software to liven up their party? By going through our list of the best free karaoke software for Windows and Mac, of course!
10 of the Best Free Karaoke Software for Windows and Mac in 2021
1) Kanto Karaoke (Windows & Mac)
If your friends are coming over for a fun-filled karaoke night, then Kanto Karaoke is decent program you can rely on. Not only does it support numerous multimedia and video formats spanning both Windows and Mac, Kanto also allows users to record their voice and listen to it later. Yes, it works pretty much on the lines of a DAW in this regard.
Of course, you can revel in super karaoke fare to sing your heart out the entire night and create unlimited playlists, edit audio settings and do playlist and live performance management in a snazzy full-screen mode. Wait there’s more in the offing, Mac users can also play songs in the CD+G player format and convert their device into a professional karaoke unit.
2) KaraFun Player (Windows)
A massively popular karaoke program with a mobile Karaoke app too, KaraFun Player boasts over 22000+ songs with the option of offline syncing so that users can jam all night long and reap its benefits despite limited connectivity. What’s more, KaraFun Player packs in a dual screen display and abundant customizable keys that guarantee a gala time.
But what really makes it one of the best free Karaoke Software on the market is its handy feature wherein you can instantly save all your favourite songs. Furthermore, KaraFun Player supports a plethora of karaoke file formats such as KAR, MPEG,MID, or CD+G.
3) iStar (Mac)
Without a doubt one of the best free karaoke software for Mac, iStar calls for starry-eyed sick jams as your friends and loved ones bop to the fine music. For starters, iStar can easily convert and play out almost all types of file formats instantly.
The modus operandi is straightforward: simply compile all the songs into a list after you have imported a karaoke file. Now these songs can be classified and played whenever the need be. So much so, iStar supports various kinds of multimedia files and there are norestrictions on the kind of files you want to import.
4) Aria (Windows & Mac)
Seeking a professional and authentic karaoke sound experience? Look no further than Aria which is great source of producing splendid musical moments with your friends and loved ones. Regarded by many as one of the best free karaoke software for Mac and Windows, Aria sports a simple and intuitive interface where you can compile and arrange all your favourite songs with zero hassle.
Even if you are a newbie, selecting and playing songs becomes a walk in the park. Moreover, for an enhanced karaoke experience users can choose from an array of Aria play modes that guarantee good fun-filled times.
5) Siglos Karaoke Professional (Windows)
Not many karaoke software can claim to be as feature-ridden as Siglos Karaoke Professional. With an easy-to-use interface and advanced functions for making the lyrics look bigger and peppy, Siglos is also fun to use whilst managing or arranging playlists.
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For starters, Siglos Karaoke Professional relieves you of the burden of stacking up heaps of old CDs for karaoke. How? Well, it comes with a two screen display where you can simply load all your favourite songs and voila you have set yourself up with a sweet karaoke session!
Without spending a dime on an expensive karaoke machine, Siglos provides you with the ultimate Karaoke experience. It is easily one of the best free Karaoke software for Windows if you are on tight budget.
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6) OneKaraoke (Windows)
A very easy-to-manage program for those who are well-versed in basic Windows management skills, OneKaraoke lets you organize hundreds of songs and supports a gamut of audio and video formats such as mp3, kar, mid, WMV, DAT, mpg, Avi, WMA, MOV, et al.
What else makes OneKaraoke the best free Karaoke software for Windows users? For seamless operation, you can also avail features such as keyboards, and numeric keyboards to manually tweak the playlists. Or, if you just want to go mouse-less then operational handheld remotes can also come in handy to use OneKaraoke.
7) Kjams (Mac)
Right off the bat, we were awestruck by Kjams UI which starkly resembles iTunes in many aspects. Mac users will feel at home whilst managing and editing playlists on this beast of a karaoke program. Kjams also offers effortless syncing with iTunes and comes loaded with a decent management tool for controlling and tweaking the pitch/range of your singing voice.
To enjoy a karaoke jam simply stack up your favourite songs to the system and hit the play button. You can also gaze at the lyrics of songs that flash on a duplicate window as you belt out party night stompers. All in all, Kjams makes for an ethereal karaoke experience with a professional setup that’s easy to manage.
8) Just Karaoke 2 (Windows)
True of its name, Just Karaoke 2 is symbolic of Karaoke, karaoke and more karaoke action. If you are planning on throwing a party for your pals with some decent music thrown in for a good measure, Just Karaoke is easily one the best free karaoke software for Windows PC on the market.
The software comes loaded with impressive features such as: a huge library of 70,000+ songs, tons of sound effects, nifty song manager, singer announcement, dual output screen, easy song searches with shuffle, and so much more.
9) Karaoke 5 (Windows and Mac)
Assembling all your favourite songs in single or multiple playlists can often be painful and time consuming. The struggle is real especially when your songs are strewn about the house in multiple file formats. Karaoke 5 makes short work of all such struggles as you can easily store your favourite songs under one one roof for the ultimate karaoke experience.
A robust Windows and Mac karaoke software, Karaoke 5 lets you sing your heart out to your favourite tunes without any glitches. Plus, it also supports all kinds of media file formats so you can just sit back and enjoy the musical extravaganza all night long.
10) QMIDI V.2.0 (Mac)
The last entrant on our list of the best free Karaoke Software, QMIDI V2.0 is an enticing option for Mac users who are looking for a karaoke player that supports multiple file formats. With QMIDI V2.0’s actionable tools at your command, you can edit chords and lyrics of multiple songs that you have loaded onto your Mac with ease and grace.
What’s more, you can synchronize playlists and play your favourite songs in a sequential manner, thus have some amazing karaoke fun on the go.
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And…that’s a wrap. Did you like our handpicked list of the best free karaoke software for Mac and Windows? Sound off in the comments.
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I’m going to try a few to see which I really like. I did karaoke Wednesday nights at our bar, until I found out I had multiple myeloma, and we hired 2 girls, which used my system, to do Friday and Saturday nights. I used Karafun. I tried to get into my account and they said I had an account, but my software had ended. I paid for the software and it was a one stop deal, and now they say I no longer have access to it, but I can purchase new software from them on a monthly or yearly basis. That’s a broken contract. Anyway. I love your list and I only want to use it at my home for personal use. Thanks for the information.