If you’re looking to make your own beats but just don’t have any money at all to spend, you might find this list of free programs to make beats useful.

Most of these free programs to make beats are “lite” versions and have commercial version as well.

ACID Xpress (windows)- This is a 10-track version of ACID Pro software. It can do music recording, editing and mixing. Making beats is easy with this loop based software. ACID Xpress has an excellent ability to matche the tempo and pitch automatically. I was a big ACID Pro user when I first started and it helped me to visualize how audio can be arranged. This is one free software for making music that I will have to revisit.

LMMS (linux/windows) Linux Multi Media Studio – it looks like FL studio but is not FL Studio compatible. It can run on Linux and Windows based computers. You can make beats, compose melodies, mix master and more with thise cool little freebie. Free software like this is a welcome find.

Koblo (mac/windows) A very new player on the block. It’s another free open sourced software for making music. It has some unique online collaboration features, because it’s connected to the Koblo cloud. You’ll be able to work together with other musicians or band members across the planet.

Anvil Studio (windows) Can do audio and MIDI sequencing. Looks a little old, but hey of the audio sounds fresh, who cares what it looks like!

Kristal (windows) This free beat making software has been around for a few years now. it hasn’t been updated in a while from what I can tell but it has a lot of features

Music Studio Independence (windows) has a great number of functions for every part of beat making,
such as composition, arrangement, recording, mixing and mastering. It handles MIDI and audio. One awesome looking free beat making program.

MultitrackStudio (windows) This is an audio/MIDI multitrack recording software for Windows. It combines a multitrack recorder, a mixer, lots of effects and a MIDI sequencer in one package: everything that’s needed to turn your computer into a digital multitrack music recording studio and beat making device.

MU.LAB (mac/windows) Marketed as an alternative, state of the art software application for OSX and Windows, transforming your computer into a real music studio! It does not overwhelm you with a complex feature set, in which you can get lost. Sounds perfect for a new beat maker.

Quartz (windows) This is one I have heard about but the website product page was down when I researched it. The home page makes a reference that it runs under Vista so I assume it still being developed.

MusE (linux) is a Linux based MIDI/Audio sequencer with recording and editing capabilities written by Werner Schweer. MusE aims to be a complete multitrack virtual studio for Linux, it is published under the GNU General Public License. MusE has among other things support for MIDI, Audio Effects, etc.

Ardour (linux/mac) is a digital audio workstation. You can use it to record, edit and mix multi-track audio. You can produce your own CDs, mix video soundtracks, or just experiment with new ideas about music and sound.

Rosegarden (linux) is a well-rounded audio and MIDI sequencer, score editor, and general-purpose music composition and editing environment. Rosegarden is an easy-to-learn, attractive application that runs on Linux, ideal for composers, musicians, music students, and small studio or home recording environments.