looking for a freeware program to make some electronics musics. i downloaded this vst synth plug-in, but unfortunately, i lack the software to run it. can someone recommend a good freeware music creation program? i don't even have the slightest clue where i should start looking...

First off, what platform are you on, and more importantly are you even considering to spend even a small bit on software? The best things in electronic are often not free- I got lucky when I switched to Mac, and was able to start on the right foot with Garageband.

It all depends on influences and determination.

I use LMMS, Hydrogen, Rosegarden, and Beast. But I think they are all *nix-only.
Oh wait, I just checked. Hydrogen has a Windows port if you use Windows, but it is basically just a beat sequencer, not a hardcore Multimedia Studio like the other ones I mentioned.

I found this site, may be usefull, IDK:
http://www.sonicspot.com/music.html

Edit:
And if you are willing to pay, Fruity Loops studio is a pretty kickass program if I do say so myself.

electrosynthesis wrote: First off, what platform are you on, and more importantly are you even considering to spend even a small bit on software?

xp and NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. it's not so much that i don't like paying for things, it's moreso that i'm absolutely broke and really can't afford to spend money on programs to any degree whatsoever.

sekinto wrote: Oh wait, I just checked. Hydrogen has a Windows port if you use Windows, but it is basically just a beat sequencer, not a hardcore Multimedia Studio like the other ones I mentioned.

I found this site, may be usefull, IDK:
http://www.sonicspot.com/music.html

that's too bad, because i already have a beat sequencer, but i'm gonna go check out that link you posted. thanks, man. fo realz.

I believe there is a free version of Acid, but I'm not entirely sure whether or not you can use any VSTs with it.

there's a 30 day demo of acid and you can't export/save files, (from what i remember)

there is a trial of fruity loops and you can export to wav or mp3 from there - only thing the demo can't do (i think) is save arrangements, and some effects won't work - i have heard of people "cracking" the demo :-O ...of course i don't know what cracking is ..

phonicboom wrote: have heard of people "cracking" the demo :-O ...of course i don't know what cracking is ..

yeah cracking is a new phenomenon which is one step ahead of hacking and is illegal

officernarc wrote: looking for a freeware program to make some electronics musics. i downloaded this vst synth plug-in, but unfortunately, i lack the software to run it. can someone recommend a good freeware music creation program? i don't even have the slightest clue where i should start looking...

Try OpenMPT. The interface lacks and there are less features in comparison to other commercial programs, but should do the job. It worked with all of the plug-ins I tried it with. If you'll like the way it works, you could spend twenty or forty euros on MadTracker or fifty on Renoise when you have more money - the tracker-like interface is the same, but they have more features (and look better).
There's Skale, which is apparently similar to OpenMPT in its concept, but looks different. I barely used it, but plug-ins didn't seem to work.
You could also try Buzz. I didn't like it because it's unorganized (how many versions it's got, again?) and it doesn't sound all that good, but it's a matter of taste. Perhaps you could squeeze something comprehensible out of it. I barely used it as well, so maybe my view of it is prejudice.
If all of the above fail, search KVR for other free hosts, though I believe these are the only decent options you've got.

sekinto wrote: I use LMMS, Hydrogen, Rosegarden, and Beast. But I think they are all *nix-only.
Oh wait, I just checked. Hydrogen has a Windows port if you use Windows, but it is basically just a beat sequencer, not a hardcore Multimedia Studio like the other ones I mentioned.

Hydrogen on Windows is buggy - you have to export drum kits manually (that is, using 7-Zip or whatever else) and it crashes frequently.

You could check Krystal out too, I have never used it but sounds like it might be good and free.

http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/

Key Features:
* 16 audio tracks
* 32 Bit floating point audio engine
* 44.1 to 192 kHz sample rate*
* Downmix to 16/24/32 Bit audio files
* 3-band parametric EQ &
* 2 VST insert slots per channel
* 3 VST master effect slots
* ASIO low latency audio driver support
* 4 KRISTAL Plug-In slots
* Load/Save KRISTAL project files
* Supported file formats: WAVE, AIFF, FLAC, OGG Vorbis

And there are LOTS of good free VST synths and effects Crystal, Helix, Synth1, Voyager....

well, i just got ableton. now all i need to do is figure out how to get it to work.

Well there you go, couldnt have made a better choice. Once you get used to it, Live is really good. Go through the tutorials that are in it, and there are lots more online. Not exactly free though, lol. I bought a M-Audio keyboard and got the lite version with it, then upgraded to the full version last year. Hope you like it.

You can get a lot of extra Live packs on their website that will give you more drum kits and instruments to get you started. Puremagnetic has a few free Live packs also.