From Music Business and Music Production to Game Art and Animation and Film Production, SAE offers a wide range of courses for anyone looking to launch a career in the creative industries.
A knowledge of the latest software and computer programs is essential for all students working within these fields and to help, we’ve compiled some of the best free platforms and packages.
Whether it be recording a podcast or editing a document, there’s plenty of great resources available.
Check out our selections below – and if you’re looking to kickstart a career with SAE, then contact our team to find out more about how our courses can help.
Apache OpenOffice
If you are looking for an open-source office software suite for tasks like word processing or presentations, then Apache OpenOffice is a great platform.
Other jobs it can be used for include creating spreadsheets, graphics, databases and more while it is available in different languages.
It can store your data in an international open standard format and also read and write files from other common office software packages too.
GIMP
GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program and is a freely distributed program for anyone looking to edit photos, author images and edit image composition.
This can be used by graphic designers, photographs and illustrators and is available for GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows and more.
The software has been developed as a community-based free software by the GIMP authors and contributors under the GNU General Public License. It can be distributed and modified for free.
Reaper
REAPER is a powerful and versatile digital audio workstation (DAW) and MIDI sequencer software application that allows users to create, record, edit, mix, and master audio and video projects.
By utilising this DAW with your PC, Mac, or Linux computer, you can import any audio and MIDI, synthesise, sample, compose, arrange, edit, mix, and master songs or any other audio projects.
If you add a hardware audio interface and a microphone, you have a complete professional quality recording studio, suitable for recording anything from a soloist to a band to an orchestra.
There is a free User Guide and helpful User Forum for beginners looking to get support with the software.
Audacity
If you are looking to edit a podcast, music production or enhance audio quality, then Audacity is a popular choice.
Its functionality includes recording audio, importing and exporting files, applying various audio effects, and managing sound quality while it is also available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
It is free and open-source so its code is available for anyone to share and modify.
Blender
Blender is a free software tool used for 3D modelling and rendering.
Applications for use include animation, visual effects, 3D modeling, 3D printing, and game development while it runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
There is a keen and supportive community surrounding Blender coordinated by the Blender Foundation, primarily funded by donations with a central mission – to get the world’s best 3D CG technology in the hands of artists as free/open source software.
Unity
Unity is a software application that helps developers create both 2D and 3D interactive experiences, including video games, simulations, and other applications.
Developed by Unity Technologies, Unity’s popularity stems from its ease of use, particularly for beginners and indie game developers – and it offers a free plan for anyone looking to experiment with the software.
It also offers flexibility for developers in terms of the platform they want to work with. Unity supports mobile, PC, console and VR/AR devices.
The SeaMonkey Project
The SeaMonkey project is a community initiative aimed at developing the SeaMonkey all-in-one internet application suite.
Initially, this software suite was previously made popular by Netscape and Mozilla, and the SeaMonkey project continues to develop and deliver high-quality updates as well as new features and improvements to this concept.
Features include an internet browser, email and newsgroup client, HTML editor, IRC chat and web development tools. The latest update, 2.53.21, has just been released and incorporates a number of enhancements, changes and fixes to the application as well as those from the underlying platform code.
Open Broadcaster Software
For creatives looking to host a live stream or record video, then the Open Broadcaster Software is a useful tool.
It allows users to capture and mix audio and video from various sources, such as cameras, microphones, and computer screens, and broadcast to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Live. The software is cross-platform, available for Windows, macOS, Linux distributions, and more.
The software is a living, breathing entity due to the tight-knit community of collaborators surrounding it.
Capcut
Capcut is an all-in-one video editing app owned by Bytedance, the same company behind TikTok.
It is a easy to use app, enabling users to manipulate videos content and images for use on social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Editing features include trimming, adding text, and applying transition while it also offers auto-captions and text-based video editing.
Capcut is great for those new to social media content creation as it offers a free subscription with users able to go ‘pro’ to enjoy additional and more sophisticated features.
Davinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is an app that combines editing, colour correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post production all in one software tool.
It has a user-friendly and modern interface that allows users to work faster and more efficiently without having to switch between multiple apps or software. It acts as a post-production studio so users can edit camera original quality images throughout the entire process.
STUDY AT SAE
Whether you want to work in Film Production, Audio Production or more, there are many different opportunities to elevate your career in the creative industries with us.
Our degrees will provide you with the skills, experience and knowledge to succeed at the highest level.
