Thread last updated: (3 October 2005) This thread lists prices, specs and links for music and audio software suggested by GDNet users. The list is organised primarily by the program's purpose, and then by price. Plugins are listed after the software, and a collection of free Linux software is listed at the bottom. The very bottom of the post lists a few interesting soundcards. The thread was originally created by Avatar God (profile), but is now maintained by myself. The original copy of the thread can be found here. If you're looking for sound effects, sound libraries, or music resources, see SFX & Music Resources. All prices are listed in US Dollars. You can use a site like XE UCC to convert the prices if you need to. Feel free to Private Message me with comments, suggestions, or additions to the thread. If you use one of these programs, let me know if my description is accurate. New entries are marked as new! Audio Software Notation Power Tab Editor (new window), by Power Tab - Free Notation Tab Excellent tablature and notation software for guitar and bass. Noteworthy Composer (new window), by Noteworthy Software - $40 Notation MIDI Create, record, edit, print and play MIDI music. Finale (new window), by Finale - $600 Notation MIDI Excellent notation software. Includes SoundFont's high-quality sounds. Sibelius (new window), by Sibelius - $600 Notation MIDI Excellent notation software. Includes Native Instrument's Kontakt Player with high-quality sounds. Also see: Anvil Studio, Cakewalk Express, Music MasterWorks, Logic Sequencing CM Studio (new window), by CM - Free Sequencer Sampler Synth MIDI Free studio for making music. Psycle (new window), by Psycledelics - Free Sequencer Tracker Synth Effects VSTi This program is a music creation studio that uses a tracker interface - you can use the native plugins, internal sampler, and effects to make your music. Anvil Studio (new window), by Willow Software - Free Sequencer Notation Effects MIDI Record, sequence, edit, and save your MIDI work. SoundFont compatible. Kristal Audio Engine (new window), by Kreatives - Free Sequencer Effects Live VSTi A powerful, modular multi-track recorder, sequencer, and mixer. Cakewalk Express (new window), by Cakewalk - $30 Notation Sequencer Tracker Effects MIDI Multitrack music and sound software for recording and sequencing. Music MasterWorks (new window), by Aspire - $35 Notation Sequencer MIDI Create, record, edit, print and play MIDI music. New! Making Waves (new window), by Making Waves Audio Limited - $75, $170, $300 for boxed copies of Audio, Pro, and Studio versions. Downloadable versions discounted Sequencer Effects Live VSTi MIDI Particularly good for lower-end computers and/or soundcards. Live (new window), by Ableton - $120 for download, $150 for boxed copy Sequencer Synth Effects Live VSTi DXi Rewire Multitrack recording software allows you to mix, dj, and create loops on the fly. FL Studio (new window), by FL Studio - $150 for Producer, $100 for Fruity, $50 for Express Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects VSTi DXi MIDI Rewire Complete virtual studio for creating wav, mp3 or midi songs and loops. Home Studio (new window), by Cakewalk - $230 for XL, $150 for Studio Sequencer Synth Effects Live VSTi DXi MIDI Rewire Record, create, edit, arrange, and mix any kind of music. Orion (new window), by Synapse Audio - $300 for Platinum, $150 for Pro Sampler Synth Effects VSTi DXi Rewire A virtual studio that includes multitrack recording, a mixing deck, effects, and a large sound library. Audition (new window), by Adobe - $300 Sequencer Effects VSTi DXi Rewire Made for advanced audio mixing, editing, and effects processing capabilities. Acid Pro (new window), by Sony - $500 Sequencer Synth Effects VSTi MIDI Rewire Create, remix and export 5.1 audio. Reason (new window), by Propellerhead - $500 Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects Live MIDI Rewire A full studio for any audio work. Inclues massive Orkester sample library. Reaktor (new window), by Native Instruments - $560 Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects Live Complete sound studio allows user to build instruments, sounds, effects and tools. Includes large synth and sample library. Cubase SX3 (new window), by Steinberg - $800 Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects Live VSTi MIDI Rewire Full studio for audio work. Sonar (new window), by Cakewalk - $960 for Producer, $480 for Studio Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects VSTi DXi MIDI Rewire Full studio: good for composing, recording, editing, mixing, and other audio work. Logic (new window), by Apple - $1,000 for Pro, $300 for Express Notation Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects MIDI Comprehensive studio for music creation and audio production. Nuendo (new window), by Steinberg - $1,500 Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects Live VSTi DXi MIDI Rewire Perform any task within the media industry. Tracking Modplug Tracker (new window), by ModPlug - Free Sampler Tracker VSTi MIDI Works with .it .xm .mod .midi and .s3m formats, encodes to wave and mp3. SKALE Tracker (new window), by SKALE - Free Tracker VSTi MIDI Works under Windows or Linux. Partial SoundFont 2.0 Support. MadTracker (new window), by Yannick Delwiche - Free Tracker VSTi ReWire Built in chat client for instant community support. Renoise (new window), by Renoise Software - $45 Sampler Tracker Effects VSTi ASIO MIDI Feature rich tracker allows you to control nearly any parameter. Also see: Psycle, Cakewalk Express Synth New! SynthEdit (new window), by Jeff McClintock - Shareware, $50 Synth VSTi MIDI Make VSTi plugins, record, use MIDI. Site includes a number of useful modules. Pro 53 (new window), by Native Instruments - $230 Synth Near-perfect emulation of the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5. Sometimes inflexible, but provides a fat, warm sound. Z3ta+ (new window), by RCG:Audio - $275 Synth Popular and powerful waveshaping synthesizer (not an emulator). FM7 (new window), by Native Instruments - $340 Synth Near-perfect emulation of the Yamaha dx7. Excellent all-around synth. Absynth 2 (new window), by Native Instruments - $340 Sampler Synth Combines sampling and synth for great sound creation, especially for ambient and otherworldly audio. Also see: CM Studio, Psycle, Live, FL Studio, Home Studio, Orion, Acid Pro, Reason, Reaktor, Cubase SX3, Sonar, Logic, Nuendo Audio and Effects Audacity (new window), by Audacity - Free, Open Source Effects VSTi Record, play, edit and mix your audio with this. GuitarFX (new window), by Guitar Effects Software - Free Effects Live VSTi DXi A virtual system to create live effects on a guitar or other input. GoldWave (new window), by GoldWave, Inc - Shareware, $55 to purchase Effects Works well for recording and editing your audio work. Sound Forge Audio Studio (new window), by Sony - $70 Effects Live Record music, edit and restore audio, create streaming media, and burn songs to CD. Sound Forge (new window), by Sony - $400 Sampler Effects DXi MIDI Audio editor with processes, tools, and effects for recording and editing. Kontakt (new window), by Native Instruments - $450 Sampler Effects Extremely powerful sampler, can load nearly any format to create or edit in a very flexible interface. VSTs and Plugins MDA-VST (new window), by Maxim Digital Audio - Free Numerous synths and effects for various programs. SoundFont (new window), by Creative - $15-50 depending on library A huge number of available sounds for purchase. Requires compatible software/hardware. New! Hammer Sound (new window), by Hammer Sound - $15-50 depending on library More soundfonts for purchase. HALion (new window), by Steinberg - $400 Steinberg's extensive sampler software, works especially well with Cubase and Nuendo. Giga Studio (new window), by Tascam - $600 for Orchestra, $370 for Ensemble, $200 for Solo An extremely high quality set of samplers for all needs. K-v-R (new window), by Muse Research, Inc - Mostly free, depends on individual author Huge compilation of VSTi, DXi, and AU audio plugins. Kjaerhus VSTs (new window), by Kjaerhus Audio - Free for Classic Series, up to $270 for bundled Gold Series Several VST plugins and effects (EQ work, phaser, compressor...) New! Linux Software Lily Pond (new window), by Lily Pond - Free, open source Notation Intelligent and functional notation software. Rosegarden (new window), by Fervent Software - Free, open source Notation Sequencer Synth MIDI LADSPA JACK "The closest native equivalent to Cubase® for Linux" - Sound on Sound. ZynAddSubFX (new window), by Paul - Free Synth MIDI JACK Powerful softsynth. QSynth (new window), by Capela/Bown/Cannam - Free, open source Synth MIDI JACK Actually a GUI based on FluidSynth, a synth based on SoundFont 2 specs. Hydrogen (new window), by Comix/Artemio - Free, open source MIDI LADSPA JACK Excellent, easy to use drum machine. LADSPA (new window), by Richard Furse - Free, open source Effects API that interfaces with dozens of other programs. Site includes more LADSPA-friendly audio software. JACK (new window), by Paul Davis and others - Free, open source Professional low latency audio server. Site contains dozens of JACK-enabled software programs. Suggested Sound Cards Creative Labs (new window) has several high-quality sound cards. M-Audio (new window), by AVID hosts some impressive cards. FA-101 (new window), by Edirol is a good capturing system. Guillemot (new window) has several interface and capture cards. [Edited by - Kazgoroth on October 3, 2005 12:25:18 AM]

//This post will have information edited into it. Just reserving the first reply to maintain neatness in case anyone else replies to the thread, I've got something planned as an addon to the thread.

//Hugs Kaz//

Thanks, I'll add an entry shortly.

Hrm, I could have sworn I'd added Skale as well, but it doesn't seem to be there... I'll re-add it as well.

Propellerhead Software, makers of Reason, have discontinued their ReBirth Sythesizer software. Rebirth is now avaliable as a free download from Propellerhead's Rebirth Museum(Free Registration required).