Ignore the next few posts, I'm just testing.

Last updated March 2005

This thread is intended to list prices, specs, and links for music and audio related software suggested by GDNet users. The list is generally organized by the program's purpose, and then by price. Plain plugins are listed after the software, and free Linux programs are at the bottom. A few interesting soundcards are listed last. New! additions are marked in orange.

All prices are listed in United States dollars. You can use Xe.com's universal currency convertor to estimate price for your currency.

Feel free to start a new thread or 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.

If you're looking for sound effects, sound libraries, or music resources, see SFX & Music Resources by Kazgoroth (Profile/PM).



Audio Software

Notation

Power Tab Editor, by Power Tab - Free
Notation Tab
Excellent tablature and notation software for guitar and bass.

Noteworthy Composer, by Noteworthy Software - $40
Notation MIDI
Create, record, edit, print and play MIDI music.

Finale, by Finale - $600
Notation MIDI
Excellent notation software. Includes SoundFont's high-quality sounds.

Sibelius, 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, by CM - Free
Sequencer Sampler Synth MIDI
Free studio for making music.

Psycle, 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, by Willow Software - Free
Sequencer Notation Effects MIDI
Record, sequence, edit, and save your MIDI work. SoundFont compatible.

Kristal Audio Engine, by Kreatives - Free
Sequencer Effects Live VSTi
A powerful, modular multi-track recorder, sequencer, and mixer.

Cakewalk Express, by Cakewalk - $30
Notation Sequencer Tracker Effects MIDI
Multitrack music and sound software for recording and sequencing.

Music MasterWorks, by Aspire - $35
Notation Sequencer MIDI
Create, record, edit, print and play MIDI music.

New! Making Waves, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, by Adobe - $300
Sequencer Effects VSTi DXi Rewire
Made for advanced audio mixing, editing, and effects processing capabilities.

Acid Pro, by Sony - $500
Sequencer Synth Effects VSTi MIDI Rewire
Create, remix and export 5.1 audio.

Reason, by Propellorhead - $500
Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects Live MIDI Rewire
A full studio for any audio work. Inclues massive Orkester sample library.

Reaktor, 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, by Steinberg - $800
Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects Live VSTi MIDI Rewire
Full studio for audio work.

Sonar, 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, by Apple - $1,000 for Pro, $300 for Express
Notation Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects MIDI
Comprehensive studio for music creation and audio production.

Nuendo, by Steinberg - $1,500
Sequencer Sampler Synth Effects Live VSTi DXi MIDI Rewire
Perform any task within the media industry.




Tracking

Modplug Tracker, by ModPlug - Free
Sampler Tracker VSTi MIDI
Works with .it .xm .mod .midi and .s3m formats, encodes to wave and mp3.

Renoise, 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, by Jeff McClintock - Free
Synth VSTi MIDI
Make VSTi plugins, record, use MIDI. Site includes a number of useful modules.

Pro 53, by Native Instruments - $230
Synth
Near-perfect emulation of the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5. Sometimes inflexible, but provides a fat, warm sound.

Z3ta+, by RCG:Audio - $275
Synth
Popular and powerful waveshaping synthesizer (not an emulator).

FM7, by Native Instruments - $340
Synth
Near-perfect emulation of the Yamaha dx7. Excellent all-around synth.

Absynth 2, 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, by Audacity - Free, Open Source
Effects VSTi
Record, play, edit and mix your audio with this.

GuitarFX, by Guitar Effects Software - Free
Effects Live VSTi DXi
A virtual system to create live effects on a guitar or other input.

GoldWave, by GoldWave, Inc - Shareware, $55 to purchase
Effects
Works well for recording and editing your audio work.

Sound Forge Audio Studio, by Sony - $70
Effects Live
Record music, edit and restore audio, create streaming media, and burn songs to CD.

Sound Forge, by Sony - $400
Sampler Effects DXi MIDI
Audio editor with processes, tools, and effects for recording and editing.

Kontakt, 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, by Maxim Digital Audio - Free
Numerous synths and effects for various programs.

SoundFont, by Creative - $15-50 depending on library
A huge number of available sounds for purchase. Requires compatible software/hardware.

New! Hammer Sound, by - $15-50 depending on library
More soundfonts for purchase.

HALion, by Steinberg - $400
Steinberg's extensive sampler software, works especially well with Cubase and Nuendo.

Giga Studio, by Tascam - $600 for Orchestra, $370 for Ensemble, $200 for Solo
An extremely high quality set of samplers for all needs.

K-v-R, by Muse Research, Inc - Mostly free, depends on individual author
Huge compilation of VSTi, DXi, and AU audio plugins.

Kjaerhus VSTs, 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, by Lily Pond - Free, open source
Notation
Intelligent and functional notation software.

Rosegarden, by Fervent Software - Free, open source
Notation Sequencer Synth MIDI LADSPA JACK
"The closest native equivalent to Cubase® for Linux" - Sound on Sound.

ZynAddSubFX, by Paul - Free
Synth MIDI JACK
Powerful softsynth.

QSynth, by Capela/Bown/Cannam - Free, open source
Synth MIDI JACK
Actually a GUI based on FluidSynth, a synth based on SoundFont 2 specs.

Hydrogen, by Comix/Artemio - Free, open source
MIDI LADSPA JACK
Excellent, easy to use drum machine.

LADSPA, by Richard Furse - Free, open source
Effects API that interfaces with dozens of other programs. Site includes more LADSPA-friendly audio software.

JACK, 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 has several high-quality sound cards.
M-Audio, by AVID hosts some impressive cards.
FA-101, by Edirol is a good capturing system.
Guillemot has several interface and capture cards.

[Edited by - Avatar God on March 25, 2005 1:54:39 PM]

[wow] That's awesome!

Quote: Original post by Drew_Benton
[wow] That's awesome!

lol. You know, you post a lot. [grin]!

Quote: Original post by Avatar God

Quote: Original post by Drew_Benton
[wow] That's awesome!

lol. You know, you post a lot. [grin]!

How else am I going to reach 100 posts a day [lol] JK I will only post in stuff that is of intrest to me. Not only that, threads that contain lots of useful information that should be recognized for all the hard work put into them [wink] Make sure you stop my my next post I am about to make. [smile]

Quote: Original post by Drew_Benton

Quote: Original post by Avatar God

Quote: Original post by Drew_Benton
[wow] That's awesome!

lol. You know, you post a lot. [grin]!

How else am I going to reach 100 posts a day [lol] JK I will only post in stuff that is of intrest to me. Not only that, threads that contain lots of useful information that should be recognized for all the hard work put into them [wink] Make sure you stop my my next post I am about to make. [smile]

Yay! Well, I realized that other forums (VisArts, for example) were creating some impressive lists of software and resources, and that this forum was severly lacking. Kazgoreth got into it, and has a thread even more amazing than this one (and keeps me on the ball for updating mine!).

(and don't you dare post again! i think that's what you meant for me to say, anyways!)

And thanks for the comments, DB [grin]!

Quote: Original post by Avatar God
Well, I realized that other forums (VisArts, for example) were creating some impressive lists of software and resources, and that this forum was severly lacking.

There's even some good ones in game design, help wanted, etc. I notice Boolean has created quite a few, they're very helpful.

Quote: Original post by Avatar God
Kazgoroth got into it, and has a thread even more amazing than this one

Our threads serve different needs, yours is damned useful as well. [smile]

Woo!

I remember when Boolean was just another guy... then he went and made that comic... and dozens of useful threads in the writing forum... and the humor portal... and basically everything...

Right, so I'll finish adding the 'nix ones tomorrow, gonna grab some sleep for now.

Okay, got the original thread organized and updated. If anyone has more suggestions for my thread or Kaz's, just post or PM away!

And, as always, you all get rating boosts for the excellent additions to GDNet.

Huh, I missed some things from the first thread, interestingly.

Scream Tracker, By Future Crew (Freeware)
Impulse Tracker, by Jeffrey Lim (Freeware)

//EDIT: Some people still use versions DOS, or older Windows OSes, these can still be of use. You might want to put a note that both of these are DOS apps though.

(from Kaz)

and GarageBand, possibly.

Anyways, I'll add these, too.