Hi There,

This is a growing list of good recording based software. Everything from sequencers to effects, to drum machines.

This list is for commercial packages that are fully featured and have a > $50 cost associated with them.

As usual, I'll maintain this list at the top - anyone with new ideas, post to the thread and I'll edit this post and add to the list.

Simple Recording Software

Multitrack Recording Software

1. Cubase/Nuendo
2. Logic
3. ProTools
4. Adobe Audition
5. Sonar
6. Reason
7. Mixcraft
8. Sonoma Wireworks
9. Ableton Live
10. Music Maker Premium

Virtual Effects (VST)

1. iZotope Ozone - Very popular VST Plugin, generally used in the Mastering Process.
2. Amplitube Amp/Cab Simulator
3. Axe Fx Ultra http://www.fractalaudio.com

Virtual Instruments (VSTi)

1. Toontracks EZDrummer is great for laying down drum tracks if you have a sequencer such as Reaper, Drumkit from Hell (DFH) is harder to usebut more versatile
2. Addictive Drums is a great alternative to EZDrummer
3. Edirol Orchestra
4. Adventus
5. Akoustik Piano
6. EWQL
7. Sample Tank
8. Sytrus
9. Broomstick Bass
10. Virtual Grand Piano


Drum Machine :

Tab Programs :

1. Guitar-Pro - The default tab program. The RSE and practice modes really make this worth the purchase, imo.


Sound Editing :

1.Steinburg Wavelab - Good program with lots of options, can also be used for final mastering of songs.

Utilities :

Don't forget about Adobe Audition.

This software is for multitrack recording and audio editing/producing.

It's around $350 USD for a brand new, unopened package, but I'm sure you could find it cheaper. It's pretty nice, but I don't know how it compares to the others. I know it works great for me; it can record tons of tracks at once, and you can even go in and edit individual sound waves if you really wanted.

This software is great for a Pod X3 Live! Although I have an older version, it has worked wonders for me. My personal setup is putting my mic into the input on my Pod X3 Live (I'll call it X3L from now on...) and also hooking up my guitar. I use two amps as monitors, and I record away. It's great because you can just play around on the guitar with a backing track playing on the computer, and then just record away.

Maybe I'm just ignorant to the other software, but this one sure works great for me.

More VSTS :
Broomstick Bass
EWQL Symphonic Orchestra
Edirol Orchestra
Adventus
Sytrus
Sampler Tank
Akoustik Piano

Aww Juan, help me out and get the links for them all ... please ? Thanks

Here's a few that I know Andrew:

EWQL

Sample Tank

Sytrus


Not sure but I think Akoustik Piano is a NI vsti

Cheers,
Tony

hehehe, don't worry.... that's the best I can find

Edirol Orchestra
Adventus
Akoustik Piano

Thanks guys - adding them to the top

i noticed that you dont have Sonar listed. Really good product. Can do just about anything from mulit track recording to midi sequencing and making drum tracks.

I would also add Reason. Really cool program that with digital synths, sequencers and drum machines. best interface ever.

All added, thanks!

Don't mention it, Mr. Cockburn

Forgot to mention Amplitube. Awesome amp modeling program. Has a simple stand alone version and can also be run as a VST. Bit pricy at $400 but man does it allow you to do allot.

• 14 Preamp and 14 EQ models
• 7 Power-Amp models
• 16 Cabinet models
• 6 Microphone models
• 21 Stomp Effect models
• 11 Rack Effect models
• High-precision Tuner
• 2 Guitar rig chains
• Plug-In and Standalone version

really cool simple interface that simulates real audio equipment.

Cool - added!

Keep 'em coming

I'll add one that I've been using:

-- Mixcraft, by Acoustica

They also have a drum loop/track creation product called Beatcraft, which I also bought.

Mixcraft is considered by some to be the Garaband for Windows. There is a free trial, so check it out.

Nice addition guitarrista-sean - not one I'd heard of .

Just to make Andrew's life easier can people try to add a link as well as details?

Acoustica

Cheers,
Tony

No, new one on me too - thanks for the link Tony!

I'm using the Sonoma Riffworks programe which is a really easy piece of software to use if you are not technically minded like myself.

Check out thier web site Sonoma Wireworks

You can download a free demo version tho you'll need the full version to copy any recordings to disc or podcast.

Its perhaps more use as a sketch book to get your ideas down but you can create a sophisicated track quite easily.

Check out some tracks on the riffcaster page Riffcaster

Thanks - added!

Hey hey Andrew -

This is what I use:

Ableton Live

http://www.ableton.com/

Added - thanks

As an aside - Live! is about to/just got an update to v7.

Let me know what you think Tony... I'm still using Live 5 so I'm wondering if i should upgrade.

Will do m8 - I'm on 6 at the mo and hopefully will get 7 very soon (Xmas is coming .)

I prefer Sonar LE very easy to use

I'd definetly put EZ Drummer or Drumkit From Hell up in the Drum Machines

EZD was already there - I added a reference to DFH as well

Hi,
I use multitrack studio with an Edirol UA-25 Interface (and an Audigy 2 ZS soundcard).

I can't recommend MTStudio enough. It is very easy to use and amazingly cheap.

For vocals I use 2 Takstar PCM-6100 condenser microphones that I bought of ebay (new) for £10 each.

When I have shown the set up to 2 of my friends they have gone straight out and bought the whole lot to the same spec.

It is amazing what you can get for your money if you do a bit of research.

Regards,

Ray

May i add a really awsome VST instrument for super realistic piano.


http://www.artvista.net/Virtual_Grand_Piano.html

Listen to this awsome sample as well, rich sound.

http://www.artvista.net/VGP%20Demos/VGP_Im...sation_Demo.mp3

Broomstick Bass just arrived.

Question:
Is it possible to change the speed of the bass, when using the "auto-mode" ?? (other than x1/2 or x2)


Never mind! Got it, thanks Andrew ...

Hi every body.Im very interested in this line of work(music prodction)..
Considering sofware i try'd every one but the best paltform for me is Steinberg...Nuendo 3....
Im waithing on my E-MU 0404 sound card for start..later Im planig to by RME....
VST-i exedently found great bass guitar in EDIROL Hyper Cavanas...works great in all octavs(with out EQ aswell)..
offcourse Trilogy is great...but only if you play it trough some midi keabord....
BFD is my favorite drums..I dont have it yet(my friend dose)..and that is the best VST drum i evere hurd...

Sequel is a cheap version, spin on Cubase from Steinberg

I couldn`t find Guitar Rig 3 at your list. It`s a amp simulator to computer, and I`m gonna buy it for my next paycheck:)

Link to main site

Ah, remember that Adobe Audition is the name that Adobe gives to Cool Edit when they absorbed it

Another VST: Hardcore Bass http://www.soundsonline.com/Quantum-Leap-H...-pr-EW-156.html
Trylogy: http://www.spectrasonics.net/instruments/trilogy.html

Thanks for the links Juan.

How about Guitar Rig 3? It is the best todays guitar software modeler

Virtual Guitarist and Virtual Bassists VST's are nice and handy for laying down some fast backings...

Another great one, Peavey Revalver MK III --> http://www.peavey.com/products/revalver/
I have listened some demos from one friend and looks really good !!! and in this site you can download a demo !! hehe, cool, for sure

Hello! Maybe you should add Samplitude. I came across a great bargain, because I paid like 7$ for Samplitude 9 SE. Although it is limited a bit, but still it's a great recording software! I don't feel those limits, because there are so many tools there and I don't use most of them.

More VSTs, specially for voices:

Autotune:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNSBK8QVVcA...feature=related
(video in spanish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5oi7UFPRY8)
Melodine: http://www.celemony.com/cms/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE-wrYK8JSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtoTjioZD2M

Nobody mentioned the industry standard notation software. SIBELIUS. Works great for tab as well. In this program you can make professionally looking score for all philharmonic orchestra. Every instrument on the planet is included and you can also work with video while composing for a movie. All major guitar magazines use it for notation/tab in their print.

WOW, thanks Emir, sounds pretty cool, I'm gonna search a trial version and I'm gonna try it !!!

Sure, give it a try. The only problem is the price. £595

Sibelius is very cool indeed, great software. Cubase also has a good score option. Lot of composers use it today for composing (the cost of making a classical composition for the orchestra is too much, so why not doing it in MIDI)

OUCH, a bit expensive for me... anyway I'll try it

Hi Andrew

I missed:

1) Axe Fx Ultra http://www.fractalaudio.com Which is very expencive

a cheaper option is music macer which has a big library of bass, guitar, vocals, drum loops you can buy cheap

2) http://www.magix.com/uk/music-maker/premium/

The Axe-Fx is mainly a guitar amp simulator, not recording software or VST.

Thank, I'll add these to the list.

WOW, I listened some demos last days and it sounds AWESOME !!!! I think I'll go for it !! but I need to sell some stuff before

As for VSTi bass there are also:

Trilogy total bass: http://www.spectrasonics.net/instruments/trilogy.html
Steinberg Virtual Bassist: http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/legac...ualbassist.html

http://www.simulanalog.org/guitarsuite.htm -freeware
Liquid Instruments

hi guys

does anybody know "Sequel 2" from Steinberg ?
seems to be a cheaper version of "Cubase"
didnt see it in the list

here is a link
http://www.steinberg.net/de/products/music...n/sequel_2.html

also a demo available

cya
Harry