Software I Use

Sequencers

• Cakewalk Sonar 4

  Currently becoming my primary sequencing package.

  Cakewalk Home Studio 2002

  This package lasted me for quite a while. I upgraded to Sonar 4.

  Tracktion

  I played with the demo of Tracktion version 1. Very easy to use. I would have went with Tracktion version 2 (adds MIDI sync, which I need with my synths), but the price was a little high ($200) for a lesser known app. Give it a try. Wicked and VERY useful interface. Very easy to use. The first version is still for sale for $80.

  Voyetra MIDI Orchestrator

  I keep this around as I have some older songs that were written using it. I don't have it installed, though.

Synths and Plugins

VST and DirectX plugins are becoming the norm. I still prefer hardware synths (less CPU usage), but I find myself using VSTs for effects and post-production work as well as some nice synths.

• Native Instruments Kompakt

  fxpansion DR-008

  Dream Station (comes with HS and Sonar)

  NOVAkILL Synths

  These are SynthEdit plugins, but are some of the fattest I've used. Get them! But be warned you will need a badass system to use them (well, something with a processor >=PR1500).

  reFX Claw

  Muon Tao -- more 303 style

  This doesn't appear to be available here any more. Check KVR Audio

  db-audioware dB-T tempo delay

  A nice tempo delay.

  Vincent Burel plugins

  This was the only place I've found these free ones. Surrounder and Stereoizer are cool and PPDisto is harsh.

  Kjærhus Audio -- Classic plugins

  Includes such greats as Classic EQ, Classic Reverb, Classic Chorus, and Classic Master Limiter. Get them all.

Other software

This is other software I use that should be mentioned

• Audacity audio editor

  Open Source project. This also has support for VST plugins, but they must be put into the install directory. I use this for post-production mastering

  Sound Forge XP

  Old, but works for what I use it for: quick audio recording and normalization.

  CDex

  A GREAT CD ripper and MP3 encoder (uses lame library). Typically encodes better than some commercial rippers and encoders. Try it for yourself. All my MP3s are encoded using this

I also tryed out some Playstation 2 stuff...

• PlayStation 2 MTV MusicGenerator 2 (Details)
• PlayStation 2 Frequency (Details)