Compiled by Peter
Webster and David Williams
(Copyright © 2000-2011 by P.R. Webster & D.B. Williams)
We know that each of the titles below has been used in educational settings and each is well regarded by the musicians that use them. Other titles not included here may also be effective for music teaching and learning but simply have not been evaluated by us. Please send us your recommendations. We have no financial relationship with any of the companies or vendors mentioned here. Check for current pricing, educational lab packs, and more details.
Possible Sources for Purchase. MusicBarn.com (formerly AABACA) (www.musicbarn.com), Academic Superstore (www.academicsuperstore.com), SoundTree (www.soundtree.com), and Kelly's Music and Computers (www.kellysmusicandcomputers.com).
How to Use This Listing. We have created several categories of software dependent on use. These categories conform to the organization of sections from our text, Experiencing Music Technology. Many of the titles here are presented in described or highlighted in the text. The title in italics is followed by the publisher with the latest versions and detailed information. Prices are highly variable so shop around! Online price might not be the lowest.
"D" means that the software may be downloaded from the publisher's site. If there is a fee for the software, online cost might not be the lowest compared to other vendor prices. A short description is included.
The last column indicates the computer operating system as of the latest version we have checked.
* MacX/Win = available for both Mac and Windows
* Win = Windows Only
* MacX = Macintosh OS X only
* Hybrid = both Win and Mac in the same package.
Please contact us if we have
incorrect information or if we should consider adding other titles to this
list.
Click on the following to go right to the categories of interest to you.
DIGITAL AUDIO MANAGEMENT
AND EDITING
MULTITRACK: DIGITAL AUDIO (primarily)
MULTITRACK: LOOPING
MIDI/DIGITAL AUDIO SEQUENCING
VIRTUAL SYNTHS, SAMPLERS, AND INSTRUMENTS
NOTATION and MUSIC SCANNING
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Drill and Practice
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Flexible Practice
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Guided Instruction
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Game-Based and Creative
iTunes Apple Computer Free D MacX/Win
Manages digital audio and video files on computer and supports external devices such as the iPod series. Creates iMixes, playlists, podcasts, and audio CD burning. Links to iTunes Store.
Audacity SourceForge Free D MacX/Win
Digital file editor with a selection of special effects. Allows layering separate tracks of audio. Saves files in standard formats (mp3 requires added free resource). Open source software.
Peak Studio LE, Peak Studio BIAS $129-599 D MacX
Series of digital audio editors. Supports plug-ins. CD burning. Several effects and file saving options, depending on level of software package.
Sound Forge Audio Studio 10, Sound Forge 10 Sony Media $59-$299 Win
Series of digital audio editors. Supports plug-ins. CD burning. Several effects and file saving options, depending on level of software package.
Creator Suite 10 (Win), Toast 8 (Mac) Roxio $79
Create, master, and burn CD and DVD formats.
Deck LE 3.5, Deck 3.5 BIAS $300 (Deck LE comes as a 5-pack) D MacX
Records multiple tracks of digital audio. Also offers editing, processing, and mastering capabilities.
Audition CS5.5 Adobe $149 MacX/Win
Records multiple tracks of digital audio. Advanced mastering and editing features. Supports many plugins and surround sound. MIDI files can be integrated.
ProTools 10 (various levels, can be bundled with hardware) AVID $79- $300 MacX/Win
Industry standard multiple track digital audio software. ProTools is most often paired with hardware purchases. Software supports the integration of MIDI files. Many options for routing of digital audio recording and supports many plugin options.
GarageBand Apple Computer Free with computer purchase/MacX
Software comes as part of the iLife series with Macintosh computer purchase. Can be bought separately, together with several extra loops. Supports digital audio tracks with software instrument sounds and MIDI tracks, as well as looping capabilities with many built-in loops. Notation possible. Compositions can be saved in several formats and can be imported to iTunes. Useful for creating podcasts. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Mixcraft 5 Acoustica $75 D Win
One of the newer entries into the sequencer/looping software category. Thousands of loops. Often noted as a Windows alternative to Apple’s Garageband.
ACID Music Studio 7, ACID Pro 7 Sony Media $64/$300 Win
Music Studio 6, or ACID Pro 6 Family of looping software products with various capabilities. For some products, loops may need to purchased separately.
Live 8 Abelton $199 D MacX/Win Hybrid
Pattern-based composition and performance software based on MIDI and digital audio loops. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
SONAR Home Studio 7, SONAR 7 (several levels) Cakewalk/Roland $149-$490 Win
MIDI and digital audio sequencers with loop-based composition tools. Has some MIDI and digital audio effects processing and plugins. Includes a General MIDI soft synth. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Logic Express 9/ Logic Pro 9 Apple Computer $149-$399 MacX
Professional-level sequencer in two versions. Easy learning curve for a Garageband user. Plays Garageband files and includes many more software instruments, loops, and effects processing possibilities than Garageband (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Cubase 6 (several levels) Steinberg/Yamaha $79-500 Win
Cubase 6 Professional-level sequencer in multiple versions (Sequel is the least expense member of the family and is similar in function to Garageband). A number of plugins are included. (MIDI keyboard
recommended)
PowerTracks Pro Audio 2011 PG Music $49 D Win
Inexpensive sequencer that does digital audio and sequencing. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Digital Performer 7 Mark of the Unicorn $400 MacX
Professional-level sequencer with digital audio. Many advanced features and, for many, an industry standard. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Reason 6 Propellerheads $449 Hybrid
Virtual recording studio with simulated transport controls, mixers, samplers, sequencers, granular-analog-digital-modeling synthesizers available as virtual devices for creating and managing music creation and recording.
Garritan Personal Orchestra Garritan $189 Hybrid
Set of virtual orchestral instruments. Support as a plugin resource for standard sequencers and notation programs.
NotePad 2011, Print Music 2011 Finale 20011 MakeMusic $9-$340 Hybrid
Music notation programs that combines powerful printing with sequencing in real-time. Printing is very elaborate, allowing user much freedom in placing graphics. Newest version of Finale includes many digital sounds from the Garritan sound library. Offers an expandability capability with plug-ins. Supports the creation of teaching materials. Files can be saved to be used in SmartMusic. NotePad and PrintMusic are less expensive and less capable versions. Scanning capabilities included (MIDI keyboard recommended)
SmartScore X Pro Musitek $199 Hybrid
Music scanning software that saves files in Finale, pdf, and MusicXML formats.
Sibelius Student, Sibelius First, Sibelius 7 Sibelius $99-$295 Hybrid
Strong competitor to Finale as a notation package that is designed to offer high-end features. Kontact and Garritan instrument sounds. Expandable with plugins. Supports the creation of teaching materials. SCORCH plug-in for playing and viewing Sibelius files on the Web. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Photoscore Ultimate 7 Neuratron $249 D Hybrid
Music scanning software that saves files in Sibelius, pdf, and MusicXML formats.
Noteflight Noteflight.com Free (Premium service available for $79 per year)
Online notation program that offers several options for music printing. Premium service extends capabilities dramatically. Saves files online for later retrieval and sharing with others.
Ricci Adams' MusicTheory.net musictheroy,net Free
MacX/Win
Online tutor for music theory. Also available as a complete archive to download
and use off line. Several options for traditional theory lessons as well as aural
skills trainers.
Auralia 4 Sibelius $99 D Hybrid
Basic aural skills with a nice interface and sound effects. Best for junior to senior high.
Musition 4 Sibelius $99 D Hybrid
Compliments Auralia with more drill and practice exercises with music theory in mind.
MacGAMUT 6 MacGAMUT $40 D Hybrid
Comprehensive aural skills program that covers intervals, scales, chords, and melodic dictation. Recommended for college-level. (MIDI keyboard recommended.)
Practica Musica 6 ArsNova $100 D Hybrid
Many drills and multi-levels. Excellent system for customizing dictation melodies. Alternative tuning systems for computer sound offered. Good for junior high through college. Newest edition features Internet server options and file export. (MIDI keyboard recommended.)
MusicAce I, II, Maestro Harmonic Vision $35-$89 Hybrid
Guided instruction software for music fundamentals. Designed in units that progress from simple to complex. Has a "Doodle Pad" for experimenting with composing. Maestro version combines both I and II. Multiple user versions available.
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Game-Based and Creative
Groovy Music: Shapes, Jungle, and City Sibelius D $69 each Hybrid
Combination of music training exercises and music loop sequencer design with visual metaphor for young children. Groovy Shapes (5-7 years), Jungle ( 7-9 years), and City (9-11years).
Subotnick's Making Music, Making More, Hearing Music, and Playing Music, World Music Beginner, World Music Intermediate Creatingmusic.com D $39 each Hybrid
Making Music and Making More Music are free-form drawing program that allows children to create polyphonic musical gestures and manipulate them freely. Stores compositions. Hearing Music is a set of pattern-based games and Playing Music stresses experimentation with music
performance. World Music series stresses the sounds of non-Western musical instruments.
SmartMusic MakeMusic D $36 annual subscription for students.
Intelligent accompaniment for vocalists and instrumentalists. Thousands of titles available. Custom scores can be created using Finale. Newest version has advanced assessment and online management capabilities with a teacher subscription for $140 yearly.
Band-in-a-Box 2012 (Win), Band-in-a-Box 2011.5 (Mac) PG Music D $129 MacX/Win
Music accompaniment program for improvisation. Computer creates an ensemble of instruments that accompanies improvisation. Many music styles are available and user can generate custom styles. Also available are collection of interactive CDs that feature different music styles such as latin or jazz piano, jazz guitar and other offerings. (MIDI keyboard recommended)