Compiled by Peter
Webster and David Williams
(Copyright © 2000-2008 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. McCormick's (www.mccormicksnet.com), MusicBarn.com (formerly AABACA) (www.musicbarn.com), Lentine's (www.lentine.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 the titles here are presented in described or highlighted in the text. The title in bold is followed by the publisher with a website link to determine 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.
The last column indicates the computer operating system as of the latest version we have checked.
A short description is included.
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
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
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Teacher Resource
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 LE 5, Peak Pro 5 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 9, Sound Forge 9 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 3 Adobe $149
Win
Records multiple tracks of digital audio. Advanced mastering and editing features.
Supports many plugins and surround sound. MIDI files can be integrated.
ProTools 7 M-Audio or Digidesign $300 (Often bundled with
hardware purchase) 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/$59 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)
ACID American Idol, ACID Music Studio, ACID Pro 6 Sony
Media $49/$375 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
7 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 Version 4 XL, SONAR Producer 6 Cakewalk $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/ Logic Pro Apple
Computer $149-$399 MacX
Professional-level sequencer in two versions. A number of plugins are included.
(MIDI keyboard recommended)
Cubase
SE3, Cubase Studio 4, Cubase 4 Steinberg/Yamaha $149-800
Hybrid
Cubase 4 Professional-level sequencer in multiple versions. A number of plugins
are included. (MIDI keyboard
recommended)
PowerTracks Pro Audio PG Music $49 D Win
Inexpensive sequencer
that does digital audio and sequencing. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Tracktion 2 Mackie $80
D MacX/Win
Cross-platform, full-featured
sequencer with simple one-window design for accessing all features from mixer,
tracks, plug-ins, audio editing. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Digital Performer 5 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 Propellerhead $400
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. Teaching with
Reason is a more limited version with multiple installs (10) and includes
lesson plans for teaching electronic music design.
Garritan Personal Orchestra Garritan $189 Hybrid
Set of virtual orchestral instruments. Support as a plugin resource for standard
sequencers and notation programs.
NotePad, Allegro, Print Music, Finale 2008 MakeMusic Free-$249 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.
PrintMusic! and Allegro are less expensive and less capable versions. Scanning
capabilities included (SmartScore Lite). NotePad (free) provides limited capability.
(MIDI keyboard recommended)
SmartScore 5 (several
versions) Musitek $99-$300
Hybrid
Scanning software that works for both Finale and Sibelius. Supports MusicXML.
Various levels of capability.
Sibelius Student Edition, Sibelius 5 Sibelius $79-$249
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.
Latest version includes space for saving composition ideas. Excellent Supports
the creation of teaching materials. SCORCH plug-in for playing
and viewing Sibelius files on the Web. Includes some digital sounds.
Strong scanning options (Photoscore Lite). Sibelius Student Edition is limited
to 8 staves. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Photoscore Ultimate 5 Neuratron $49-$249
D Hybrid
Scanning software
that works for both Finale and Sibelius. Supports Music XML.
NoteAbility Pro 2 Opus
1 Music $225 (Canadian) D MacX
Alternative notation program
with features that match Finale and Sibelius.
Protege, Notion Notion
Music $69-$499 Hybrid
Advanced notation program with excellent sound support.
Auralia 2 (Mac) 3 (Win) Sibelius $95-$119
Basic aural skills with a nice interface and sound effects. Best for junior to
senior high.
Musition 2 Sibelius $99 Win
Compliments Auralia with more drill and practice exercises.
Essentials of Music Theory (Volumes 1-3) Alfred
Publishing $49 Win
Interactive series of lessons and exercises for music theory.
MacGAMUT 2003 MacGAMUT $35 Hybrid
Comprehensive aural skills program that covers intervals, scales, chords, and
melodic dictation. Recommended for college-level. (MIDI keyboard recommended.)
MiBAC Music Lessons I and II MiBAC Software $93-$123 D MacX/Win
Interactive tutorial and drill programs for music theory and ear training fundamentals
(Lessons I) and chords and harmony skills (Lessons II)
(MIDI keyboard recommended.)
Practica Musica 5 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.)
TimeSketch Editor, TimeSketch Editor Pro ECS $90-$400 D Hybrid
Allows students and teachers to create bubble charts that show form of a composition.
Charts can be labeled and act as hot spots for playback. Editor Pro allows
Internet use.
MIDISaurus Series Town4Kids $39-$130
Win
Several volumes (12) of interactive
CDs that each the fundaments of music to children ages4-10. Guided instruction
is used to help children solve simple tasks. The "Composers","Notation", "Instruments",
and "Rhythm" (Volumes
9-12) are recommended. Sold as single volumes or sets of four.
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.
Thinkin' Things I and II Riverdeep/Edmark $30 Hybrid
Levels I and II each contain
music modules that are entertaining for children, ages 4-10.Drills pitch,
rhythm and the ability to remember patterns. Basic-level sequencing skills.
Additional creative tasks as well.
Groovy Music: Groovy Shapes, Jungle, and City Sibelius $57
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).
Super Duper Music Looper Sony
Media $20 Win
Looping software program for young children in the heritage of the ACID software
series. Software includes several loops.
Subotnick's Making Music, Making More, Hearing Music, and Playing
Music Creatingmusic.com $35 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.
SmartMusic MakeMusic $20-$90 D
Intelligent accompaniment for vocalists and instrumentalists. Over 5,000 titles
available. Scores can be created using Finale 2008. Newest version has advanced
assessment and online management capabilities. Subscription basis: $90 single;
$20 after 3 student subscriptions.
Singing Coach Unlimited Carry-a-Tune
Technologies $90 Win
Pitch tracking software that helps teach accurate singing using interactive
graphic representation. Software also includes tutorials about singing.
Band-in-a-Box 2008 (Win), Band-in-a-Box 12 (Mac) PG
Music $50 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. Band-in-a-Box is the flagship program
from PGMusic, but the company also markets a
collection of interactive CDs that feature different music styles such as latin
or jazz piano, jazz guitar and other offerings. (MIDI keyboard recommended)
Starclass Sibelius $139
Hybrid
Collection of lesson plans tied to national standards. Additional resources
for teachers.
Sibelius Instruments Sibelius $100 Hybrid
Interactive CD that features information on and digital audio for instruments
and ensembles .Also includes a 500-item quiz database on content.