Drum and Music Computer Software

There is a ton of free and inexpensive drum and music software on the Net, but much of it isn't worth the download. Here is some quality software that you can download to emulate drums and percussion. And it weighs a lot less than the real gear, so transportation will be a pleasure.

You'll also find drum/music notation programs and just about any other software that will help you create your music. So check 'em out, whether you're creating your own drum loops, writing songs, or just having fun with music.

Adobe Audition
This software, originally called Cool Edit Pro, was renamed Adobe Audition after Adobe Systems Incorporated acquired the technology assets of Syntrillium Software in May 2003. This new version does everything the original did and more! You can add special effects, slow down/speed up tempo without affecting pitch, translate one audio format to another, or practically anything else you'd want to do to audio. It's one of my favorite audio tools! Download a free trial demo and take it for a test ride.

Audacity
If you can't afford Adobe Audition, then Audacity is your best bet! And the price is right - Free! It's open source so download it now and try it out.

CakeWalk
Download a trial version of Sonar, the latest digital multitrack recording system from Cakewalk. Or check out their less expensive Home Studio software, it supports unlimited audio & MIDI tracks, loop creation, composing and printing sheet music, 24-bit audio, real-time MIDI effects, and more.

D-Tab Drum Tab Editor
D-Tab enables easy creation of Drum Tablature and percussion notation. Written by a drummer for drummers. Curent price $14.95.

Fruityloops (FL Studio)
This software began as a simple drum loop creator but has developed into a complete song creation tool. It comes in three various strength versions. Download the free demo. Shareware.

Goldwave
A comprehensive digital audio editor/recorder you can use to play, edit, mix, and analyze audio, or apply special effects. Supports many formats. Shareware.

MPC-Tutor
Here's a site for users of the Akai MPC2000XL drum sampler. It contains tutorials, FAQs, and high quality audio samples available for immediate download, as well as a selection of free drum loops and a busy discussion forum

Myriad Software
They welcome you to download all of their programs and use them for free, as long as you like. These shareware programs can be run in six different languages and include music notation, music recognition, virtual singer software, and more.

Propellerhead Software
These guys put out some cool software, including: ReBirth – the ultimate techno-music machine designed using actual sampled sounds of the classic Roland TB-303, the TR-808 and TR-909; ReCycle – the ultimate tool for sampled grooves; REASON – the complete software synth; and more. Check them all out. Download the demos.

Roxio
Software includes their popular Easy CD Creator software, Toast 5 for the Mac, VideoWave, PhotoSuite, and CineMatic.

Steinberg
They've got Cubase pro-music and recording software, WaveLab digital audio editing, MP3/CDR writer, and more.

Stomper Hyperion 5.0
This windows program was originally intended to reproduce 909, 808, and Simmons drum sounds, but has since been expanded with several different waveforms, resonant filters and more. According to its author Zap, the program is Free. And there's a solution for you Mac users as well.