Looking like a classic DJ set-up, with a mixer and two decks, Virtual DJ will be instantly accessible to DJs and newcomers alike.

Features

You can sample and loop tracks live, add effects, and there's a very natural-feeling scratch mode. For the adventurous, there's a lot you can add to your mixes with Virtual DJ.

Usability

Quality

Virtual DJ is accessible to beginners and packed with extra features. The downside of the software is that it sticks too much to what a physical DJ setup is - other programs offer four decks and more user-friendly interfaces - small knobs may be great for your fingers, but they're less use on a screen.

Conclusion

Download Virtual DJ Free Home Edition 7.4 in Softonic

Interface

Let's first take a look at the FL Studio interface. Users familiar with FL Studio will instantly recognize the dark green tone and rounded windows of past versions. However, the structure of the program can be difficult for a first-time user to grasp.

The browser window on the left is your resource for any file you will need, from presets to projects and scores. Clicking on an item will open up a drop down selection of specific elements.

This library can be filled with more of your own loops and samples and carries an impressive amount of plug-ins like DirectWave, EQUO or Fruity Squeeze. FLStudio has a smart search function to quickly find any track, tool or effect.

Usability

To edit your tracks with FL Studio you can use the original pattern window, which contains all the instruments you have selected. You will have to create the pattern desired for each instrument.

You can also use the playlist window, divided into patterns at the top and audio tracks at the bottom. The playlist view features a handy paintbrush tool to color in your pattern. You can also decide to edit your tracks with the piano roll view, quite handy if you have a midi keyboard plugged in.

Anyone interested in connecting real instruments will appreciate that FL Studio also handles multiple midi-ins and features foot pedal sustain support. The FL Studio mixer features a good number of presets and you can fine tune your track with a high degree of precision.

Quality

FL Studio can be tricky at first; however those familiar with sequencers should have no trouble with it. All instruments and samplers are stereo, so to have multiple outputs you will have to create the desired number of instances.

Conclusion

FL Studio is a very good sequencer for anyone looking to create beats. The handy browser view and multiple editing windows like playlist, piano roll or pattern let you work how you feel best. A finely-tuned mixer and a large library of plug-ins also make this a very exciting audio editing application.

Download FL Studio 10.0.9c in Softonic

AV Voice Changer Software is designed to let you alter your voice - to make it funny or at least unrecognizable.

Voice Changer Software can alter your voice live, as you speak into a microphone, and also alter recordings and audio streams. The demo is very limited in what you can do, but gives you a good idea of how it can morph your voice.

The fastest way to change your voice is to plug in your microphone and click 'nickvoices', which gives you a range of presets. For example, if you're male, you can choose things like Baby, Prudent Girl, Schoolmistress or Old Woman. It has to be said that to our ears most of these sound fairly similar, and unrealistic. You can alter the pitch, tone and frequency of your voice manually in the full version of AV Voice Changer Software.

Nevertheless, the results are quite amusing even if they won't convince someone you are not who you say you are (probably a good thing). The AV Voice Changer Software interface is a bit awkward, and the demo is severely hampered by a nag message reminding you to buy the full version every single time you click on a button not active in the demo. This makes using the demo quite annoying, but with some patience, AV Voice Changer Software can be quite fun.

If you want to add effects to, or disguise your voice, AV Voice Changer Software is a simple app that does just that.

Download Voice Changer Software Basic 7.0.52 in Softonic

If you're serious about creating and recording your own songs and tracks, MAGIX Music Maker is not a bad place to start.

It includes sounds, a drum machine, synthesizer and more. With a microphone, you can import your recorded sounds too, like vocals or live instruments, to mix with your digital creations too. MAGIX Music Maker also features midi support.

The interface in MAGIX Music Maker is a little scary to start with, and novices will probably have some trouble getting into it. There are help files, and online video too, but currently they're not developed enough. Nevertheless, MAGIX Music Maker is fun to play around with.

You can quite easily get a drum beat going, and add some strange noises to it. Altering sounds is easy, as there are a variety of effects you can add. The more you explore, the more possibilities open up in MAGIX Music Maker. The problem with all of this is lack of explanation. It's a shame the demo doesn't come with preloaded examples and proper tutorials, as you are left to just mess around by yourself.

If you're looking for an in depth music maker, MAGIX Music Maker could be the answer, as it does almost everything the bedroom producer might want. Novices might find it frustrating though.

Download MAGIX Music Maker MX in Softonic

Enough mystery? Not in the mood for another crime story? "Lost Horizon" brings the classic adventure back to its roots: the 1930s, exotic settings all over the world, and the dangerous quest for one of the greatest secrets of mankind makes adventurers' hearts beat faster.

The Makers of the award-winning Secret Files series invite you to experience a technically outstanding, carefully designed game featuring an absolutely thrilling story at the side of Kim and Fenton.

Features. Unique handmade graphic style. Exotic settings you've never seen before. Movie-like story by novelist Claudia Kern. Both realistic and funny dialogues.

Excellent technical appearance and minimal system requirements. Fast-paced presentation of the exciting story in movie style. Innovative puzzle design, always fair and logical.

Minimum System Requirements:Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7. Pentium IV 2 GHz Single Core or 100 % compatible CPU. 512 MB RAM. DirectX 9-compatible AGP or PCI Express 64 MB video card or better.

5 GB of free hard disk space.

Download Lost Horizon in Softonic

BPM Studio is a popular choice among Softonic users which might be down to the wealth of possibilities available in this music mixer. This application will allow you to read, edit, mix, encode and write your tracks with precision.

DJs and music fans alike will appreciate the hardware look of the interface and the inclusion of all the essential buttons and functions expected in a professional mixer. It’s very easy to switch between the 3 different views: lists, mixer and ripper, streamlining your music creation process without disruptions.

Thankfully BPM Studio Pro integrates an explorer view of your music library, for quick dragging and dropping of the tracks you need. Although the application only comes with 30 original sounds and tracks you can effortlessly add all the sound you need. The program keeps a record of the tracks you searched for and the play lists you created for quick access. You can use the search function to quickly find tracks in library.

Over to the editing functions, BPM Studio lets you set up to 6 different cue points in an individual track. The sample player is nestled between the two track modules and features a sample editor to modify saved sounds. Use the wave editing view to edit more precisely.

BPM Studio also diversifies your cross fading possibilities. You can manually switch from one track to the other, let the program do it automatically or set the track lines yourself. While this last option is the most enjoyable, it’s also the least precise of the three.

On the downside, while BPM Studio is studded with options for editing, mixing and writing, the interface often feels stuffy and overloaded and it can become difficult to read functions or drag counter switches. The equalizer for example is very complete and even offers a graphic view, yet there is no numerical indication of the changes you are making.

The audio presets are limited to 5 (lounge, DJ, party, office, radio) vague choices. We also believe that with only 30 sounds and tracks pre-included in the program, BPM Studio doesn’t have a rich enough library of sounds. However this is very subjective and it’s quite possible that you will be happy with this collection of tracks and sounds.

While there are some drawbacks to this application, we consider BPM Studio a solid application for anyone serious about mixing tracks. The interface is well structured and all your tracks, edits and functions are accessible. The extensive editing possibilities will open you up to hours of track tweaking and polishing.

Download BPM Studio Pro 4.9.94 in Softonic

Game Maker requires no prior understanding of programming or game creating experience. It simply requires you to cut and paste elements into a game much as if you were using a word processor.

Game Maker is very much community-driven meaning there is a thriving forum of users and reams of user manuals to help you get to grips with it. YoYo Games offers eight clearly explained lessons to get you started.

This is not to say you'll be able to create great games in minutes. Game Maker still takes some getting used to and learning. Game Maker is also limited by size - once your creations reach a certain size, you can't develop them any further although for beginners, it will be a long time before they get to that stage.

Game Maker is an interesting project that provides a great platform to take your first steps into game creation.

Download Game Maker Lite 8.0 in Softonic

There is a short response time with a range of nine octaves ranging from C1 to C10 with a precision that is better than 0. 1 Hz up to ~C8. The Chromatia Tuner software program supports more than thirty different scales and temperaments including historic tunings and well- tempered tunings, traditional folk scales and the modern equal temperament tuning.

The user can add octave stretching and select the root key for all tunings. A tool that is useful for instrument makers is the report feature which creates a table of measurement values.

For instruments that create very short tones, the Chromatia Tuner software program has a note hold time control. With the beat tone option, you can tune your instrument without looking at the computer screen with the easily readable tuning meter.

The optional MIDI input allows the user to select notes from a keyboard (in “manual mode”). Also, with the optional MIDI output, the detected note can be sent to a synth.

This program is compatible with all Windows versions from Windows 95 and newer. The Chromatia Tuner software program is a resourceful tool for instrument makers, tuners, and of course, instrument players.

Download Chromatia Tuner 3.5 in Softonic

Perhaps the main asset of DSS DJ though, is its beat-matching function, which syncs tracks with the click of a button. The auto-DJ option is also very effective, and ideal for taking breathers from a hectic session at the digital decks.

Download DSS DJ 5.6 in Softonic

I have a confession to make - when I see an audio mixing program to review, I usually try to pass it on to someone else. They're just so complicated, especially for a tone-deaf writer like me! When I saw trakAxPC, however, I noticed that it is supposed to be especially suitable for beginners. This has to be the one for me, right?!

Well, trakAxPC might just have cracked it. This application is very user-friendly, which is half the battle. The whole interface can be customized, from the position and size of the panels, to which elements show up when you are using the application. Even managing your tracks is simple, with drag and drop capabilities and extensive context menu options. trakAxPC also comes with a great selection of online videos, tutorials, guides and help, so you'll have plenty of support if it is your first venture into the world of audio mixing.

Even though the program is especially suitable for beginners, that doesn't mean that it's a soft option - trakAxPC has all the audio (and video) editing options you would expect, although the effects don't quite stretch to the same levels as some editing apps aimed at more advanced users. Even so, trakAxPC allows you to do all the cutting, copying, mixing and synching that you would expect in any other editing program.

trakAxPC provides a gentle but professional gateway to the world of audio and video editing.

Download TrakAxPC 3.01.1 in Softonic

orDrumbox is a software drum machine desktop application. It features an audio sequencer to create drum patterns You can compose music and beats with this new generation of sound tracker.

Features:

• Pattern oriented
• Automatic composer
• Automatic sound assignations
• Drum kits/ loops
• Importing/ exporting

Download orDrumbox 0.6.5 in Softonic

AfterBurner 3D is a tribute to an arcade and later home console, classic. In the original, non-3D, version you got to fly an F-14 around while hordes of enemy fighters attempted to stop you.

In this remake you also fly an F-14 and although the pace is a bit slower you still get the same feeling as you did with the original. Just like in the original you will require a lot of concentration and quite a bit of skill to beat your enemies. The makers have also included some cheats which may help you complete the game but any high score obtained that way will not be added to the list.

Download After Burner 3D 1.0 in Softonic

Ever wanted to try making your own beats? Then you should know there are loads of excellent and accessible music editors out there. Samplisizer is one of them, and while it’s mainly aimed at newcomers to the music-making trade, it has enough qualities to keep you excited.

Samplisizer’s biggest asset is its samples library which features more than 3,500 loops and samples (drum, bass, chords, effects), divided in two drag-down menus. A third drag-down list acts as sub-category to refine your search. If you’ve chosen drum loops for example, you can select house, drum’n’bass or downbeat only.

Making a track is easy. Start off by selecting a drum beat and drag it onto the working field. Next select a bass line or chord loop. Add extra sounds at particular points of your track. Make sure you place each different sample on a different channel. This will make it easy to tell them all apart and will give you a good overview of the structure of the track. It helps to see where a sample is missing or if you’re offbeat. The key is to measure the beat and know when is the right time to introduce or end a sample.

When you’re happy with the construction of your track, you can play around with the sound volume and BPM settings of each sample to tweak your piece. Setting channel volume in Samplisizer is easy, just drag the small button on the left of each channel. To set BPM you need to click a button at the bottom right of the sample library. General volume is controlled by the big rotating disk at the bottom right of the interface. Maybe if all the sound settings were united in one part of the application it would make it easier for the user.

That’s when we come to the problems with Samplisizer. As you might have guessed from our previous observation, the application suffers from a cluttered and confusing interface. Buttons are scattered all around the program window and the interface is of the same gray metal-like appearance, making it hard to make out what buttons correspond to what function.

Editing tracks is fairly easy, thanks to the drag and drop, cut and paste feel, but there’s no way you can extend or reduce elements and you can’t even zoom in on them to get more precision. Samplisizer limits you to 12 channels, giving you much less scope than most music editors, which often offer up to 36 channels. Exporting is another issue. While the operation is very easy to do, click on the main menu button at the bottom left and choose export, you’ll soon realize you’re limited to the wav format. Mp3 would have been a much appreciated option.

Let’s not bash Samplisizer too hard though. Behind blatant shortcomings, which should put off seasoned beat makers, Samplisizer is an enjoyable and hands-on music editor that novice music makers should quickly take to their liking.

Download Samplisizer 1.2 in Softonic

Beat 2000 will help you create and mix rock, techno, classical, jazz, alternative, world beat, and more, right on your PC. No musical experience is necessary.

Beat 2000 will provide you with the latest simple tools to create the best music possible at studio quality. Create your own professional soundtrack within minutes.

Beat 2000 also comes with a full-featured sound sample editor and a virtual drum machine with 20 different percussion instruments and the option of importing your own sounds.

Download Beat 2000 Demo 1.07 (Techno) in Softonic