Harmony Assistant is a all-in-one software product with digital audio capabilities. Its harmonizing capabilities enable the composer to build quickly and efficiently tunes that include accompaniment, multiple instruments and drum patterns. Its full page edit and engraver modes will ease editing and page setup of your scores.

A wide range of music symbols will enable to edit scores of great quality: notation capabilities are immense. Using the page mode, you will edit the score just as it will be printed on paper. The Engraver mode will make look it nice. Score input can be performed through the mouse, computer keyboard or an external MIDI keyboard.

Harmony Assistant comes with its own embedded software synthesizer (SoftSynth), which provides high quality output on basic sound cards, even without any external MIDI device, and includes hundreds of different instruments. Harmony Assistant can load and save in many formats (MIDI, WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG, TAB, ABC...).

With MyrScript, the embedded programming language, you can add your own features to the program

More features:

• Complete score editor, with unlimited number of staves
• Page mode editing
• Automatic harmonizer
• Accompaniments & drum patterns in a few clicks
• Tablature calculation for miscellaneous string instrument
• Tablature calculation for Harmonica, diatonic accordion, wind instruments...
• Completely scriptable application. Many open-source scripts are available.
• Embedded softsynth : does not need any hardware other than a sound card.
• Midi, Kar, MOD, S3M... import
• Digital tracks (possible to import WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG...)
• Wav-to-note pitch tracker, noise reduction, formant-compliant pitch change, ...
• Gregorian notation
• Chord diagram library for various instruments
• Enables to build custom instruments from digital recordings
• Lute tablatures
• Street organ card printing
• Karaoke and multi-voices lyrics are actually sung.
• Enable visitors of your Web site to view, transpose, play or print your scores

Download Harmony Assistant 9.4.6 in Softonic

Music Makers fall into two categories for me - inspirational and a pleasure to use or cluttered and down right depressing.

Music Maker 14 is one of the better efforts on the market containing so many features that it's almost impossible to go through them in depth. However, this is no bad thing because many of the features are a little overkill but the basics are so easy to get to grips with, you'll be making sweet music in minutes. The program works with sixteen tracks laid out at the top of the screen although you can only see six at one time. You can drag and drop music samples from the soundbar into any track, and building a basic tune is simply a matter of picking out some drum, guitar, bass and keyboard samples. Then just add some special effects and the tunes you create will really impress. To get the mix and pitch of your composition right, there's a list of pitches labelled one to seven from where you can experiment and make it sound pitch perfect. On the left of the track, you'll find a panel which allows you to adjust the overall beats per and apply effects such as those simulated by a guitar pedal.

Overall, this one of the most powerful and fun music makers out there and if you can't make decent music on it, then try another hobby.

Download MAGIX Music Maker 14 (UK) in Softonic

What's better than learning to play a musical instrument to unwind from a busy day? Although my advice would be to take an instrument and start playing it learning bit by bit, more methodical and expert users may advise you to follow a guide and practice theoretical exercises.

aGuitar Pro lets you manage your guitar or bass progress with exercises on the notes and on the accords. There are many advanced lessons you can follow and surely it can be helpful for advanced students as a reference point. The program features testing tools to sample your knowledge of the harmonic world.
Unfortunately, I don't see it as an easy tool for beginners. This is because of the way information is displayed which seems to be too technical. It would have been good to have a simple mode display for beginners so to ease things when learning and testing basic notes.

The tab reader and tab editor are also interesting as they can modify or create music sheets with text and notes of your favourite songs. It would have been good to have a function to search for songs online in free databases, but you will have to do it manually.

aGuitar Pro can be useful to study and test your knowledge of guitar theory if you are already a medium experienced player. It also includes a tab reader and editor, which ease the transcription of songs for professionals.

Download aGuitar Pro in Softonic

Making a din on a piano is great especially when that piano can replicate multiple instruments in much the same way as a professional keyboard.

And if you're learning the piano and can't afford your own instrument, then this is a brilliant solution. Well, it's better than nothing anyway. Virtual HS Piano is a simple MIDI piano which simulates everything from traditional piano to honky-tonk, marimba or an accordion. It also backing from a drums and other percussion so that you can really feel like you're making sweet music. You're certainly not limited by choice - there are 128 instruments to choose from although the sound effects selection is pretty poor - 12 to be exact - and there are only 3 melodies for which you can play to. However, the keyboard features all 36 notes you expect to find on a keyboard so it's very realistic in that respect although the MIDI sound effects can never be a substitute for a real piano. The interface and design are pretty flimsy and basic looking but it's very simple to use and does the job it's built for.

A simple and flexible tool for anyone that loves that MIDI sound or needs to familiarise themselves with the piano..

Download HS Virtual Piano 1.0 in Softonic

If you've always wanted your own orchestra in your bedroom but can't play a single instrument then this is the program for you.

This program is a hell of a lot of fun if you're a music lover. The samples feature full recordings, lasting from 1 to 8 bars, playing along in perfect sync with the other Band-in-a-Box tracks. They sound like a real drummer, because they are genuine recordings of a real drummer - not just MIDI tracks. And adding a real instrument to the mix makes all of the Band-in-a-Box parts sound more authentic. There's a huge library of RealDrums styles and a superb "Chords from MP3" feature (Audio Chord Wizard) which automatically figures out the chords from any MP3, WAV or WMA audio file, and displays them in Band-in-a-Box - great for learning songs on your instrument. There's also a new soundtrack feature allows you to generate new royalty-free music of a specified length of time for use in home or corporate videos, soundtracks, etc. The "Reharmonist" feature figures out a chord progression for any melody which allows you to create a new chord progression or enhance an existing one. Other great features include save your creations as an MP3 and batch MP3/WAV/WMA generation. The only problem I had was exploring all the features which seem to go on an on. Once you've tried this though, you'll be hooked. The latest version features even more realistic instrument sounds such as even better acoustic guitars and saxophones. It also features a new "multistyler" which bascially allows you to create compositions with far more depth. Note that this demo version is fully functional except that the Save features, Notation, Soloist/Melodist, and accessory plugins have been disabled.

This is a music program with incredible range and features although it does take some getting to grips with so prepare to immerse yourself.

Download Band-in-a-Box 2007 in Softonic

Remember those old Casio keyboards that were so popular a few decades ago? Well, now they're back, at least in your PC.

Electronic Piano emulates one of those electronic musical keyboards on your computer, using each keystroke of your PC keyboard to produce a different sound. Just like the original instrument, this software app supports a wide range of different sound styles, enabling you to emulate almost anything from a piano to a guitar, including trumpet, bass, organ, harmonica, violin, cello and a lot more.

Of course, you'll also get the special effects section (typewriter, helicopter, applause, gun shot and so on) and finally the drums, with even a wider selection of sounds.

The program is really easy to use, as it displays the note chart on its interface so that you know what you're playing at all times. On the downside, the keyboard seems to have a slower response than expected, which makes the whole experience a bit disappointing. Also, I notice one note was out of tune, which is certainly not something I would expect from a music program, even if it's not a professional tool.

Electronic Piano is a simple, MIDI digital keyboard that lets you play some basic tunes on your PC. That said, don't expect professional output. This is just for fun.

Download Electronic Piano 2.5 in Softonic

Digiband is a Guitar Hero clone for the PC which enables you to emulate the greatest drum and guitar players of all times just with your keyboard.

First of all, bear in mind that Digiband is not as easy as it seems. It takes lots of time and practice to obtain good results, especially if you're using a keyboard. Fortunately the game supports both the Xbox360 and PS2 guitar-shaped controller, so if you have one, plug it to your PC because it will make things much easier.

Digiband includes one song which is perfect to start practicing, but you soon end up tired of it. In that case, you can download new songs from many sites around the Web, including the one recommended by Digiband's developer (Gdamania) for which you'll have to register.

The game is a bit difficult to configure because it doesn't support mouse controlling. Apparently, you can only take the drum if you play solo, making guitars available only if there is more than one player. As for gameplay itself, it works in the same way as Guitar Hero, with notes coming down the screen which you have to press in the right moment in order to score points and eventually become the greatest rock star of all times!

Digiband is a great guitar and drum simulator that can take some time to master.

Download DigiBand 1.0.1 in Softonic

I wonder how the great composers like Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Scatman John would've reacted to computers. Had MusicEase been around at the time when they were alive I'm sure they would have been able to knock out a lot more requiems, symphonies, sonatas and scats than they did. The application allows you to easily compose music on your PC in the same way as you'd work with a word processor, but using notes, scales, pentagrams, etc.

You're completely free to compose, thanks to an innovative system whereby each of the keys on your keyboard represent a different musical note. The musical notation is then displayed instantly on screen, just as if you'd written it down. MusicEase contains some basic editing commands such as cutting, pasting, undoing, etc. Best of all, once your melody has been composed, you save it out in MIDI format and listen to it through the software.

There are a lot of options locked within the program, including the ability to add titles to your compositions, apply accompanying MIDI tracks, and vary speed. Although the user interface looks a little puny when compared to most new word processing apps, MusicEase is a great way of churning out your works of genius quickly.

Download MusicEase 8.2 in Softonic

Ever wanted to change the tone of your voice? MorphVOX Junior is a free voice changer software that is supposed to modify your voice to match your personality. If you so like, you can sound like a man, a woman, a midget, a robot and many other bizarre variations in between.

The program is optimized for online games, but obviously, the most fun you'll have with this is to make prank calls and wind-up your friends. The program can also send out some rather annoying high pitch screams and bizarrely, drum rolls.

This is great fun although there's not really much point to it. Perhaps if they had integrated it with a music making program or other editing software, it would have been much more useful. Still, you can save your voice modulations and then use the file in an external program.

Download MorphVOX Junior 2.6.1 in Softonic

Guitar & Drum Trainer is all about helping you to be the best musician that you can be. (Soldiers included.) And if you are serious about your music, and you think there is room to improve your playing, then Guitar and Drum Trainer is for you. And if you're already blazing down the fretboard at lightspeed, then Guitar & Drum Trainer is your perfect transcription tool to help you get things down on paper.

Guitar & Drum Trainer is the ultimate musician's practice tool. We've all heard the gurus say, "gradually build speed" and we know that's true. Nobody starts off blazing like Yngwie or Vai. Speed and accuracy take practice. Guitar and Drum Trainer can help you improve the quality of your practice time and get far better results.

Download Guitar and Drum Trainer 3.3 in Softonic

Jam Trax software is a fun way to create your own pop, rock, and hip-hop songs using music samples called loops. Loop-based music creation is how much of today's music is made, and Jam Trax software includes over 600 loops using instruments such as drums, keyboards, horns, guitars, bass, and sound effects that you can combine any way you want.

To make a song, simply pick the instruments and effects you want to use, "paint" the sounds into tracks using the Paintbrush tool, and click Play to listen. It's that easy! Jam Trax software automatically adjusts the pitch and tempo of every loop to match your song so you can compose with confidence.

Download Sony Jam Trax XPress 2.0 in Softonic

As far as DJing programs go, they don’t come much more user friendly than HipHop eJay. The problem with most of these programs is that they seem to offer you all realm of mixing possibilities but you need to be Fatboy Slim to have any clue how to operate them. Whilst lacking advanced controls, HipHop eJay 6 makes it so easy that even the slowest learners will feel like Grandmaster Flash.

The improvements over its predecessor are mainly an increased number of samples and a few instrument variations, including new snare drum beats and piano loop combinations. HipHop eJay 6 also sports a sleeker interface that’s less cluttered, although requires more rifling through menus as a result. Samples have increased from 3000 to 4000 and there’s a few new wizards to guide you through your first scratches. There’s also a new 'Mophonix Supabass' amplifier to make your bass lines sound 'phatter' than ever.

The layout is conventional enough - a pair of decks separated by a mixing console jammed with samples. However, the key element is the layered timeline that runs along the bottom – in much the same way as in a video editing package – where you can drag and drop the various blocks. This simple timeline makes constructing tunes a breeze. For instance, you can drag a drum beat into the first audio track and then complement it with a guitar in the second, a scratch on the third etc. You simply hit play and in an instant, you’ve got something that sounds like T-Rex meets Run DMC.

The turntables can be used to scratch and mix your masterpiece as it plays. It takes a bit of time learning how to scratch with a mouse although if you’ve got a laptop touch-pad mouse, it’s a bit easier. The new 'Scratch Wizard' shows you step-by-step how to make your scratching sound like scratching, and not like someone is smashing up the turntables. Alternatively, they can be used to play a separate backing track from your CD player or audio files saved on your PC over your beats. In the middle, you’ve got a crossfader to switch from one turntable to the other although trying to mix two records at once whilst cross fading with a mouse is pretty difficult.

There are also a few other nice little extras with HipHop eJay. One is a Grafitti Tagging function which enables you to spray paint your own album cover. Another is the ability to connect a mic and record your own vocal track in real-time to give your recordings a truly personal feel.

To those who are more serious about their music, HipHop eJay could come across as something of a kid’s tool however. It offers little control over the minutiae of the music although it does offer a few advanced features. There is a 48-track arranger which gives you control over where you want to emphasize certain sounds; and there are basic controls over tone and pitch but not much more. The program is clearly aimed at beginners since it also features thousands of unlicensed samples that won’t be of much interest to serious Hip Hop musicians either. However, you can simply disregard these and upload your own in MP3 or WAV format.

For anyone looking for a simple hip-hop DJing program that makes you sound like you know what you’re doing in minutes, this should be your first choice. Those seeking something a bit more professional will be disappointed but might find it useful to experiment with a few ideas on. Whatever your level, HipHop eJay will have you getting ‘deep and dirty’ (in the program's developers' words) in no time.

Download HipHop eJay 6 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

MultitrackStudio is audio/MIDI multitrack recording software for Windows. Ther application combines a multitrack recorder, a mixer, lots of effects and a MIDI sequencer in one package, providing everything that's needed to turn your computer into a digital multitrack sound recording studio.

Audio recording

Audio tracks can be recorded in MultitrackStudiowhile playing along with previously recorded ones, meaning you can achieve high quality recordings and sync your audio input with what's playing.

MIDI recording

MIDI tracks can be recorded using a MIDI keyboard. Not only can the instrument sounds be generated by your keyboard, soundcard or other MIDI hardware, but by the built-in sampler or VSTi / DXi plugins as well.

Editing

Both audio and MIDI tracks can be edited to get rid of any mistakes. The MIDI editing features include pianoroll, notation, drum and pattern editing, allowing you to fine-tune your creations with ease.

Mastering

Once you've finished working on your masterpiece you can mix all tracks down to a single audio file. This file can be imported into your CD-writer software with the minimum amount of fuss.

Ease of use

MultitrackStudio proves that multitrack recording on a computer can be as easy as tape-based recording. Its non-computerlike design makes it easy to use, and yet powerful. If you like singing and playing your instruments better than trying to figure out some complicated piece of software you'll most certainly like MultitrackStudio.

Download MultitrackStudio Lite 4.1 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

HammerHead is a simple TR-909-like drum computer program aiming at the dance-scene. You can use it to create perfect Techno loops, Jungle patterns or House beats, but it's also suitable for Hip Hop, Triphop, Rap, Industrial and almost any other music you can think of.

HammerHead features six separate channels, 29 built-in drum sounds, six complete breakbeats and the possibility to import six samples of your own. You can save your patterns to completely noise-free CD-quality wave files to use them with your sampler, tracker or sequencer program.

Download Hammerhead Rhythm Station 1.0 in Softonic

Reaktor 5 fuses all audio applications into a single, extremely versatile and powerful tool. Musicians, producers and sound designers are all catered to by the very broad range of instruments and sounds already included. Due to the open engine architecture, the potential for building your own highly individual instruments is endless.

Reaktor 5 is equipped with a vast library of more than 20 impressive and innovative instruments. Powerful samplers allow far reaching granular resynthesis and the innovative effects pave the way for profound sound manipulation. The stunning array of synthesizers delivers everything from rumbling basses to searing leads and beyond. The wide range of sequenced instruments and drum machines lets you create dynamic rhythms, melodies, chord sequences and more. From authentic emulations of classic gear to bizarre, otherworldly creations; from the conventional to the controversial – Reaktor delivers.

Download Reaktor 5.0.0.020 in Softonic

Storm Music Studio is music creation software, which accurately emulates the universe of a real recording studio: synthesizers, drum machines, sample players, effects, mixing table, sequencer. With the same sound quality, but for less money!

Create your studio

With Storm, you can choose the virtual instruments you wish to use: analog synthesizers, drum machines, sample sequencers, scratch decks. Drag & drop and in a few seconds your studio is ready: no more complicated connections and wires everywhere...

Compose in real time

Real time synthesis and effects, a user-friendly interface and a fully automated studio provide you with an unprecedented comfort and facility of composition.

Share your experience with other users

As an integral part of the studio, the hall is a set of interactive tools, giving the user the ability to collaborate on-line with others. The Hall offers file sharing and downloading, chat rooms, newswires, tips and tutorials.

Learn new styles of music

The composition wizard is made to help users to quickly understand the general use of the program and the different sides of creating a song. And, if you think you already have enough experience in making computer music, it can help you to learn how to compose in music styles you are not familiar with.

Download Storm Music Studio 3.0 Demo (Light) in Softonic

Wingroove is software that plays MIDI sounds under MS-Windows. The only required hardware is a sound card that supports WAVE output.

Features:

• 128 varieties of very high quality instrumental sounds which conform to GM (General MIDI) specification with support for some GS messages.
• 10 varieties of drum set, each with several percussion sounds.
• 44kHz sample playback rate, 16 bit dynamic range, stereo sound, and up to 32 voice polyphony.
• Automatically adjusts maximum polyphony depending on computer's performance.
• Support for reverb and compression by software DSP technology.
• Able to play from other MIDI applications (games, sequencers, etc.).
• Includes high quality MIDI file player.
• Able to play both WAVE and MIDI at the same time.
• Able to create WAVE files from MIDI files. Therefore, it's possible to play with maximum quality sounds even on the slowest computer.

Download WinGROOVE 0.9e Beta 3 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