Forget limited-feature bundled apps or the now-defunct Pro Tools Free; Mackie's got your free general-purpose audio tool right here. Traktion is available free for a limited time, and rivals the flagship audio/MIDI workstations for functionality, with audio and MIDI recording and editing, VST plugin and instrument hosting and ReWire support, a built-in sampler and filters, […]

Those of you using Ableton Live 4 know how much fun the software's new Simpler and Impulse instruments are. Drag-and-drop sounds, and you've got an instant sampler or drum kit. Now if only Ableton had bothered to include a decent library of presets to get you started . . . If only . . . […]

Emotional falling out with your bass player? Fear not. Steinberg follows up on their Virtual Guitarist with Virtual Bassist, a combination of bass sounds, sampled phrases and automatic groove generation, and effects. OS: Mac, PC Format: VST, DXi, AU plugin; standalone (ReWire) Cost/Availability: EUR 215, Q1 2005