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$9250 per song, so thats OVER 9000! copies.
I still find that cost excessive...

However, charging over actual cost is nothing new. Everying you buy is marked up.
If you break the law to get somethingor break the law and GIVE somethingshouldn't there be repurcussions over what it would naturally cost?
You wouldn't steal a car... and if you did, and were caught, they wouldn't charge you just the cost of the car (assuming they didn't file criminal charges!).

I read an article recently http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=pirates_made_to_pay_as where some music companies used cracked software, which the software maker found out about. Per the article, several companies they "settled out of court 'for a sum several times in excess of the list price of the item concerned'."

Besides just the cost of the thing, there are damages, mental suffering, tons of other items one could add to a suit to bump up the price. Even if the song value was dropped to 99 cents per available download, the jury could still award $9000 for damages and mental anguish, per song. Right?

Who would read such garbage?

Apparently I would.

I subscribe to Computer Music which has a section where they critique user submitted songs based on their technical/production merits, which at least to me makes for an interesting read, especially as the songs are included on a DVD which comes with each issue of the magazine.

There are also sites like DVD Journal which mostly focuses on the technical side of DVD releases.

They have commisioned their own "CM Studio" suite of software which contains everything you need to get started. It's all reasonably good useable software capable of producing first class results. This is included free on the cover disk each month along with lots of other nice free stuff.

Their sequencer is compatible with the VST plugin format (for virtual effects and instruments) and a quick google search for "free vst plugins" is bound to turn up enough stuff to keep you going for years.

Assuming you're on the Windows platform, I would suggest you check out FLStudio - it comes with some decent software synths (FLS calls them "generators") and also host many free virtual instruments ("vsti" and "dxi"), as well as shareware and commercial ones.

There are other choices as well - Orion (PC), Muzys (PC & Mac), Cubasis VST (PC & Mac) Tracktion (PC, Mac in beta), Massiva (PC), and Cakewalk Home Studio 2004 (PC) for example. A bit higher up the chain, you have Cubase SE (PC & Mac), and Sonar Studio (PC), Logic Audio big box (Mac) or the self-contained Reason (PC & Mac).

If you want to go beyond synth presets, soundfonts and GM sounds, then you'll probably want to understand analog (subtractive) synthesis - see Analog Synthesis for Beginners for an introduction.

The "definitive site" for this is KvR-VST. Go there and read a bit, then sign up to ask questions. It's a friendly crowd. Just don't go here, that guy isn't very helpful.

Doug

Using a laptop studio is not exactly new. For computer studio news, you should check out the Computer Music magazine. If you buy it in a newsstand you get a CD with lots of free studio and synthesizer software.

They also have an old article about laptop studios here. While using a laptop is cool, using a fast desktop system brings you considerably more power for your $$$. For serious music production, you need lots of performance, a large screen, and a good soundcard. All of which is more expensive when using a laptop.

Too bad this is one area where Linux is seriously behind Win or Mac :-(

Using a laptop studio is not exactly new. For computer studio news, you should check out the Computer Music magazine. If you buy it in a newsstand you get a CD with lots of free studio and synthesizer software.

They also have an old article about laptop studios here. While using a laptop is cool, using a fast desktop system brings you considerably more power for your $$$. For serious music production, you need lots of performance, a large screen, and a good soundcard. All of which is more expensive when using a laptop.

Too bad this is one area where Linux is seriously behind Win or Mac :-(

Computer Music may be useful to you. I'm not going to start writing an advertising spiel for them, but I find it quite useful (plus it comes with free plugins :)

My software studio controlled by Cubase SX from Steinberg. By having lots of power in your PC, you can emulate more VST instruments and sound effects.

In this business, you can't get enough GHz!

• http://www.kvr-vst.com - My favorite VST (softsynth and effect plugin) news and discussion site.
• http://www.em411.com - Another computer music news site.
• http://www.computermusic.co.uk/ - Lovely Computer Music magazine
• http://www.steinberg.net - Steinberg, makers of "Cubase" ... a software sequencer, music work environment and more.
• http://www.emagic.de - Makers of "Logic". A lot like Cubase. Sequencer holy warrior fanatics will track me down and rip me apart for mentioning Cubase first.
• http://www.cycling74.com/ - Makers of sound programming thingies Max/MSP and Pluggo. Pretty complicated, but reportedly worthwhile.
• http://microsound.org/ - Home of arguably the most snobbiest "experimental music" and computer music mailing list on the net. Plenty of interesting stuff here too. Prepare to listen to various 30 minute plus "masterpieces" of quiet shuffling sounds, only.
• http://www.nativeinstruments.de/index.php?home_us - (English Link) Stylish softsynth and plugin rockstar company. They make some incredible products. Geeks will have hard-ons for Reaktor.
• http://www.refx.net - Maker of interesting VST plugins, notably "QuadraSID" which is a sound plugin based on the Commodore 64's famous, classic "SID" chip.