Cover -- Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 What You Need, What's Free, and What's Not -- Shareware or Freeware? -- What Are Apps? What Are Plugs-Ins? -- What Will I Need to Get Started? -- Computer -- Audio Interface -- MIDI Controller -- Do I Need to Worry about Viruses? -- Will Open-Source Apps Break My Computer? -- How Do Open-Source Apps and Plug-Ins Compete? -- Money -- Conclusion -- Chapter 2 DAWs -- Shareware and Freeware DAWs -- Ardour (Mac/Linux) -- MU.LAB (PC and Mac) -- Audacity (PC, Mac, and Linux) -- Cost-Effective Commercial Options -- REAPER (PC and Mac) -- GarageBand (Mac) -- Ableton Live Intro (PC and Mac) -- Conclusion -- Chapter 3 Synthesizers -- What Is a Synthesizer? -- Synthesizer Types -- Subtractive Synthesis -- FM Synthesis -- Samplers -- Free Synthesizers -- Togu Audio Line (PC and Mac) -- Synth1 by Ichiro Toda (PC Only) -- Hexter (Linux) -- Conclusion -- Chapter 4 FX -- Reverb -- Nebula3 Free (PC and Mac, VST/AU) -- TAL-Reverb III (PC and Mac, VST/AU) and TAL-Reverb II (PC, Mac, and Linux) -- Chorus/Flange -- MonstaChorus (PC and Mac, VST/AU) -- Blue Cat's Stereo Flanger (PC and Mac, VST/AU/DX) -- Delay/Echo -- TAL-DUB-III (PC, Mac, and Linux, VST/AU) -- KR-Delay FS (PC and Mac, VST/AU) -- Compressor/Limiter -- CamelCrusher (PC and Mac, VST/AU) -- W1 Limiter (PC and Mac, AU/VST) -- Conclusion -- Chapter 5 Drum Machines -- Sample-Based Drum Plug-Ins -- DrumCore Free (PC and Mac) -- MDrummer Small (PC and Mac) -- SampleTank FREE (PC and Mac) -- LinuxSampler (PC, Mac, and Linux, AU/VST/DSSI/LV2) -- Synth-Based Drum Machines -- MiniSpillage (Mac, AU) -- KickMaker (PC and Mac, VST/AU) -- Grizzly (PC, VST) -- ErsDrums (PC, VST) -- HTML Drum Machines -- Conclusion -- Chapter 6 Niche Plug-Ins -- Multi-FX Randomization Plug-Ins -- DBGlitch (PC, VST) -- SupaTrigga (PC and Mac, VST/AU).

Thoughts on Multi-FX Randomization Plug-Ins -- MIDI-Controlled FX Plug-Ins -- GetaBlitch Jr. (PC and Mac, VST) -- SqakAttack (PC and Mac, VST) -- StormGate (PC and Mac, VST/AU) -- FX Classified as "Other" -- KTGranulator (PC and Mac, VST/AU) -- Berrtill (PC and Mac, VST) -- Conclusion -- Chapter 7 Where to Find More -- The Websites -- KVR Audio -- Create Digital Music -- iusethis -- Magazines -- Computer Music -- Electronic Musician -- Other Resources -- Google -- Friends and Other Musicians -- Paid Software on Which You Can Expand -- Conclusion -- Appendix A: More Must-Haves -- Other Essential Studio Hardware -- Studio Monitors -- Headphones -- Microphones -- MIDI Controllers -- The Little Things -- Cables -- Adapters -- Odds and Ends -- Home Studio Furnishings -- The Workstation -- The Captain's Chair -- Organizers -- Appendix B: Interviews with Laura Escudé and Don Hill -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y.