Freeware Guide

Hey everyone...

I did not see a guide to freeware / open source software. So, I thought I would try to start a good guide to get as many freeware / OS programs that may be helpful as possible. Here are my top 7, maybe you have some more. Maybe a sticky?!

I posted this on my personal blog, but thought it would be helpful here!
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Audacity: Great recording software that can do many things.

* Record live audio.
* Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
* Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files.
* Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
* Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
* And more! See the complete list of features.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
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Blue Box: Great program to make .pgm files for your mpc 1000

* load existing MPC1000 PGM files
* save edited PGM file and all associated samples to one location
* import keygroups/zones from AKP-format programs into PGM (also works with Recycle AKPs)
* load single samples using built-in sample browser or drag/drop one or more samples from Windows explorer windows
* edit any program setting
o pad/layer settings (layer samples, tune, volume, play mode, MIDI trigger,
o pad mixer (volume, pan, output, effect setting and send level)
o amp envelope
o filters
o Q-Link sliders
* copy entire pads and layers and sliders in one step
* copy individual pad, layer, mixer, envelope, and filter settings to any number and combination of pads in one step
* playback samples in layers
* assign a sample to a range of pads (tune and MIDI trigger are automatically adjusted)

http://webpages.charter.net/dereese/gary/akai.html
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MPC Maid : Another great program for making 500/1000/2500 Programs

Works on Mac, PC, and other platforms (Java) and makes the edition of MPC programs files easy.

Switch between the MPC 500 12-pads layout or the MPC 1000 16-pads layout (also takes care of the correct number of filters and sliders thanks to the built-in machine profiles).

Simply drag and drop your samples files onto the pads, and it automatically assigns them, one on each pad or one on each sample layer.

Export the full program and every related sample file together to the target location of your choice.
Also features a semi-automatic slicing tool: drop your loop file to have it chopped into slices based on a beat detection mechanism.

Direct export of the chopped slices as multiple .WAV files, one corresponding .PGM program file and one MIDI groove .MID file.

Multiple window, one window for one program, simply drag and drop a .PGM program file will open a new window for this program.

http://mpcmaid.sourceforge.net/

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Waveosaur : Great slicing tool, slice per pad, export, etc. Vst ASIO Driver,

Wavosaur is a free sound editor, audio editor, wav editor software for editing, processing and recording sounds, wav and mp3 files. Wavosaur has all the features to edit audio (cut, copy, paste, etc.) produce music loops, analyze, record, batch convert.
Wavosaur supports VST plugins, ASIO driver, multichannel wav files, real time effect processing.
The program has no installer and doesn't write in the registry. Use it as a free mp3 editor, for mastering, sound design. The Wavosaur freeware audio editor works on Windows 98, Windows XP and Windows Vista.
Go to the features page for an overview of the software.

http://www.wavosaur.com/

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NPC : Have not tried it, looks really cool!

This program is a rough emulation of the software of an akai mpc. It utilizes the open source hardware developed by monome.org. Below some basic definitions are outlined along with step by step instructions for creating a piece of music with npc.

http://flatflat.org/software/

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MPC Pad 187 : looks similar to the other ones, have not tried!

MPC Pad 187 is a program editor for the Akai MPC 1000, MPC 2500, and MPC 500. The application allows for easy editing and creation of MPC program files.

The app can create and edit programs for all values found in the Slider, Mixer, and Program modes of the MPC 1000 OS 1. MPC Pad 187 can edit all program files it creates but may not be able to edit program files that are created or saved by the MPC hardware.

If you prefer to use a command line interface, I've put some open source software up on the utilities page. With the command line interface, you can script modifying and exporting MPC 1000 programs.

http://www.mybunnyhug.com/software/

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True, there is a lot of good stuff there...

But, I didn't see a whole lot of freeware software...

=A

Nicely done. I might add that Spotify is great for virtual crate digging.

didn't know that npc before. Looks interesting IMO.

I add

mp3tag: Tagging audio file. I really like the connection to discogs so in most cases you'll find the album you wanna tag with all the info and the cover art.
http://www.mp3tag.de/en/index.html

mp3DirectCut: If you download podcasts you might want to split that long mp3 file. With this tool the mp3 won't get reencoded and the quality stays the same.
http://mpesch3.de1.cc/mp3dc.html

AIMP3: The audioplayer I use
http://www.aimp2.us/download.php

Lupas Rename: Batch rename of files. Very flexible.
http://rename.lupasfreeware.org/lupasrename.php

The tools from Piriform- Defraggler and Recuva (defragmentation and data recovery)
http://www.piriform.com/products

GIMP: Photo / Image editing sofware. (all those who know this program and didn't like the workflow because of many widows should look at the new version 2.8 cause its single window now)
http://www.gimp.org/

truecrypt: IMO nowadays everybody should use encryption of their storage devices. You never know if and when some force want to search your HD or USBstick for whatever reason you don't understand. And dont tell me you got nothing to hide or send me all photos of your wife and all your e-mails. But before you use truecrypt make sure you understand how to create secure passwords!
http://www.truecrypt.org/

PGP is another security tool that I recommend. It's encryption of emails.
http://enigmail.mozdev.org/home/index.php.html


these are some of the programs I use. BTW I hav't installed any of them on my pc harddrive but on a usb stick cause they are all portable. I don't use any cloud webspace but as far as I understand you could run them from a cloudspace too. In case of truecrypt it might work that you encrypt your cloudspace too


peace

Nice additions...

I use Pandora and Youtube for virtual digging, I will have to try spotify as well....

I would recommend soundcloud for storage and distribution of tunes as well, (as if y'all didn't know!)

Sorry to bring this here and let me start by sayin: use what you want to get what you like, but I wonder why that word diggin is used. If you're diggin thru a crate you really use thee hands as if you are diggin (kind of mole type diggin )
But how can this term be used when you basicly doing something else: Searching or lets say browsing, finding but definetly not diggin.

point blank

peace

virtual track fandanglin'

that work for you?

Vdigging, maybe.

I have my two MKIIs, and I own a couple hundred lps, so I hope you were not including me in that non record holders...

It is just an evolution of digging... I still go through crates, at tons of different places, but sometimes it is nice to just see what else is out there.. It is so fast and simple, but not as nice as true vinyl sampling.

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I forgot MPC Editor, it is great for MPC 3000, MPC 60, and MPC 2000 and 2000XL!

http://www.midicase.com/mpceditor/

My feelers are hurt...

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I seem to remember a program that cut up samples nicely on the computer, and labeled them 01, 02, 03, etc, and I cannot remember it... It was freeware, and was on my Windows 7 laptop, any ideas?