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April 10, 2008 at 03:46:00 PM | more stories by this author
Is the Man trying to keep you from cranking your guitar amp at 3 a.m.? Is your wife not convinced that you need to turn the living room into a recording studio? Don't worry, there's some great new ways to rock out at home without getting the cops called on you.
If you've got a Mac or PC with a capable sound card, there's dozens of easy ways to harness its CPU power for rehearsing and recording your own music. One of our favorite new music tools is Guitar Rig 3: Kontrol Edition, which transforms your computer into a virtual guitar or bass amplifier. If you're a drummer looking for a practice pad that can really wail, the Mandala USB can generate sounds ranging from authentic snare drum emulations, to Martian marimbas. The M-Audio Producer USB microphone offers vocalists a no-nonsense way to record themselves directly to their computer. Disc jockeys and beatsmiths of the world can use products such as the Stanton t.90 USB turntable and M-Audio Torq Mixlab for honing their skills without raising the roof. Finally, if you're looking for one of the least intimidating, easiest to use multitrack recording programs available, Apple's Garage Band is the best around (for PC, try M-Audio Session).
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 8.3 Excellent |
1. Guitar Rig 3: Kontrol Edition
If your guitar and your chops are getting dusty, Guitar Rig 3 Kontrol Edition is an outstanding way to rekindle your delusions of rock stardom.
REVIEW: Guitar Rig 3: Kontrol Edition .
Price: $n/a (check latest prices)
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 7.0 Very Good |
1. Synesthesia Mandala USB Drum
The Synesthesia Mandala USB drum system is a fun product that is both physically and technically solid. However, the software interface and installation issues need work.
REVIEW: Synesthesia Mandala USB Drum .
Price: $n/a (check latest prices)
 |
 6.7 Good |
1. M-Audio Session Music Producer
The M-Audio Session Music Producer is an affordable, computer-based recording solution that is ideally suited for recording singing and spoken performances such as podcasts.
REVIEW: M-Audio Session Music Producer .
Price: $97 (check latest prices)
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| 7.0 Very Good |
1. M-Audio Torq Mixlab
For the aspiring digital DJ, the M-Audio Torq Mixlab is an unmatched value.
Price: $n/a (check latest prices)
 |
| 7.3 Very Good |
1. Stanton T.90 USB Turntable
Although it's not a one-size-fits-all product, the Stanton T.90 turntable is a great tool for today's modern DJ--seamlessly bridging the worlds of analog and digital audio.
REVIEW:Stanton T.90 USB Turntable .
Price: $n/a (check latest prices)
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| 7.8 Very Good |
1. Apple GarageBand 3
Mac users with even a minor interest in music or podcasting will be pleased with GarageBand 3's user-friendly interface and ample feature set, but the heavy app isn't ideal for most laptops.
Price: $n/a (check latest prices)
