While playing around on my mac, I mostly use free software. However, I'm a big proponent of GarageBand Jampacks (assuming you're using GarageBand of course). But without further ado, my software list:
  • GarageBand (OSX) - Probably the world's most famous sequencer, GarageBand, is an amazing tool for playing around. You can author songs, sequence in loops, export mp3s, and generally have a good time. I mostly use it to record whatever I'm playing, and for the onscreen keyboard. It's a great tool for helping figure out notes, and as a bonus, it even produces sheet music. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan, though with Logic, I no longer use it often.
  • Logic - Well, for years I'd been using GarageBand, until I finally moved over to Logic Pro. What a difference! First off, Logic can support multiple live channels. It has significantly more software instruments and loops, and it supports all GarageBand formatted loops. Logic is an unbelievable piece of software.
  • Finale Notepad - This is the free edition of Finale's music notation software. Unfortunately it's missing quite a few useful features (right now I'm struggling with the fact that I can't have multiple tempos). Its other great limitation to me) is that it only supports English text on music sheets. On the plus side, it's free, and quite useful. Lay out your sheet music, and have the app play it back to you. Notepad even supports multiple instruments on a single score. Quite nice for free software!
  • DoggieBox - DoggieBox is an amazing application for creating drum tracks. It supports add-on drum kits (much like GarageBand), but is significantly easier to use for this need. DoggieBox will happily export mp3s, and plenty of other formats. At only $39USD, it's easily the best music software related purchase I have ever made.
  • GarageBand (iPad) - I used to say that the two things I never use my iPad for are writing music, and writing code. Well, GarageBand for the iPad means that I now write music on it. Amazing! There’s no other word.
  • iRig (iPad) - The iRig has completely replaced my need for an amplifier, and gives me the ability to jack my guitars into my iPad. I record off them, filter, and add pedals as needed. This amazing piece of software (plus the hardware) has eliminated my need for hundreds of dollars of guitar gear.
  • Tab Toolkit (iPad) - Combining it with the iRig, I can record audio, while reviewing my tabs. This app helps me carry my entire song book with me, whenever I play. Download tabs in the application, or even view PDFs! I’ve scanned a lot of my sheet music into Tab Toolkit, just to make sure I have everything with me. Well worth the price.
Next: GarageBand Loops, DoggieBox beats