Audio software

 Audacity (v1.2.2 as of Aug 2004)
  * audacity.sourceforge.net
  * sound editing
  * mac/windows/linux
  * VST plugins
  * open source

 ProTools
  * http://www.digidesign.com/ptfree/
  * sound editing
  * Mac/Windows
  * free; company make big professional systems

 Amadeus
  * http://www.hairersoft.com/Amadeus.html
  * sound editor / oscilliscope
  * Mac OS only
  * VST plugins
  * shareware

 Ardour
  * http://www.ardour.org/
  * "digital audio workstation"
  * high end linux sound mixing

 PureData
  * www.puredata.org
  * graphical programming audio/video
  * Ian Smith-Heister likes it...

 CSound
  * www.csounds.com
  * generate electronic music
  * in an assembly language
  * complicated but powerful

 abc
  * abc.sourceforge.net
  * 85 applications: http://www.abc-notation.com/abcapp/index.html
  * text music notation system
  * Jim likes it

 GarageBand
  * Apple
  * commercial but bundled with newer Macs
  * record/ mix/ variety of built-in instruments

 playing / streaming / ripping
  * iTunes (Mac,Windows)
  * RealPlayer
  * WinAmp
  * ...

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 Things to try :

 * record your voice singing pitches (Amadeus)
   * look at its spectrum
   * look at "waterfall"

 * cut'n'paste pieces of a song you like (Audacity)
   * fading in and out
   * with a voice added in on top

 * compare sound quality
   * different bit rates 
   * different compression schemes
   * different types of music
   * different speakers
   * where can you tell the difference?

 * create a new instrument "voice" (appliation?)
   * with various overtones
   * with various amplitude envelopes
   * from altered sampled sound
   * from frequency modulation