Great list, I thought I was up on all this stuff, but saw some new ones in your very complete list. I'll keep my eyes open for other free tools of note.

By the way the:  'Audio file ' -> Audacity (cut and clean up, remove other sounds) -> winamp w/loopmaster and slow me down (loop over slow sections to hear solos &)-> powertabs (tab them) is a great system for transcribing solos - it surely rivals any "pro" system ( I like it better than tools in guitar pro 5).

My two biggest issues with this are physical:
1) the guitar to mouse/keyboard hand transfer thing is tricky in a few ways:
   - hitting the guitar  - I put a towel on my desk edge so as not to dent the guitar as I lean in to type.
   - forgetting the just figured solo notes as your switch brain modes to type in the score (I find it faster to pencil in the just figure out sequence on a tab paper on the desk and only input the tab in the computer when the whole lick sequence is realized. Then move on to the next sequence with loopmaster).
   - there are usb foot switches coming out now (new ones at nam I hear) that can be tied to any mouse presses or computer shortcuts - this makes sense for guitar and computer work (keep your hands on the guitar/synth as much as possible) - not only good for tabbing solos but for all computer music work - any recommendations?
  - noise can be an issue with guitars near computer, while I love my bill lawrence keystone pu's (not noiseless), I got rid of my old crt ( the main noise problem) for lcds and foiled up my mim strat
  - also all these computer studio sound in/out options get tricky  - wires everywhere (do you mix computer out and guitar out into your amp, your computer speakers, your headphones) - I'm still looking for a good audio switcher that gives me clean options.

2) computer are evil. I live with them all day long (have 5 in front of me - mainly for 3D graphics and music) and repicked up the guitar to get away from them - how do you limit time in front of them while tab learning - with that in mind the new korg pandora px5d (yea I'm just a tech nerd) - I can get back to the couch or out in the sun - it has full amp modelling and head phone use (who needs an amp these days) - aux in and now a bunch more audio in memory (for grabbing a song to learn) and now had 'bass removal' and slow down without pitch change - and now has usb in (can be your sole computer interface with it) and alot of backing tracks (and foot pedal options) . just waiting for the stores to get one in. $250

-steved
dipaola.org

There's a bunch of useful vst plugins, addons and ASIO hosts here http://www.tobybear.de/products.html (see LH menu and the drop down menu under "search program") in addition to the ones you already have. Some more vst plugins http://www.simulanalog.org/guitarsuite.htm

I've just bought a 2nd hand Vox Tonelab myself so I'm only beginning to discover the world of home recording beyond the tape recorder but will keep you posted with any new findings.

Last edited by lesstrat_86 (Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:43:45)

Very cool - thanks Gerd and all!!

Jim