Audio

Sound Libraries

SoundEffects

Vilkki Studios

Both free and fee-based; www.stonewashed.net/sfx.html

Ultimate Sound and Music Archive

Advances.Com

Both free and by subscription; www.ultimatesoundarchive.com

Drum Machines

ReBirth

Propellerhead Software

$179; www.propellerheads.se

Our favorite beat-creation software.

Dream Station

Audio Simulation

$49; www.audio-simulation.de

Highly recommended. If you can't afford ReBirth, get this.

Fruityloops

Image-Line Software

$49 $139; www.fruityloops.com

Tough learning curve, but affordable and very powerful.

Voyetra eJay

Voyetra Turtle Beach

$9.95 $29.95; http://voyetra.com/site/products/ejay

Great for beginners, value priced.

HammerHead

ThreeChords.com

www.threechords.com/hammerhead

The simplest drum machine imaginable. Free!

Audio-editing software

Sound Forge

Sonic Foundry

$399.96 and $499.96; www.soundforge.com

Industry standard for professional audio; most powerful and simple.

WaveLab

Steinberg Media Technologies

$600; www.steinberg.net

Very similar to Sound Forge, with native VST support.

Cool Edit/Cool Edit Pro

Syntrillium Software

$69 and $249; www.syntrillium.com

Best value and price, most popular for both professionals and nonprofessionals.

Audacity

SourceForge.net

Free; http://audacity.sourceforge.net

Promising and cross-platform!

Also worth a look: Using the ACID Chopper.

Sonic Foundry; www.sonicfoundry.com/tutorials/English/ACIDChopperBasics/start.htm