Cakewalk Home Studio XL

However, The contrast with Homestudio could not be more stark.

Homestudio doesn't crash, doesn't jerk, stays in synch with it self, and sounds clear, clean and taught. The effects (expecially the reverb and delay) are deep and clear (even the built in ones) and are totally customizable - literally superb.
Alongside the PC, I've got a Roland RD700 and an XP80, Peavey Gibson and Fender guitars, Boss GT6 effects unit and Shure mics - it handles all this stuff briliantly, and sounds superb. The difference between the "pro" reverbs from the Rolands and those produced by Homestudio is negligible. It's also Roland-patch compatible - something i wasn't expecting.

The user interface is odd-looking - at first - but once used to it you can fly around to every parameter easliy without constantly searching for things or opening new windows. It grows on you fast, and is very intuitive and logical.

Coming new to the world of PC recording (but PC literate) I cannot recommend this highly enough. Once set up (takes a little time and some of it's not obvious) - and that would perhaps prompt me to give 4 rather than 5 stars, but at this price ? Who am I kidding. Once set up (took me an hour) it rocks.

At its most basic level it is a sequencer and audio recording package that can handle almost any anything. It allows you to record and edit MIDI, lets you print this out as score notation and change how things sound by adding effects or sending the MIDI data to the various software synthesizers that is contains.

It is also quite an accomplished audio editor, letting you record in and edit what you have done and then combine it with your other MIDI work. This can be perfect if you want to record and vocal track or maybe a lead guitar or similar. Whatever, Home Studio XL will alllow you to do it.

The real thing that gives it its value over and above other sequencers is the 'XL' component, the many software synths, effects and extra options it contains. The effects are good, the Dreamstation and Fruityloops SE are versatile and the DR008 is really good for helping with drum patterns and creating tracks.

The only real downside is that it is a bit more complicated than some of the more basic 'loop' orientated packages, but I suppose that is to be expected in higher end software. All in all a good buy.