My ReWire application that I've been using for the past 4 or 5 years now appears to have been orphaned by the parent company (Tracktion / Mackie). It has become my main DAW - I fly in it compared to anything else I've tried.

I've never had to use the ReWire capabilities simply because there was no need for me to do it, and I didn't have any other apps that were ReWire capable. Most other apps that are ReWire are other DAW software - which again normally come with a price tag of at minimum $50 and usually you can add a zero to that amount.

If RealBand had VSTi capability for real - I could divorce Tracktion and marry RB as my DAW. I've never been one to have one DAW as my main squeeze, then girlfriend DAWs on the side - too expensive.

If I had Reason, the product from Propellerheads that is, then I would certainly want the ReWire capability so that I could use it.

But what I do have is a list of VSTi and VST that I simply love to use right now. To use Ryzsard's terminology - I've got a stable full of 'kickety-butt' synths and plugins that I rely on their full VST implementation. Most of them were freeware (list too long to mention - but most VST delays tempo lock to the host tempo, dBlue's Glitch, Kjaerhus autofilter, etc.), but a few I have purchased (Jamstix) and/or won (Cameleon 5000, VB3, Mr. Ray's 73) through the KVRaudio.com monthly song contests.

But I'll agree with Mac - that's just my experience. It FEELS like that's what everyone else could use, but I shouldn't speak for them.

Now, Ryszard, there are many many excellent freeware soft synths out there that you can use RIGHT NOW. Forte is not the end-all-be-all GM synth. For now, why not just try sfz with a General Midi soundfont in it? There are some pretty decent freeware GM soundfonts you can employ and still make beautiful music with them. I did it for years.

Maybe even the freebie Proteus VX or the NI Kore player have a GM set you can use. Just need hard drive space for those.

My Songs, photos, writing,etc.
My Sound Cloud