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Music production software are digital audio workstations that give music artists a platform to record, edit, mix and otherwise refine their audio tracks. Above all else, they enable users to create music without any live instruments, which is probably preferable to banging away at the drums in a garage. Here are some freeware and open-source music production software you can add to Windows.

Audacity is one of the more renowned open-source audio editors that has had millions of downloads. This is a multi-platform package compatible with macOS, Windows and Linux. Press the Download Audacity 2.1.2 link on the softwares home page to add the program to Windows.

With Audacity, you can both record music from a variety of sources and post-process almost any type of audio. The software enables users to apply a range of effects to music, adjust pitch, treble and bass and even analyze tracks with its frequency analysis tool. The program presents music tracks as editable waveforms that users can edit. Users can also edit audio files with cut, copy and paste or use its truck load of additional plug-ins to enhance the range of effects and audio analysis. Audacity has built-in support for the LV2, LADSPA and Nyquist plug-ins.

Darkwave Studio is freeware that gives users a virtually modular audio studio that supports both VST and ASIO. The program supports 64-bit Windows platforms from XP to 10. It requires just 2.89 MB storage space and you can add it to your desktop or laptop by pressing the Download button on this web page. Note that Darkwave Studio also comes with adware, so check the third-party program offers in the installer.

The first thing most users will probably note about Darkwave is its elegant tabbed UI design. Darkwave has a streamlined UI with a lot of the options and settings in separate windows and context menus. The software incorporates up to eight separate modules that include a pattern editor, HD recorder, sequence editor, MIDI input and percussion synthesizer. With the pattern editor, you can select and edit digital music patterns. The sequence editor enables users to mix the track patterns together. The HD recorder tab includes recording options for streaming audio. The program also includes 19 built-in plug-ins with which to add virtual effects to the tracks, and you can add plenty more VST/VSTi plug-ins to the software.

Studio One Prime is the freeware version of the Presonus Studio One software, complemented by the Artist and Professional version which retail at $450. Studio One Prime is a stripped down version of those packages that you can add to your software library with a my.presonus.com account. The software is compatible with more recent Windows and macOS platforms, and youll also need at least 4GB RAM and 30GB of storage for it.

Although the freeware version lacks quite a few of the options and native audio effects offered in Studio One Artist and Professional, it still has the same intuitive drag-and-drop UI with which to create new tracks and add effects. Studio One Prime includes unlimited audio tracks, FX and virtual instruments. You can also add nine native audio effects to music tracks. Latency compensation, easy side-chain routing and the control link MIDI-mapping system are a few of the mixing and control tools retained in the freeware version. In addition, One Prime has multitrack MIDI and multitrack track transform (for track freezing) editing tools. So, even though its a stripped down Studio One version, it still has most of theessential tools to create recordings.

Hydrogen is open-source music production software thats more specifically a digital drum machine which imitates drums. The program is compatible with Windows, Linux and macOS. Note that the Windows version is still in beta, so it might have a few bugs. Click Hydrogen 0.9.7 on this page to save Hydrogens installer to Windows.

Hydrogen has a pre-installed GMkit that includes Snare, Jazz, Ride Jazz, Ride Rock, Stick, Snare Jazz, Closed HH (high hat), Pedal HH and Cowbell drum kits. among others. The softwares pattern sequencer has an unlimited number of patterns and enables users to chain patterns together within a music track. Users can select and arrange various drum audio effects over a file and even overlap them. Hydrogens Mixer is another of its handy tools with which you can tune drum volume and also apply some extra special effects. The latest version of the software enables users to export and import song patterns into tracks, and it also includes a Director Window with a metronome and a Sample Editor with cut and loop options. So, if you need to cook up some drumming beats, Hydrogen will provide the required tools and options.

LMMS, otherwise known as the Linux Multimedia Studio, is a comprehensive, open-source music production application that comes with five editors and a variety of synthesizers to further refine your audio tracks. This is cross-platform software you can run with Windows, Linux (Ubuntu, Mint and Debian) or macOS. Press one of the LMMS buttons on this web page to save either the 32 or 64-bit installer to Windows.

As mentioned, LMMS has five editors that consist of aSong Editor for composing melodies, a Beat+Bassline Editor to consolidate instrument tracks with, Piano Roll, Automation Editor and an FX Editor with which you can mix FX channels. Users can import both MIDI files and Hydrogen project files with the Song Editor. LMMS boasts a wide variety of instrument synthesizers, among which are a Roland monophonic bass, oscillator, wavetable, NES, organic and mallets synthesizers. The program also supports VST and LADSPA plug-ins with which you can mix a multitude of extra effects into the music track. As such, LMMS certainly packs in plenty of music production tools.

Those are five audio production tools for Windows that have most of the tools youll need for music production. As theyre all open source or freeware programs they offer unbeatable value and are great alternatives to proprietary digital audio workstations.

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Here are the best free music production software for Windows - Windows Report

Free malware removal tools

Malware is a serious problem, and if you download free software it's all too easy to end up with a malicious program on your PC that presents a threat to your personal data or system integrity.

Not all antivirus software comes with a specific malware scanner, and because malware doesn't behave like a virus, it can easily be missed. To identify and fully remove malicious software, you need a tool that's designed specifically for the job.

Note that you should only have one antivirus program installed at a time, but the rest of these tools are ideal supplements for your main security suite.

Malwarebytes is the best tool for removing stubborn malware infections, with deep scans and daily database updates

The most effective malware remover, with deep scans and daily updates to find the latest threats

If you suspect a malware infection, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware should be your first port of call. Its updated daily with the latest threats, and

The first time you install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, youre given a 14-day trial of the premium edition, which includes preventative tools like real-time scanning and specific protection from ransomware. After two weeks, it reverts to the basic free version. This wont stop you falling victim to a malware attack in the first place, but thanks to Malwarebytes regular updates,

Last year, Malwarebytes bought Adwcleaner, which as its name suggests targets and removes annoying programs that hijack your browser by changing your homepage, resetting your default search engine, or adding unwanted toolbars. Its also available free, and along with Anti-Malware, is a great addition to your malware-removal toolkit.

Download here: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Bitdefender is a superb all-round security suite, and unlike many free antivirus programs, it has a dedicated malware scanning engine

Prevention is better than cure, and Bitdefender delivers both in one slick package

If youre thinking about replacing your antivirus software, check out Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. It has a dedicated anti-malware engine to help you avoid an infection in the first place, and effectively mops up any existing problems.

One of BitDefenders best features is the ability to scan files or folders that look a bit suspicious by simply dragging and dropping them onto its home screen (it might be a good idea to do this with your Downloads folder if youve noticed some funny business lately). Any unpleasantness detected by the anti-malware engine will be swiftly quarantined, and can be disposed of at your leisure.

BitDefender is unobtrusive, but its Protection Shield will alert you to any malicious attempts to compromise your system. All in all, its an excellent foundation for your anti-malware arsenal.

Download here: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition

Whether you want to replace your regular antivirus software or just want to beef up your malware protection, Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ is a dependable choice

Ad-Aware can replace your main antivirus or work a supplement to eliminate brand new malware

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ is another great option if youre building an anti-malware toolkit from the ground up. It includes a virtual environment where suspicious programs can be analysed to see if they behave like malware (a technique known as heuristic analysis). This means youre always protected from new malware even if youre the very first person to be affected and the malicious program isnt yet in Ad-Awares database of known threats. The malware can then be safely contained and removed.

All this happens quietly in the background, and can be suspended temporarily if you want your processors full power for a gaming session.

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ can also scan downloads before you install them, helping prevent malware infestations in the first place by filtering their most common point of entry.

If you already have an antivirus program you trust, you can opt to install a version of Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ without real-time scanning, so it wont cause conflicts and can work as a security supplement instead.

Download here: Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+

When you have to remove a malware infection for a friend or family member, EEK is invaluable

Portable malware removal thats perfect if youve been assigned the role of home tech support

If youre called in to help a friend with a malware infestation, Emsisoft Emergency Kit is the tool for you. Its a portable app, so you can keep it handy on a USB stick, or your cloud storage service of choice (its only 591GB, though it does generate log files, which will take up a little extra room).

Like any malware removal tool, Emsisoft Emergency Kit has a database of current threats, and the PC youre cleaning needs an internet connection so the software can check for updates.

Once its updated itself, it scans the PC for threats and quarantines anything it finds to stop it doing further damage to your system. After a quick reboot, the files will be deleted.

Download here: Emsisoft Emergency Kit

If you think a file or folder might be harboring malware, use SUPERAntiSpyware to submit it for closer analysis

All-round protection from malicious software that gives you full control over manual scans

The free edition of SUPERAntiSpyware detects all forms of malicious software including adware and spyware and removes every trace quickly and efficiently.

If you suspect that a particular file might contain malware, you can submit it to SUPERAntiSpywares threat labs, where its behavior will be analyzed. Its not as fast or convenient as tools that scan files using a virtual machine, but is a good option if your system is low on resources.

You can also control which types of file are scanned, whether SUPERAntiSpyware should follow shortcuts, and whether it should check inside ZIP archives very handy if youve downloaded a program in an archive and want to check it before extracting the contents.

Scans must be performed manually, but SUPERAntiSpywares granular control makes it a great choice for more confident users.

Download here: SUPERAntiSpyware

Read more:
The best free malware removal tools | TechRadar - TechRadar

This week, President Trump kept one of his most important campaign promises by nominating an originalist judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Antonin Scalias death last February. Scalia was the courts foremost practitioner of originalism and textualism, judicial philosophies that seek to resolve constitutional questions by reference to the language of the document, as publicly understood at the time of its enactment.

This approach led Scalia to author the historic opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller, which confirmed that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms for defensive purposes.

Judge Gorsuchs embrace of originalism is a bulwark for our Second Amendment rights. When given the opportunity to consider the matter in his professional capacity, Judge Gorsuch has made clear that he understands the importance of the right to keep and bear arms.

In a case concerning a technical question of what the government must prove to establish a violation of the Gun Control Act, Judge Gorsuch noted that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to own firearms and may not be infringed lightly. His statements in that case strongly indicate that he would hold the government to a high standard before allowing it to strip someone of the right to keep and bear arms.

Its hardly a secret that many in the federal judiciary have not shown the Second Amendment the respect it deserves. Justice Thomas, another originalist on the Supreme Court noted as much in 2015 when dissenting from the courts refusal to hear a Second Amendment challenge to a San Francisco ordinance requiring firearms in the home to be kept locked away or disabled with a trigger lock. Despite the clarity with which we described the Second Amendments core protection for the right of self-defense, Thomas wrote, lower courts, including the ones here, have failed to protect it.

Opposition to Judge Gorsuchs confirmation has already started amongst gun control supporters, and they are once again proving that dishonesty is no impediment in pursuing their agenda. Addressing Judge Gorsuchs nomination, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi claimed that Judge Gorsuch favors felons over gun safety. This claim was nothing more than a desperate attempt to smear the distinguished jurist, which is why it has already been found to be false by the fact-checking (and left-leaning) website Politifact.

Disappointed supporters of Hillary Clinton are wailing, gnashing their teeth, and vowing to obstruct Judge Gorsuchs confirmation. Their tactics, as usual, are heavy on hysteria and short on facts or reason.

Yet both sides understood that the 2016 presidential election was largely a referendum on the future direction of the U.S. Supreme Court. The American people spoke loudly and clearly in favor of respecting the original meaning of the Constitution. The Senate should therefore do its sworn duty and swiftly confirm Judge Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read more from the original source:
Trump Supreme Court Nominee Neil M. Gorsuch Would Respect the Second Amendment - NRA ILA

Mark L. Hopkins | Special to the Daily News

A few months back I wrote a column titled, Guns dont kill people. Really? My column usually will draw between 30 and 40 responses each week, some positive and some negative. That column, however, kept me answering emails through much of the next week and beyond.

The Second Amendment reads, A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

When the Guns dont kill people column was published, I heard from a number of NRA members. The NRA has often claimed that back in the late 18th century the men who are known as the framers of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights adopted the Second Amendment because they wanted an armed population that would have the weaponry at hand to take down the U.S. government should it become tyrannical. The actual history which preceded the Second Amendment says otherwise. It says, in fact, that the framers of the constitution wanted a strong federal government. To protect that government, they wanted a Second Amendment that would legally create and arm state citizen-based militias capable of stopping citizen rebellions and insurrections against state or federal governments. Though we can date the creation of the National Guard back to 1636 in Massachusetts, the Second Amendment was the first official reference to such militia at the federal level.

So, why did the framers of the Constitution believe they needed an armed militia? The key leaders of the United States at the time were wealthy members of what was in effect an American aristocracy, men like George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Because of their own experience and knowledge of European countries, especially England and France, they clearly understood the need for an orderly, controlled and smooth-running society, not only for the general population but also to protect their own economic interests.

By the time the Second Amendment was passed the United States government had already experienced several citizen rebellions. Chief among these were Shays Rebellion in Massachusetts and the Whisky Rebellion in Pennsylvania. This was at a time when the federal government did not have an army. Without a military unit available to assert control they had no way to deal with such rebellions. In Boston, a wealthy group of merchants put together a militia to stop Shays rebellion. Two years later, when the Whisky Rebellion occurred in western Pennsylvania, President George Washington was alarmed enough that he put together his own militia, marched into Pennsylvania and arrested the perpetrators. In short, the countrys leadership had experienced citizen rebellions and wanted something with teeth to handle such problems in the future.

For those who believe that I am twisting the tail of the tiger by again broaching the sore subject of gun ownership and control, please view this effort as one of promoting discussion. I am not for removing guns from homes. Such would be as impossible as sending 11 million illegal aliens back to their home countries.

In subsequent columns I will lay out the foundational history that precipitated the creation of the gun clause in the Second Amendment. The next column will focus on President George Washingtons perspective on the rebellions and what he thought should be done about them.

Righting some wrongs is just not feasible. We have to make the best of our current situation. Our people have guns, more than 300 million of them, and most are not for going deer hunting on the weekend.

Dr. Mark L. Hopkins writes for More Content Now and Scripps Newspapers.

Read this article:
Mark L. Hopkins: More on guns and the Second Amendment - The Northwest Florida Daily News

Donald Trump has unnerved some European leaders.

European Union leaders have signalled caution and confusion about America's potential new direction under Donald Trump.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said he did not feel threatened by the new president, but "there is room for explanations because of the impression that the new administration does not know the EU in detail but in Europe details matter".

Austria's Christian Kern said: "Today we have pretty mixed feelings, to be honest, because the tangible aspects of Mr Trump's policies are raising some concerns.

"It's not a threat, it could be a catalyst for a strong, more united Europe. It is an alarm call to see if we are the right track."

French President Francois Hollande stressed the need for a united Europe in the face of uncertainty from the US.

Asked what he thought of leaders, like those in Hungary and Poland, who were leaning towards Mr Trump, Mr Hollande said: "Those who want to forge bilateral ties with the US are of course well understood by the public.

"But they must understand that there is no future with Trump if it is not a common position. What matters is solidarity at the EU level. We must not imagine some sort of external protection."

German chancellor Angela Merkel said: "Europe has its destiny in its own hands. I believe that the more strongly we make clear that we will define our own role in the world, the better we will be able to cultivate our transatlantic relationship."

Excerpt from:
Migrant crisis and defence on agenda as May meets EU leaders - ITV News