I just bought a copy of Reason from Propellerhead Software. It is by far the coolest piece of software I have seen in quite some time. Reason is a virtual studio. You actually see a "rack" where you can install modules. Reason 1.0 includes an "analog" style synth, sample based synth, sample-based drum machine, loop manipulator, mixer, an old-style "analog" sequencer, and a digital sequence. All of the units look like the real thing: they've got knobs and buttons and sliders which are all fashioned after real synth components. Even cooler: hit the Tab button and you see the backs of the units, complete with patch plugs and CV plugs. You can route any output through any other component. This is so cool it is beyond words. Version 2.0 also includes a brand grainular/wave table synth as well as a more advanced sampler. All in all one bad ass piece of software and for under $300 (buy the 1.0 version now at your local retailer and get a free upgrade to 2.0!). Check it out at http://www.propellerheads.se. If you are a musician, especially one who writes dance music, you won't be disappointed.

I am trying to set up Roller Weblogger so that I can have a more powerful blog tool which supports news feeds, RSS version of the blog, etc. Have been having some difficulties, but after moving to Tomcat 4.0.4 it finally seems to work on my local machine. Hopefully I can put it up for public consumption shortly and perhaps even provide blogging for others. :-)