StageLight 1.3 Review: Groundbreaking GarageBand competitor for the PC

March 12, 2014

Open Labs StageLight 1.3 is different in so many ways, it’s hard to know where to start a review. How about price? It’s a consumer-level PC audio and MIDI recording app (aka DAW/digital audio workstation) that costs a mere $10—less than you pay for similar programs on the iPad. Along with a tablet-style price, it’s also tablet-like in employing an in-app store to sell you more stuff—in this case, some professional sounding loops (snippets of pre-recorded audio, beats, etc.) from artists Linkin Park and Timbaland. Beyond that, StageLight is also one of the first Windows apps that fully embraces the touch that Microsoft so badly wants you to use. Everything is sized and set up for use with your finger or a stylus. A very real bonus to this approach is that the program is super easy-to-use, even with a mouse, and avoids the icon clutter that plagues much of its ilk (Pro Tools, Cubase, Studio One, etc.). If you’re not familiar with those programs, think of Photoshop’s myriad icons and toolbars.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2105787/stagelight-1-3-review-groundbreaking-garage-band-competitor-for-the-pc.html#tk.rss_reviews