New generation of music software effectively allows anyone with a computer to be a musician. “The current technology allows someone without any musical knowledge to effectively collage together music out of other people’s music,” says one software pioneer. “Forget about home studios and samplers. Increasingly sophisticated software and a slew of new beat-generating synthesizers have further democratized music-making, putting professional production tools in the hands of anyone, no formal training required. It doesn’t even cost much: Some of the software can be had for 49 bucks.” – Philadelphia Inquirer