Audio software for live improvisation

I use Reason live . . . it's really great for live use . . . totally stable (I've never had a crash), and once you're used to it . . . really quick and easy to create anything you want in real time. I highly recommend it. I also run Mixere (which is free) alongside it, for playing long wav files (as backgrounds, or whatever), and they both work well simultaneously as long as you open Reason first.

I wouldn't recommend a seqencer such as Logic or Cubase for live creativity, as they are very likely to crash for the slightest reason or no reason at all, and a lot more complex to get anything done. Reason is really well written for live use. I use a keyboard controller (Evolution) with Reason . . . so I can play any sound live, including triggering samples, drum sounds etc etc. It is also easy to create free-running sounds on Reason . . . I mean the kind of thing you used to be able to do with a really early analog synthesiser such as a Synthi AKS . . . wonderful complex analog-type sounds that keep evolving and changing, then you can use those with beats, loops, synths, FX, samples, anything! I love it!

I also use Reactor, which is like a more open version of Reason . . . completely programmable with any possibilities, but complex to program. Some of the standard patches are really nice to work with, but in a very different way from Reason, and I wouldn't want to attempt more than the most basic programming with it live. But it can be good for creating unusual sounds . . . although Reason is FAR easier to use, and can do almost anything Reactor can do (plus a LOT more).

Chris (REAL strings for realistic prices http:www.chris-melchior.com-strings.htm)