These days, software instruments seem to most like the natural thing to use as a sound source in a computer-based studio. However until only a few years ago, the whole idea was a struggle, plagued by problems with latency, CPU power and instability - you could often spend as much time trying to get them to work properly as you could using them to create music. Today though, software instruments are reaching maturity, and have continued to evolve to become ever more sonically astounding and ground-breaking.

This article will look at how software instruments came to be, and then explore the different types available and how they can best be used within the limitations of current technology.

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