Help with music-making software and general song-writing advice :)

[CreatureArt]

Hello there everybody!

I was just wondering what software (both freeware and commercial) you can use to make music on the computer.

I know how to read and write music (intervals, scales, accidentals, note names, minors, majors, the list goes on... ) but I'd love to put some of my compositions onto the computer to hear how it sounds.

I could probably figure out a average/advanced program by way of tinkering around and reading up on tuts on the net but the main problem is that I don't know what software to look for.

So if you have any advice, hints or tips in this matter, it would be much appreciated - or even general music composition tips and tricks in general, that's all good. I've only recently started writing and singing my own music, and although I have a decent start in having done piano to Grade 5 and singing (Grade 4) (eek - I sound posh. Free school lessons I tell you! ) and basically just a beginner.

God bless, and thanks for taking time to read through this terribly long post (I must start trying to write shorter ones so people don't get eye-strain... maybe once I age, like wine [or cheese] in terms of forum time I won't write so much... ).

-CA

[Sephiroth]

What sorta stuff are you looking for, Theres a really good program for creating dance music called Reason, its really good but is fairly complex, the interface is like an audio equipment rack, with different evices you can stick on, like drum machines, synthisisers, effects units, it is a commercially used program, i donk know any freeware, if you like MIDI stuff and synths, with some audio recording features, Steinbergs Cubase is a good program, umm if your looking for more straight recording stuff into your PC then Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge is a great program, if your wanting to spend alot of money on something like that maybe in the future (recording into your PC with Proffessional Software) Getting a DigiDesign Soundcard/Interface and Pro Tools is Reccomended (Costs alot, But is the industry standard for Recording Studio's)

[CreatureArt]

What sorta stuff are you looking for, Theres a really good program for creating dance music called Reason, its really good but is fairly complex, the interface is like an audio equipment rack, with different evices you can stick on, like drum machines, synthisisers, effects units, it is a commercially used program, i donk know any freeware, if you like MIDI stuff and synths, with some audio recording features, Steinbergs Cubase is a good program, umm if your looking for more straight recording stuff into your PC then Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge is a great program, if your wanting to spend alot of money on something like that maybe in the future (recording into your PC with Proffessional Software) Getting a DigiDesign Soundcard/Interface and Pro Tools is Reccomended (Costs alot, But is the industry standard for Recording Studio's)

Thank you!

I guess I'm just looking for something I can put notes into - I can write sheet music but it'd been awesome to get something that I can just click notes into etc. and have it play it back to me and me able to print it out. Being able to listen to different instruments etc. play the song would be awesome, too, but mainly it's just having the sheet music and being able to listen to it. Also being able to save it as a music file would be awesome .

Thanks so much for the list, though - I'll take a look the ones you've mentioned - because I can use your recommendation to have a look at the music software that's out there. . Sorry I wasn't more specific in my question; I didn't really know just how many amazing programs are out there! Maybe if I ever get into music commercially I'll invest in getting DigiDesign and ProTools.

Thanks again, and God bless.


-CA

[TheMelodyMaker]

It's just a thought, but take a look at Harmony Central and you might find something there too.

[CreatureArt]

It's just a thought, but take a look at Harmony Central and you might find something there too.

Thank you! I checked it out - it lists some freeware software that looks really awesome. I've downloaded one and am trying it out - it looks good so far!

God bless, and thanks again for the help.


-CA

[Sephiroth]

Another good one to do entering in notes and stuff, and play em as MIDI or print the sheet music out, i think its called music maker, you can also scan in sheet music and it has Optical Charcter Recognition so that you can then edit the scanned in music as you wish, P.S. if i got the name wrong i'll post here again. Oh and you can enter notes and beats in Cubase too, theres an edit page where you can click on the notes you wan't to be played (in the MIDI Formats anyway but not in the Audio part)

[CreatureArt]

Another good one to do entering in notes and stuff, and play em as MIDI or print the sheet music out, i think its called music maker, you can also scan in sheet music and it has Optical Charcter Recognition so that you can then edit the scanned in music as you wish, P.S. if i got the name wrong i'll post here again. Oh and you can enter notes and beats in Cubase too, theres an edit page where you can click on the notes you wan't to be played (in the MIDI Formats anyway but not in the Audio part)

I'll check them out - but I'd probably better do it tomorrow, since it's getting a little late... *yawn* .

Still, that sounds awesome - being able to both compose and play as a MIDI. Thanks for the advice and help

God bless.

[PumpkinKoRn52]

The best advice ever: Know how to read music. If you already knew that, I have wasted your time.

[CreatureArt]

The best advice ever: Know how to read music. If you already knew that, I have wasted your time.

Lol - yep, doing too many years of piano definitely thumps that into your head . Thanks anyway, though. I totally agree with your statement - being able to read music is very important if you want to do anything with music.

God bless, and thanks again for the advice

[PumpkinKoRn52]

Your welcome.