computer music-making

Pick it up! · 03-15-2003, 08:45 PM

does anyone know of some type of software that i could buy(and where to buy it) that i could use to make music? like something where i could write/type in the percussion, bass, guitar/other melody instrument? not just loops and samples, but something where i could actually do it all. as you can tell, i know next to nothing about doing this.
thanks.

Guitar MC · 04-09-2003, 09:38 PM

I think some sort of MIDI program would be the best bet. Do you know what MIDI is? It does not sound like a great recording but i sometimes use it to get down ideas. It also takes some work to use it well. I bet someone else could give you more help than me.

-Trey

**Dwight Schrute** · 04-10-2003, 11:06 AM

I highly recommend Cakewalk. I personally use Cakewalk in my home recording studio and it works great.

I have several different copies and flavors, but my current favorite is definitely Plasma. It stole... er took the Acid loops technology and improved it, and works wonderfully.

If you are focusing on Midi you may want to look more towards the Home Studio area, Plasma and Guitar Tracks are kind of more for standard uses. I picked up Plasma, a bonus CD of loops, plus the entire Drumatic drums set loops for 50 bucks on eBay, each piece lists for 50 each so I got a smoking deal.

Nate · 04-10-2003, 04:30 PM

If you are going to want to "write/type" in the music from your computer, you're going to have to go either with a dedicated notation program (such as Finale or NoteWorthy Composer) or with a software sequencer (such as Digital Performer or Cakewalk HomeStudio). Of course, these programs vary greatly in price and function, so it would be really good to know exactly what you are trying to do before I really give you any recommendations.

Oh.. and about MIDI... it is the most misunderstood thing in the entire music industry (besides copyright law, of course). If you are interested in finding out what MIDI really is and what it really does/can do... email me at keyboardfreak_ns@yahoo.com and I will do my best to explain it to you.

For now though, I recommend that you go to www.noteworthycomposer.com and download the trial version. If they haven't changed their policy yet, you can use the trial version for as long as you want (even though it says 30 days, it never shuts off) and it will allow you to print and save.

In His love,
Nate

Pick it up! · 04-10-2003, 08:00 PM

i don't know how to describe exactly what i want, like i said i know next to nothing about computer music. but i want to be able to make music, not really techno, but since i'm using a computer there will probably be a touch of that, and be able to burn it to cds. i have this idea for a concept album/project that i can't get any of my bandmates into, so i want to just create it myself and distribute it. it'd be highly experimental. thanks for the replies thus far.

Wobbit · 04-21-2003, 04:47 PM

I know exactly what program you are looking for. I don't use it much because I prefer to record my own instruments, but there is a program called "Fruity Loops" which would be perfect for you. It is a little towards the techno side, but you can do whatever you want with it. You can make drum loops, and theres loads of samples to play with to make melodies and stuff. It's a little tricky to figure out at first, but you can probably figure it out.
I'm not sure what the website is, but you just search and I'm sure you'll be able to find the demo version. I'm not sure how much the whole deal costs.
You could always just download it with kazaa or something, but of course that would be illegal(

)

(I wouldn't condone it)

Pick it up! · 04-21-2003, 05:21 PM

thanks man, i'll definatley check into that.

Pick it up! · 04-21-2003, 05:55 PM

can i do vocals with this program? i think i'm going to purchase fruity loops pro. i just need to find it cheap.

**Dwight Schrute** · 04-21-2003, 06:11 PM

Fruity Loops is great, for a drum machine. But if you want vocals, get Cakewalk! CAKEWALK! Get Home Studio and use it for Vocals and Midi keyboard stuff. I use it for vocals, guitar, and drums (standard rock quartet stuff) and it works great. If you want a drum machine that you can't do much else with, get Fruity Loops. If you want drums and more, get Cakewalk, it comes with a demo of Drag and Drop Drummer for the drum pieces. Nuff said.

Wobbit · 04-21-2003, 06:43 PM

yeah, cakewalk is waaaay better, but for what you're doing, I think all you need to start with is fruity loops. but you should totally try them both.
oh and ya can't do vocals with fruity loops. Thats where I would say just download a free multitrack recorder off that internet somewhere, then record what you want of you singing, then just use a wave editor if you want to 'fix it up'.

Pick it up! · 04-21-2003, 08:02 PM

just to make things clear so i get what i think i want:
this is a horror-themed project. a series of songs about a made-up place and the different charactures that live in and around it. i want some kind of percussion, keys/organ, guitar, and vocals for sure.

OnFireForGod · 04-21-2003, 10:36 PM

Ok, for the percussion or drums use Fruity Loops. I use it all the time to make the drumming for songs i record since i don't have equipment to record drums. It's awesome! You can also do just about any type of instrument with Fruity Loops. You can do your keys/organ and guitar with Fruity Loops (the guitar isnt as good as the keys/organ though). You can download different instrument sounds too off the internet and use'em if you don't like what it gives you. Now, for the vocals i'd go with Cool Edit Pro, it's the best multitrack recording program there is IMHO

. It's has a bunch of effects you can add to your vocals too, basically anything you can think of, and it's really really easy to use..whether your recording, editing, adding effects, or whatever. So, anyway, i think Fruity Loops and Cool Edit Pro would be all you ever need. If you wanna hear some stuff i've done with either Fruity Loops or Cool Edit Pro i have alot so just ask. Alright, well i think i've given my $.43 on this

.

**Dwight Schrute** · 04-22-2003, 07:23 AM

*cough* CAKEWALK *cough*

Or hey buy 15 different programs that can't work together, go for it. It's your money. Pull a demo of Cakewalk off their website and give it a try. It does everything you want, all in one single package. And you can export to any file format you want and burn from there.

Can you tell I am sold on Cakewalk? I have tried everything else, otherwise I wouldn't still be ranting in this thread.

FIForever · 04-22-2003, 08:13 AM

then I have a question, I have Sonar and that's by Cakewalk, right? and if so, does it have the same functions?

04-22-2003, 08:29 AM

Sonar is the next generation of Cakewalk recording software, Sonar 2.2 was just released, and the Sonar series is, as a whole, light years ahead of any previous cakewalk product. the new 2.2 features ASIO driver support DXi2 virtual instrument support and a ton more features that make the old cakewalk features that have always been there much easier to use.

Before Sonar cakewalk software was pretty druddy sounding, very amatuerish in my opinion. Sonar has improved on it substantially. Cakewalk (and Sonar) are generally much easier to learn and use than many of their competitors.

Also, depending on yoru needs, there are many, many other products available. If you have no need for MIDI and virtual instruments, Sonic Foundry Vegas is a pretty awesome program. Very intuitive making it easy to learn and easy to use.

If you want something that can do everything, including make you dinner and clean the dishes, Steinberg has a program called Cubase (and also Nuendo) that is very, very cool, it can do everything but the learning curve is very, very steep and can be quite frustrating as well as expensive.

of course, then there is always ProTools...if ya really wanna go there...