Music programs

Davyinatoga · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject: Music programs

What are some good programs to write actual music (not .dwi's or .sm's)? I'm thinking of getting Sibelius 4, as I like the Sibelius line and it'll o me well for a lot of different styles, but it's probably not going to give me the best in dance-type genres. So those who write their own songs to make stepfiles to, what are your recommendations?
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Laundry · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject:

I've heard Fruity Loops was good.

XOR-SYS · Trick Member Joined: 04 May 2005 Location: Canada

Odyssey · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

If you can find MIDIsoft Studio 4 or so, you're a full-fledged musician. Multi-layer, controller-enabling MIDI program which allows you to click notes in or play them in with a keyboard.

9/10 of people who use this program with proficiency are music GODS/GODESSES. I'm in that 1/10, but that's another story.
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XOR-SYS · Trick Member Joined: 04 May 2005 Location: Canada

Davyinatoga · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:33 pm Post subject:

Ok, so those are for looping/sequencing and such, but what about actual composition/notation programs, like Sibelius, Finale, etc? I was planning on asking this question long before the Konami song contest, so don't think it's limited to just that. I've composed marches, suites, and other such non-dance songs, and I want access to those, too.
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Zeta Aspect · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 10:21 pm Post subject:

Although these aren't the best for all types of songs, you can try them out anyway, especially since you can create sheet music for the physical world and for easy recreation on another program, in the case that they aren't right for you:
"Finale NotePad" (free from www.finalemusic.com; use it to try out the interface, since it has small instrument selection, poor options and effects, and cannot save as mp3s or waves)
"Finale PrintMusic" (good, especially for costing $70 and not $600; try out the free, fully-functional 30-day demo; this is what I use, if you call what I do "using"; it has a decent instrument selection in the instrument list window under GM, it can save as an audio file, it can do your laundry, walk your dog, do your work in general, provide sustenance for millenia...it can record and import midi files for editing to great effect, it can support up to 24 staves, it has somewhat diverse playback styles, and etc.; it does not, however, have studio quality sounds, like the $600 version)

In summary, "Finale" is a relatively friendly composition program, but not the best for mad techno coolness, if you catch my drift (percussion is a bit difficult, most notably).

I've heard good DDR-type music from:
"Buzz" (some website, don't know off the top of my head, something having to do with some jeskola person, if that comes up in a search; it is free, however it is also very versatile, so get ready to spend some time learning how to use it)

Guaranteed hits:
"Fruity Loops" (Kyle Ward uses this, among other things, but it costs money, I think)

That's my say, although I am by no means an expert.
If you really want a good opinion, you can e-mail artists for DDR and ITG and SM. They are usually friendly people.

If you'd like to chat more about making music, or in my case, about making stuff that almost resembles music, e-mail me. I enjoy forcing my ideas on others and stealing any of their useful ideas "in return" just as much as the next guy.
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