I want to start composing music as a hobby.
Does anyone know of any good and reasonably priced (preferably free) software packages that can reproduce actual instrument sounds rather than representing them as beeps and squeaks?
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mrs-h-the-3rd
Pro - 2009-04-18 @ 23:23:28
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soyunperdedor
Pro - http://soyunperdedor.blog.co.uk
- 2009-04-18 @ 23:28:47
Sibelius have a free demo, you could give that a try first and see if you want to take it any further.
http://www.sibelius.com/download/index.html-
Of course!
How stupid of me. I have Sibelius Scorch installed (thanks to znethru), I didn't think of looking into the full package.
I'll take a deeper look into it, ta.-
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soyunperdedor
Pro
- http://soyunperdedor.blog.co.uk
- 2009-04-18 @ 23:53:30
No probs
I only know of it from the music students borrowing the software from the library.-
What I've seen of it in the last few minutes is good.
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Cheeky buggers!
They sent me an email thanking me for downloading the demo version before I'd even asked for it!
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Was so impressed that I wanted to buy it.
Then I saw the price.
I did say "reasonably priced"!!!
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soyunperdedor
Pro
- http://soyunperdedor.blog.co.uk
- 2009-04-19 @ 01:49:24
I didn't look at the price, sorry! Just knew they had a free trial so you could have a play!
I guess if you want serious quality you have to pay the price
like everything these days.-
If I was looking to create music even semi-professionally maybe I'd be more interested, but as a hobbyist 500 squiddlies is a bit much.
It is a rather good looking package. I was well impressed with its ease of use and the quality of the instruments. Just the kind of thing I'm looking for.-
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soyunperdedor
Pro
- http://soyunperdedor.blog.co.uk
- 2009-04-19 @ 01:59:35
Glad to have helped
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SeasideMan
Pro - 2009-04-18 @ 23:41:14
You have lots of choices, but you need to be more specific with your requirements. Do you want to have the sounds of electric guitars for example, or saxophones? Do you need a good sounding concert piano? Your genre determines what it is you need. For me, I find that a variety of software simulations of keyboards and guitars combined with Fruity Loops works well.
So, what sort of music do you want to make?
Tom.-
As my taste in music could be classed as somewhat eclectic, much like yours, I'd like something that covers as many musical genres as possible from pure and simple harps and violins to heavily distorted guitars. Percussion would be very handy, too.
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SeasideMan
Pro
- 2009-04-19 @ 00:05:42
OK then, if you are prepared to spend some money I would recommend Reason. I use FruityLoops but I have the advantage of access to many synthesized instruments which I have from a lot of years collecting. The drums are a given, but I also have lots of guitars and keyboards, etc.
If you want harps, violins AND distorted guitars, you will need several different bits of software - no one is sufficient. Nothing sample-based will do what you need, you need synthesis, and each instrument needs a different synthesizer.
I use Slayer for synthesized guitar, and Giga for piano. There are alternatives, but the quality you need determines your selection.
It's difficult to know what else to say if you are unwilling to narrow your genre and instruments.
Tom. -
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scoobydoofus
Pro - 2009-04-19 @ 12:21:44
Cubase is quite good for that sort of thing, but I think you have to download the different instruments separately. It's industry standard, so very expensive, but it can be "acquired", if you know what I mean. Although if you intend to publish your music, that's probably not a very good idea.
If you ever feel the need to get a new computer, Macs come installed with software called Garageband which has loads of instruments to play with and a simple interface, as well as allowing you to play with real instruments and add effects. Fantastic stuff. -
There was a package we used in school for composing called midi, it's possible to buy it from pc world I think but it's dear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_Instrument_Digital_Interface
It's quite good and would love to get it for myself, just can't afford it at the mo