Composing Software, What do you use? Options

[Titanhex]

I was curious the tools that some of the composers here use, be it shareware or software.

I'm compiling some music software for my friend to try to compose video game music with. He also has a pretty nice mixer he's hooking instruments up to and into his computer. It's one of those ones that loops two tracks. Dunno name.

Thanks for the help

[X-M-O]

I think this belongs in Media Discussion.

Titanhex, do you have a Macintosh computer handy? It comes with GarageBand by default, and that is an excellent program to use for editing/creating soundtracks for games. =]
(I've used it myself and made some really cool tunes.)

If you don't have a Macintosh, then I could suggest something like Magix Music Maker 16.
It's not free, but it's a great program. =]

[Rukiri]

I think this belongs in Media Discussion.

Titanhex, do you have a Macintosh computer handy? It comes with GarageBand by default, and that is an excellent program to use for editing/creating soundtracks for games. =]
(I've used it myself and made some really cool tunes.)

If you don't have a Macintosh, then I could suggest something like Magix Music Maker 16.
It's not free, but it's a great program. =]

I have to second Magix, I never used it but it looks bloody awesome! There's also Avid programs used by pros. The price range may be steep but they're the best well to consumers anyway.

There's also Fruity Loops

[Godspeed]

Well, I use Guitar Pro 5.2 with Realistic Sound Engine to make the guitar, bass and drum parts...The I just take my guitar or bass, connect it with my Roland portable audio card and play my stuff....I use Guitar Rig 4 for distortions and effects or my Fab Tone pedal. Magix Music Maker for cropping and converting and Sonar 6 LE for recording vocals or making drum grooves via the Addictive Drums plugin...

[adamsjohson]

I really like FL Studio . I like the piano roll and the sequencer, and it's great for the beats. Version 9 has many great additions.I much as Ableton Live. Totally different work flows, but also to really live together. The session mode is great for writing quick ideas.

This post has been edited by adamsjohson: Dec 8 2010, 09:26 AM

[PianoOnWheels]

Finale PrintMusic 2011 - Great for notation, easy to use, lots of features
Mixcraft 5 - Great mixing program, easy to use, lots of VSTi

As you could imagine, they work very well together.

PoW

[dabigyp]

I use a combination of Anvil Studio and Fruity Loops.

I really like the feel of midis so I like all of my songs to start off in that form, plus Anvil has a really nifty fret board setting for guitarists, as well a keyboard.

After I complete a midi I upload it into FL to make it sound pretty and fine tune it.

For one who does not wish to purchase the software, a free demo version of fruity loops is available. The only drawback is that you can't save your projects and are forced to export them when you've finished. This is where midis become very useful because you can import the midi into FL at any point. However, your song will most likely never come out the same way. [I kind of like this though]

This post has been edited by dabigyp: Dec 18 2010, 09:31 PM

[theBreadSultan]

Reason


FTW

[amaro57]

What program is THAT? ._.

[Ember]

It's called Reason.
http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/

[JohnCoyne]

Finale PrintMusic 2011 - Great for notation, easy to use, lots of features
Mixcraft 5 - Great mixing program, easy to use, lots of VSTi

Replace Finale with Sibelius. Then that's me.

[theBreadSultan]

No mention of Cubase yet...... Its a really good programme, my mate uses it alongside Reason.

but he has a much more fancy setup than me - who just runs Reason.

[TheBen]

I use FL Studio. If you don't want to pay for it, the only reasonable version being about a hundred bucks, you can always go with Anvil Studio. Pretty good MIDI composer right there; bit rough around the edges, but most things are.

[Spirit_Master_X]

I downloaded FL Studio 9 once, didn't really enjoy it. I guess its because since I already have FL Studio 8 loaded with all kinds of VSTs and generators.

[Adriantepes]

Ugh. My rig for recording is fucking huge....

I start out by writing the song on my guitar. Coming up with melodies and whatnot, arranging and blah blah.

Then I use FL Studio for the only thing it's good for, arranging drums. I use Addictive Drums. It was alot to fork out the pocket for it, but it sounds just like a real kit... Really good for my drummer to practice too and whatnot.

Then I go to my actual mics and gear. I use a Tascam DP-008 and the Mxl 990/991 kit. I record the drums to the FL drum track, so I know exactly what I have to play and at what tempo. I mic the kick with the 991 and I use the 990 as an overhead. I put it right over the snare to capture the snares sound best I can, while still catching the rest of the drums. I'll eventually upgrade this

For guitars I just record two tracks, one left and one right, and hard pan them. I know 30% is the standard, but hey. Whatever xD I record the bass with the 990 and then I record keys with my cheap little yamaha DX-1's midi output. I use a whole bunch of VSTi synths, and I run them all through my monitors. If I do vocals I record them with the 990, pop filtered, and L/R 20% pan.

Then I export the tracks to pro tools for EQ'ing and mixing.

And then....

http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/384802

Yeah