Which should I choose? Where should I start?
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Posted on Feb 28, 2006 11:17 am
monte watkins
Member Since: Jun 10, 2004
What is the best product out right now to create music from scratch? I'm still learning to play the keyboard and I'm a long way from being able to play or find the exact chords etc. I hear in my head. I am able to sing the melodies and basically "hear" the songs in my head. I was wondering would Cakewalk, Reason 3.0, or whatever recommendations I can get be a good investment. I've been reading about each and the virtual instruments etc... I just wanted to know if anybody knows of the products above or a good software package for a songwriter who cant play an instrument? (well other than his voice)Please help.!
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Feb 28, 2006 02:32 pm i'm gonna assume you're gonna want to work with alotta pre-recorded loops, based on that, i'd suggest looking into Acid, Cakewalks' Project 5, Reason, and Fruity Loops, these will be the best to getcha up and runnin' pretty quickly.
cheers
wyd
Feb 28, 2006 03:12 pm Hey whosyourdaddy00...
Will most or some of these software products allow for some sort of melody creation? Or will I be restricted to a lot of mostly pre-recorded loops?
Feb 28, 2006 05:05 pm ummm i know cakewalk, reason, and FL all will....i havn't used Acid since V2.0 so i'm not positive on that one.
Feb 28, 2006 05:08 pm Project5 isn't restricted to loops at all, you can use loops, but it's mostly a sequencer for virtual instruments and v2 can even record audio...I would suggest Project5 being perfect for your situation, as it also comes with a lot of great instruments and drum machines.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 28, 2006 09:59 pm I will second the idea of Cakewalks Project 5 version 2 being right up your alley. I normally use Sonar 5 PE for completing most projects, but I have used Project 5 to finish some pretty large projects and it works just fine. As well it comes with some pretty intense software synths and samplers to get you up and running fast.
Feb 28, 2006 11:49 pm Does Project 5 have a music notation interface? Like old Cakewalk 3? or similar?
Mar 01, 2006 11:02 am Thanks for the help. I'm going to get Cakewalk Project 5. Looks intense, complicated, etc. but I'm up for the challenge.
Are there any Cakewalk Project 5 experts out there I can tap into for some knowledge later on?
again. thanks...
Mar 01, 2006 11:48 am Noize and I both were beta testers on the Project5 development for Cakewalk...Noize knows the app WAY better than I do though...
Mar 01, 2006 01:34 pm i'd love to get into project 5, but i've been using reason for 3 years now, and i'm just used to it....
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 01, 2006 08:33 pm DungBeatle, do mean Notation as in notes on a staff? Or do you mean as in step writing parts?
If you meant the latter then yes it does. With Sonar as well I havent found the need to have a staff view in Project 5. But I dont even use it when working in Project 5 anyway. I just use the piano roll arranger and am good to go. Each note can be tweaked over a dozen differant ways in that view anyway.
Mar 01, 2006 08:54 pm I write music... notes on a staff... I don't know any other way, unless I just play it in. Most of the time (like 95%) I click everything in using regular music notation. Stoneage, I know.... but that's what I'll be looking for in my next sequencer.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 01, 2006 09:11 pm DungBeatle, have you tried working on a piano roll as in Sonar or any of the Cakewalk stuff. It isnt much differant. And the editing is much deeper then working in staff view. You can edit velocity and almost any note parameter you can think of. I only use the staff view for printing out a score.
Mar 01, 2006 09:18 pm Truthfully, I've never really looked at the piano roll in CW3... Well, I might have looked once, but no, I've never used it. My mind works using music theory and the math behind it. I see notes on a staff in my head, I sight-sing from music using sol-fege. Even the drum parts... I don't know any other way...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 01, 2006 09:54 pm I was that way when I was younger. After getting into sequancing both on old hardware and first off on my Atari 1030ST I just got used to the piano roll thing and rarely ever looked back. It was so much easier to just stretch or shrink a notes duration or move it about. You still have a piano keyboard to look at for referance as well now most have a key that tells you exactly where you are even if you arent looking at the keyboard.
But as you said, somethings are user preferance. I know guys who still write things out long hand on paper first.
But in the end, I am more of the playing it live type anyway. I just use the piano roll or drum editor for working things out quickly for a loop or something. Otherwise I only go in to make quick edits and such, or to move an entire line of notes around.
Mar 01, 2006 10:42 pm So now i wonder.. what is my next sequencer?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 01, 2006 11:09 pm I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut and not say Sonar 5, or anything.
I didnt say a word.
I mean, I'm not biased toward Cakewalk or anything like that.
Mar 01, 2006 11:16 pm But I really love CW 3.0, even if it was written for Win 3.1, oh joy.... I've really been looking around and I have no clue what my next sequencer software will be... Yeah... Sonar 5 will probably be it. I'm hoping it will still read the old .wrk files? Anyone know?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 01, 2006 11:20 pm I will have a look tommorrow and see if it does. Honestly I dont remember if it does or not. I think you can import them, but they will be saved in the end as the newer format.
I'll let ya know tommorrow.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 02, 2006 07:39 pm DungBeatle, indeed it will import a .wrk file. I knew it did but didnt want to just say so without looking to make sure.
Mar 02, 2006 07:57 pm Thanks Noize! Much appreciated...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 02, 2006 08:22 pm Hey now problem. Its the reason I keep most of Cakewalks older apps installed so I can go back and check things out. Although I am now only going back to the original Pro Audio in my old box. I remove them shortly though and only go back as far as Pro Audio 9. Since the old box goes up to Sonar 2.2, there is a truck load of old stuff I havent opened in a long time now so uninstalling it might help with OS space on the poor old thing.
Let me know if you have any other questions on it. Their stuff has been my weapon of choice since their very first program too many years ago to remember.
Mar 02, 2006 08:37 pm *ahem*
Sonar
