Music software - help me learn to create the sounds of my soul

Nightslyr

I'm interested in learning how to create music. I can't really play an instrument due to my disability (don't have the strength to hold anything like a guitar, and my fingers don't work well enough for a keyboard/piano), but I know there are programs that can generate music based off samples and MIDI and a whole bunch of shit I don't (yet) understand.

Back in the day, I played around with a free version of Fruity Loops, and I actually took a year's worth of intro theory at UNH, but that was 10-12 years ago and I don't really remember anything about it.

So, I'm looking for...

Something that will generate sound, and has a decent variety of them
Something that has a mode where I can see/play with the musical scale
Something that has a good, responsive, easy-to-understand UI
Something that is free/cheap
Something that doesn't suck outright

In programming talk, I'm looking for something like PHP, where I can hack away at it and get results relatively fast, so I can pat myself on the back and get excited about learning how to do something creative. Something like that may not exist, but that would be my ideal starting point.

I'm on Windows 8.1. I have a shit load of storage (3TB) and RAM (32GB... I do a lot of programming), and it's an i7, so I'm thinking I should be able to run anything that's not Mac specific.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

CptKemzik

You may want to consider audiotool? It's a very basic sampler programming app that you can use via the chrome web browser. Since it's free you can see how you'd manage with that before looking for more involved programs.

Nightslyr

CptKemzik wrote: »

You may want to consider audiotool? It's a very basic sampler programming app that you can use via the chrome web browser. Since it's free you can see how you'd manage with that before looking for more involved programs.

Interesting. My only gripe is the interface. I really don't want to rely on an interactive photo of actual synths I've never seen before to program sounds. Case in point: the silver drum machine doesn't seem to work. I'm sure I'm missing something, but hell if I know. I could get the base drum machine to work, though.

I'd really like to just drag a particular sound to a timeline/music staff and add effects/pitch/volume/whatever to it then and there. Like, "Imma drag the dog bark to F and have it last two beats," or something along those lines.

Orogogus

I use Anvil Studio for some light choir work. I don't do anything with effects, I just use it to make robotic recordings of our music for members to practice with. It's okay, doesn't suck outright.

I was also going to look into MuseScore when I have time. It looks like it's more focused on sheet music, which may be good for me but worse for you.

metaghost

I use Reason to make music like this: Synthetic Adventure Series

While the program can certainly be more involved (and perhaps expensive) than you seem to desire, you can also just click on the Instrument tab, pick "Screaming Dog Kazoo" (or whatever) and start drawing notes on a piano wheel. It's not as Mario Paint Composer as you seem to be describing, but I think it's more user friendly than AudioTool.

If you go to that link, Reason Essentials is the introductory version that would be sufficient for your needs. You can demo either version, I think, so there's no harm in checking it out. I also got into Reason after starting off as a Fruity Loops user, if that makes things sound more enticing.

happygal85

Hey Nightslyr, I was in your position a few months ago. Music software for me was really tough!! But I did my research and found a program that was really good and pretty intuitive software I became pretty decent in a few days. The program that I used was actually a really good entry level software you can make samples, and it generates a solid sound. It will also run on your computer fine(from the specs listed above, your computer more than meets the specs needed to run the software!! Ive been using thing for a few months now and have been very satisfied. I purchased it from this website. But any way sorry to hear about your disability (off topic). But yea that's what I use and it great and affordable , Anyways I hope this helps.

Have a great day!

-Happygal

Nightslyr

Bumping this only to share that I think I've finally found the software that I've been looking for in an iPad app called Notion. I haven't had the chance to play with it, but apparently you can either write straight sheet music OR jam on a virtual piano or guitar fret board, which will put what you do as sheet music or tab. Also, it comes (and you can buy) instrument samples, so you can play back what you do with a variety of instruments. There's also a rudimentary drum kit built in.

So, on the surface it seems to offer everything I'm looking for. My biggest problem with learning music has always been equating the symbols on the page to actual sounds, and this looks like it'll fill that gap.

For anyone interested, it's $14.99 in the App Store. Dunno how expensive the in-app purchases are. It's one of the apps featured in the Esa Pekka ad.