For actual composing, I find that a guitar, a harp, a voice, and a pencil and paper are still my favorite composition tools--even in this day and age of software that would be willing to do everything for me if I could just take the time to figure out how.
For recording a composition, I like Reaper (A multi-track recording software) coupled with my Multimix8 Alesis Firewire mixer. This rig allows me to record multiple tracks in real time. Then I can do the mixes and rendering and overdubs right on the computer to get the best sound--then just burn to disk to make CD's.
Last Edited by on May 26, 2010 11:18 AM
Great, great program. I think it's difficult to figure out how to do some of the stuff, but once figured out, it's easy.
There is a free version of this called Melody Assistant. The biggest difference is that the music on the free version just keeps scrolling straight accross the page, but in HA, the music shows like a real piece of sheet music. Well worth the money.
@oldwailer - I've always been using the good old pencil and paper also. There's no problem with that, it's just that I find using some sorf of software would save me a great amount of time and speed things up. Recording is cool, but right now I'm just looking to write some sheet music down for learning new songs and archiving them I suppose.
I hear Sibelius is simpler. I started with Finale. The manual back then was the size of a phone book. I can do most of what I want to now without much trouble. I used to use Allegro the cheaper Finale. My student gave me his 2nd install of 2009 Finale the full version. Can't beat the price.LOL
When you use Sibelius or Finale it's potential is unlocked with how much traditional music skills you have. Not classical skill but music knowledge in general. All of the voicings of the harmony in Tenderly were done by me not some software. The counter melodies to.
In a sense I'm old fashioned it's just that my pen and paper are now on the screen.LOL
Last Edited by on May 31, 2010 3:06 PM
