best software for composing?

Good day to all!

Please forgive the ebullient naivete, but it is exciting to be joining a group of people with whom I share such a deep passion!

I am just beginning to compose and to learn music theory by self-direction, and I am seeking information on the best software and keyboard to purchase in order to write sonatas, quartets and orchestral pieces (perhaps down the road on the latter!) for both playback and sheetmusic creation.

More specifically, I would like advice on what program to purchase that would allow me to play phrases and so forth on a keyboard and which would then be automatically written into sheet music form. The other feature would be to some kind of playback system after I have entered all the voices (through the keyboard) for a composition.

I'm sure these are obvious and silly questions, but I don't know where to begin.

Thanks to any and all for your help and suggestions - please feel free to email me at aninquisition@aol.com if you prefer.

Be well!

piper

The best software IMO is the Finale software...a bit pricey but if u can afford it/pirate it its the best! They use it in alot of colleges including Juilliard.

HA HA HE HE HO HO, Finale may be good but has a bit of a learning curve. Sibelius is right in your face simple ( but I admit has its flaws) If you don't know what to buy , pirate first, but BUY later. (that's how I did it)

Try with www.lvbsx.com, demo(free) is all I need, maybe for you too...

I'm sure these are obvious and silly questions, but I don't know where to begin.

Maybe, but these are some of the most important questions that a composer can ask!

I will give you my opinion on the matter.

Your optimum situation will cost you several thousand dollars, and you most likely won't buy everything at one time.

I am just beginning to compose and to learn music theory by self-direction, and I am seeking information on the best software and keyboard to purchase in order to write sonatas, quartets and orchestral pieces (perhaps down the road on the latter!) for both playback and sheetmusic creation.

Notation Software

The two best are Sibelius and Finale. As you can see above, people have different opinions on which is best. I use Sibelius, and so I'm partial to it, but you might want to try a free trial of both of them before you decide.

http://www.sibelius.com/
http://www.finalemusic.com/

Another program that just came out recently is called Notion. For playback they use samples from the London Symphony Orchestra recorded at Abbey Roads studios. This is worth a look as well:

http://www.notionmusic.com/

With any of these programs, you will be able to notate very advanced pieces and then create sheet music. However playing them back is another story. They will all allow you play back your pieces, but if you just use MIDI, the quality will be very bad. Notion comes with LSO Samples (which sound very nice) and Finale 2006 now comes with Garritan Personal Orchestra (which sounds nice as well). For extra money Sibelius 4 will come with Garritan Personal Orchestra as well. You can hear your sounds in good quality with just a little extra money.

http://www.garritan.com/

Above is the link to Garritan Personal Orchestra (GPO) company. Listen to the samples (try to use good quality headphones or speakers if you can) and decide if you're happy with the quality. Also check out Notion's LSO samples.

GPO Demo Songs: http://www.garritan.com/mp3.html
Notion Demo Songs: http://www.notionmusic.com/downloads.cfm

If you like what you hear, then buy one of them. I'd recommend Sibelius 4 with GPO Sibelius Edition, however you will find many others who would recommend Finale and Notion. So check them both out.

NOTE: Do not buy GPO separately (unless you really want to). Buy the GPO version that comes with the notation software you decide to use.

Keyboard

There are billions of keyboards. You just want something simple, called a MIDI Controller. This is a keyboard that doesn't have any sounds on it (you won't need these because you'll use the sounds on your computer).

As I'm sure you know, a (normal) piano has 88 keys. Keyboards come in the following main sizes: 49 keys, 61 keys, and 88 keys. I've seen some in the 70s as well. The keys will also be non-weighted, semi-weighted, or fully-weighted (like a real piano feels).

Which one is right for you depends on a number of factors.

An 88 key keyboard with waited keys will feel the most realistic, but it is also the most expensive. A 49 key keyboard without weighted keys won't feel anything like a piano, but will be very cheap.

I think that a real piano is absolutely necessary when writing a piano piece. It is very, very hard to get inspired to write on a small MIDI keyboard. The best option would be to hook up a Roland Intelligent Grand to your computer, but that would cost around $11,000 to $28,000. Again, you want to find something that you can work with, but is not too expensive. Go to a local music store in order to try before you buy.

I use the following keyboard:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Keys...n61es-main.html

For more M-Audio keyboards click below:
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=produc...oardcontrollers

I like the Keystation 61es (it is semi-weighted), however I have a very nice Grand Piano which inspires me to write piano pieces. I would not be able to compose without a real piano, because no keyboard under a few thousand dollars is realistic enough.

More specifically, I would like advice on what program to purchase that would allow me to play phrases and so forth on a keyboard and which would then be automatically written into sheet music form. The other feature would be to some kind of playback system after I have entered all the voices (through the keyboard) for a composition.

All of the 3 notation programs I mentioned will notate automatically for you while you play something, however unless you play with very excellent rhythm, you will end up with weird notation that doesn't seem playable to a human. Once you learn how to notate note for note on a program, it really is very fast and efficient.

Like I said above, if you go with Notion or Finale or purchase GPO for Sibelius, you'll be able to play back your piece in very good quality. You'll eventually want, however, to pick up a nice pair of speakers. I use the Tapco S5 monitoring speakers. I recommend checking out Sweetwater for pairs of speakers:

http://www.sweetwater.com

Additionally, while you can compose on even the slowest computer, you won't be able to play back your pieces in good quality unless you have a reasonably speedy machine.

These are the system requirements from Sibelius in order to run it and play back your piece with GPO:

System requirements

Requires 2GB hard disk space (in addition to Sibelius 4); Windows XP (or some Windows 2000 configurations); Mac OS 10.3.9 or later; DVD drive; Sibelius 4. Additionally:

Scores that use up to about 8 different sounds:

Windows: 1.8Ghz processor or faster, 1Gb+ RAM (1.5Gb+ recommended), preferably ASIO compatible sound card

Mac: G4/G5, 1GB+ RAM (1.5GB+ recommended)

Scores that use up to about 20 different sounds:

Windows: 2.5GHz processor or faster, 1.5Gb RAM. ASIO-compatible sound card strongly recommended (not sound chip on motherboard), preferably separate graphics card

Mac: 1.8GHz processor or faster, 1.5GB+ RAM

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Yes, this is a lot of stuff, but you don't need to go out and buy everything today. I think this is a reasonably good guide to get you started, at least I hope it is.

Good luck!

If you have any more questions, PM me, email me, post here, IM me or whatever.

Connor

Vissequ, you missed all the sequencers.

I use Cubase SX. I'm more worried about how good the music sounds rather than getting a score or sheet music out of it.

And for those of you who would like to get GPO, you should be getting GPO alone. It only takes a few plugins to hook sibelius to GPO.

Vissequ, you missed all the sequencers.

I use Cubase SX. I'm more worried about how good the music sounds rather than getting a score or sheet music out of it.

+1

Finale or Sibelius will do just fine. People fight over which one is better, but they are really close to the same thing. lol

I use Finale. The upgrades are a ripe off however. What do upgrades cost for Sibelius? Finale upgrade from 2005 to 2006 is like $120 which is ridiculous.

Finale by far!

I use Finale but I actually prefer Sibelius; I just didn't want to have to pay so much for sibelius when I could have finale for $30.