What Software and/or Hardware to get to compose/write music? Websites/Bks suggestion

Hi everyone! I just joined this forum and I know nothing about composing/writing music. I sing and I would like to write songs for myself. Unfortunately. I haven't taken any music theory class so I don't really have any music knowledge foundation

I am hoping to get some advice and suggestions about websites/books that can help people get started with music writing. The genre I am interested in is pop.

I have been checking out softwares and hardwares. I believe I can compose either using hardwares or softwares? (or do I actually need both?)
- If I go with the hardware route, what hardwares would I need? Is it a synthesizer and an arranger? Do I need both pieces? (I am not quite sure about the difference between them) Will I also need a workstation? Do I need a computer at all if I use hardwares?
- If I decide to use softwares, is a sequencing software (such as Cakewalk, Cubase) and sample libraries all I need? Do sequencing softwares take care of everything from composing, editing, mixing, to arranging and mastering? Is Protools a sequencing software also and does it receive a higher recommendation among music professionals compared to other softwares?


Thanks for reading and thanks for any help in advance! I am sorry if my questions sound silly! Hope you all have a good weekend!

I believe this question has been asked before countless of times. Try a search first.

Originally Posted by cookiedough

Hi everyone! I just joined this forum and I know nothing about composing/writing music. I sing and I would like to write songs for myself. Unfortunately. I haven't taken any music theory class so I don't really have any music knowledge foundation

I am hoping to get some advice and suggestions about websites/books that can help people get started with music writing. The genre I am interested in is pop.

I have been checking out softwares and hardwares. I believe I can compose either using hardwares or softwares? (or do I actually need both?)
- If I go with the hardware route, what hardwares would I need? Is it a synthesizer and an arranger? Do I need both pieces? (I am not quite sure about the difference between them) Will I also need a workstation? Do I need a computer at all if I use hardwares?
- If I decide to use softwares, is a sequencing software (such as Cakewalk, Cubase) and sample libraries all I need? Do sequencing softwares take care of everything from composing, editing, mixing, to arranging and mastering? Is Protools a sequencing software also and does it receive a higher recommendation among music professionals compared to other softwares?


Thanks for reading and thanks for any help in advance! I am sorry if my questions sound silly! Hope you all have a good weekend!

FlexiMusic Composer can do what you ask. And there are several sample instruments, along with several sets of sampled loops to make music. And also you can insert a new track with your recorded stuffs.
Or you just want to make a fun music, you may try to Kids Composer.

A sequencer should do everything you want except mastering. Protools is the industry standard for professional recording, but it is also more expensive. Cubase and Sonar are just as good IMO and are cheaper. Also consider downloading Reaper and Audacity to start with (free).

with all due respect, let's not go into mastering, it's a whole different ball game which you probably won't be needing any time soon, so don't worry about that. protools you probably also don't need, while protools handles audio well (imo, best of all DAWs), it's midi sequencing is 100% shit, useless, garbage. you also need specific hardware to run protools.

i'd say garageband would be something to checkout (if you're running Mac that is), it's focussed mainly on pop music.

if you're on windows, i'd suggest you get yourself a good DAW (digital audio workstation) for ex. Cubase, Nuendo, or apparantly YC's favourite, Sonar and with that DAW get yourself the new Native Instruments Kontakt 3 (NATIVE INSTRUMENTS : Products : Sampling Line : Kontakt 3) which includes a shitload of instruments for you to play with.

oh, also get a midi keystation, these things go for about a 100 bucks, be sure to get an m-audio one, they rock.

Originally Posted by finrod

A sequencer should do everything you want except mastering. Protools is the industry standard for professional recording, but it is also more expensive. Cubase and Sonar are just as good IMO and are cheaper. Also consider downloading Reaper and Audacity to start with (free).

I don't know if I could recommend Cubase. I had a lot of problems with it and it would frequently flake out when I was recording. But I was using it on Windows, so it might work better on a Mac.

Which version cause I use Cubase SL3 with no problems at all 98% of the times! and I do stretch it's limits!

Originally Posted by Robert987

I don't know if I could recommend Cubase. I had a lot of problems with it and it would frequently flake out when I was recording. But I was using it on Windows, so it might work better on a Mac.

that's what illegal software does for ya. i've been running sx for years without any problems at all. also, your computer (or soundcard) might just not be up to par to run it smoothly.