Hi, I don't know if this the right place to post this, but here goes: just a question: Are there any free music programs which have many different instruments for midi? I looked around the internet, but I could only find trial versions.
You could get them illegally but i doubt thatd make the police very happy.
AdventureMaker Free comes with a free midi maker.
I heard Anvil Studio is free and good.
Quote from: yodaman11111 on Mon 22/05/2006 15:16:49
which have many different instruments for midi?
It's up to the card, shouldn't be up to the program, how many instruments you can use. Tho most sound cards only have the general midi set so using instruments that the general midi set doesn't have probably isn't a good idea.
I know of JAZZ (http://www.jazzware.com/). Haven't used it, though.
I'd recommend Anvil Studio.
Well, I once used a trial version of MIDI maker which I liked a lot. But it's not for free (too bad).
Myself, I'm looking for a program (free or buying doesn't matter) that features arrangements for making mp3's and wav's (ogg's aren't necissary, but nice) or a program that allows you to make your own music by selecting notes (correct English?) and selecting an instrument to play them.
The style I'd love is Rock/New Age/Classical or one/more of these mixed with other styles.
I really want to get into making music since it's hard to get a musician found when making games. And yes, I do prefer mp3/wav/ogg above midi.
Thanks in advance,
~Yurina
Cubase SE3 (http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/productAction.do?dispatch=showProduct&SKU=STEI-CUBSE3&context=WEB&make=Steinberg&model=Cubase%20SE3) : 99 GBP (around 150 euros) PC/Mac
Logic Express 7.2 (http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/productAction.do?dispatch=showProduct&SKU=AM-LOGEXP7.2&context=WEB&make=Apple&model=Logic%20Express%207.2) : 174.99 GBP (around 230 euros) Mac
Sonar 5 Home (http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/productAction.do?dispatch=showProduct&SKU=CAKE-SONARHS&context=WEB&make=Cakewalk&model=Sonar%20Home%20Studio) : 74.99 GBP (around 100 euros) PC
Fruity Loops Studio Edition (http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/productAction.do?dispatch=showProduct&SKU=TWEL-FRUITY&context=WEB&make=Fruity%20Loops&model=FL%20Studio%20Fruity%20Loops%20Edition) : 99 GBP (around 150 euros) PC
These ones you can find straight away.
Turnkey is the leading store in music in London, and this is why I linked everything to there. I usually take the prices as an indication to what is out there, wihtout this meaning that you can't find something cheaper elsewhere. But it is cheap. And they ship anywhere. Also they have some details ofthe programs in there so you can decide a little for yourself
All the programs above are the cheap vesrions of Pro ones, which you can get for around 400-1000 euros, more or less. But they lack nothing (almost) in power.
I, myself I use Cubase.
And probably all of them export in ogg format, but even if not, this (http://www.audio-converter.com/download.htm) might be helpful. Haven't used it but google is your friend ;) (as is other sites/torrents/programs/whatever)
A little advice though about music making and all: The styles you mention could be rather difficult to make succesfully, in the matter of sounds. There are soundfonts (google it) which could help you find samples and everything, but in the end, what you will get (ogg, or mp3, makes no difference really) does depend more on the sounds you used and not on the sequencing program.
All of the above programs, though, include some kind of synths, drum machines etc... So you can start of immediately.
Sorry that I can't help with free programs. I'm sure that someone else will come to your aid. :)
NoteWorthy Composer (http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/composer/) is a fantastic program i use myself.
Try out the 30/60 (i can't remember) day trial.
After that you can still use it*(you'll get an annoying message every time you load it btw) but i urge you to buy it.
Cheers,
Fluke.
*Much like mIRC if you've ever used it.
I almost forgot: I have nothing except a computer to make music. No electric instruments, no mizing panel for dj's, nothing. Does this matter a lot?
~Yurina
Depends, but for your reassuring: Neither do I! I don't have a kyeboard in front of me (except the ocmputer one)
I'm using Modplug Tracker (www.modplug.com). Skale Tracker (www.skale.org) is also an option. Both are free, Skale is Open Source.
I use Buzz Modular Synth (http://www.buzzmachines.com).
It's difficult to learn, but so I hear most free music software is. And when you finally do learn, there isn't much of a limit to what you can do.
As far as I know, it's just as good as commercial products (and better in some ways), without the unnecessary eyecandy and with the possibility of working lightning fast thanks to all the keyboards shortcuts and all.
Sonar 5 Home (http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/productAction.do?dispatch=showProduct&SKU=CAKE-SONARHS&context=WEB&make=Cakewalk&model=Sonar%20Home%20Studio) : 74.99 GBP (around 100 euros) PC
Fruity Loops Studio Edition (http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/productAction.do?dispatch=showProduct&SKU=TWEL-FRUITY&context=WEB&make=Fruity%20Loops&model=FL%20Studio%20Fruity%20Loops%20Edition) : 99 GBP (around 150 euros) PC
Quote
These are the two I use, and I can't recommend them highly enough. Sonar's best for live instrument recording and midi work, while FL studio's just superb for loop and sample-based stuff like dance, synth rock and trip-hop. Both also come with some quite excellent software synths (basically sampled or digitally-modelled instruments that work through MIDI, although you'll need to render track to wav/mp3/ogg to get the effect).
There's some good freeware soft synths out there too, like Triangle II (http://www.rgcaudio.com/triangle_II.htm) and others, a quick google around should turn some up.
But if you have the cash to spare, there's some truly outstanding commercial synths like Slayer and QuadraSID (from ReFX (http://www.refx.net/)) that are a match for most analogue gear. And a special mention for the Moog Modular V (http://www.arturia.com/en/moog/moogmodular.php), which is as good a synth as you'll find anywhere (and costs it too :( ).
Hmm, that Buzz synth Exorph mentioned looks pretty quality too, must check that out :)
Yeah, a lot of people get trhown off by the "flat" sound in buzz, but it's actually just because you have to add the effects you want yourself.
As someone else put it:
QuoteThe idea in buzz is that you can just add these effects yourself, just connect your synth to some effects machines.
In many cases, Buzz synths (Kyrie Spectra, ld0d Jacinth, FSM Infector, etc.) are far more powerful and feature driven than their VST counter parts (specially as far as synthesis goes). That is because we are geeks.
Of course I'm not 100% sure of how true this is as I'm a newbie when it comes to the technical aspect of synths..
I use Sonar 5 for multitrack and mixing purposes. NI Guitar Rig 2 for guitar ampage and effects, BFD drumkits and plugin in Sonar for drums, sometimes also still NI Battery 2 with NS kit for a few specific things. I used to use Absynth as a Dxi native in sonar for synth sounds, but nowdays I do most stuff with Fuzzpilz's excellent Oatmeal. For orchestral stuff I use Garritan Personal Orchestra, and the 2dvd packs of Kontakt stuff on top of that. If I had bought all that I'd have paid thousands of euros.
This, along with live guitar ran through a Creative Audigy 2 ZS rack, and effect pedals, microphones, a midi keyboard, is my basic setup. I can write what I need to write with this stuff.
I've used, and can vouch for Buzz. Extremely powerful and versatile, not very user-friendly for medium-level users though. Prepare to spend some time getting everything as you need it to be.
I found it slightly too limiting for my needs, but if you're after "easy-to-use" I really like Tracktion. (http://mackie.com/products/tracktion2/)
Well i work a long time with sound and i should advice "FL Studio" program:
1) It is easy for startind (friendly interface, a lot of powerfull examples - tracks)
2) U can create full-value and really modern (trance) music coz. programm support plugins like Albino (mystyc), ReGuard (trance) ...etc.
3) And i know add. with "free" version (crack sharewer). U don't need to pay... :)
EDIT: LINK REMOVED, NO WAREZ PLEASE
p.s.
Cakewalk programs, Cubase, and other midi synthesizer - is suck...
Cubase rules.
Quote from: td on Fri 02/06/2006 09:13:41
Cakewalk programs, Cubase, and other midi synthesizer - is suck...
You're kidding right?
Anyways... let's not start arguing about that, but I would really like to see you back up what you just posted... ;D And I'll enjoy it
I use Midi maker, it's really easy and the trialversion doesn't limit the user from using anything in the program. After been opening the program for 50 times you can't use it again....
...but there is nothing that stops you from saving the midifiles on your computer and then download the program again... ::)
You could try Sound Club For Windows (http://www.bluemoon.ee/history/scwin/). It has it's own instrument bank, supports mod formats and you can import your own recordings in it, too. Unfortunatly, I think there is no mp3 support, but luckilly, there are a lot of free wav to mp3 (or ogg) converters out there.
T_ed89: Your avatar is a 959x598px size bmp resized to 60x60px. That makes it 1.6mb which is pretty unneccessary. Here, have a smaller (60x60px, 4kb) version so the Dial-uppers don't suffer too much:
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/DrunkyDuck/Help/molieux.png)
And the link to the image:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/DrunkyDuck/Help/molieux.png
To be fair to the 'cubase sucks - fl studio rocks' guy, fl's definitely one of the more user-friendly ones. Provided you can click a few buttons and use a piano roll (don't be daunted, new people, it's really very easy to learn), you can get some great results. And due to it's heavy use of samples and softsynths, mixed down tracks come straight out of the prog sounding great, without having to worry too much about mastering afterwards.
I do find it a complete nightmare for overdubbing live instruments and vocals though, that's where sonar usually comes in :)
(EDIT: 'this post was automatically edited for "txt-style" spelling'. Oh, the shame :P)
*Thinks out loud*
I suppose I found it so difficult to get to grips with Fruity loops because I was so used to a different music program that does things almost entirely differently, and requires a different way of thinking. It was like how I imagine someone who has learnt to drive cars with only automatic gears would feel if they tried out a manual.