Music programs

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Sat May 10, 2014 7:00 pm

Does anyone know of a good midi writing and/or editing program?

I've seen a bunch available, but I can't tell what is actually worthwhile.

I got UTAU recently...

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat May 10, 2014 7:06 pm

MIDI is just a format; it can apply to anything from a synthesizer to a lighting set. Most of your basic composition programs like Sibellius and your basic music editing programs like Cubase have an export-to-MIDI option. Is there anything specific you're looking to do?

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Tue May 13, 2014 4:54 am

I am basically looking for something that will allow me to keyboard stuff on my computer without me having to buy an actual keyboard.

Or, something that can take the notes recorded from me playing guitar, and turn them into harmonica or something.

THen I'm going to import the end result midi file to UTAU and have some j-pop voice added over the top into some horrible mish mash of weaboo and celtic trance.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Tue May 13, 2014 9:19 am

Keyboard-stuff-on-the-computer-without-a-keyboard is pretty simple; pretty much any MIDI editor should be able to do the deed, as well as most music composition programs like Sibellius.

Record-notes-from-playing-guitar requires some more equipment, but you can do it with general music editors like Cubase.

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Thu May 15, 2014 10:54 pm

I am capable of searching the web, but that doesn't tell me what is good. Thanks for the tip though.
I will investigate Sibellius.

JigokuBosatsu · Post by **JigokuBosatsu** » Fri May 16, 2014 2:57 pm

Are you looking to compose traditional music or make electronic music?

If the former, yeah, Sibelius. If the latter, Ableton Live or (the much cheaper) Reaper.

I live by the computer keyboard->midi note function in Live, especially for a performance setting. It's a great backup.

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Sat May 17, 2014 5:07 pm

I'm trying to make celtic techno trance with a j-pop voice. I have no idea if that is traditional or not. (probably not)
I will be approaching it from the traditional viewpoint though, I started my music stuff with playing Mozart and Vivaldi, and I studied classical music in college(baroque really).

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat May 17, 2014 5:24 pm

Ableton Live is decent for loops and is a staple of the laptop DJ set; if you want to do anything involving more manipulation of samples or MIDI versions of traditional musical notation to different instrumentation, you might look at a fuller editing program like Cubase. From the sounds of it, I don't think Sibellius will quite meet your needs.