Tell Me About Music Software

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in doing some music making on my laptop and was wondering if there are any musicians here who could recommend some software.

I've got Audacity for recording live instruments and messing about with them slightly; what other good, useful programs are there that you think I'll need?

It'd be good if I could get some kind of drum program; preferably something which can be programmed with live input rather than writing on a score thing (I'm thinking tapping different keys for different drums or something? Just because this is more flexible).

Also good would be a program to create synths... I'd like to be able to mess about with different waves and things... and then some kind of score input, along with options for arpeggiating and stuff?

And then finally just any other general programs for messing around with tracks.

Thanks for any advice. :)

I recommend Audacity for recording (which you said you already have).

As for music making, either FL Studio (Fruity Loops) or Reason. I think FL is more intuitive for the person with little or no experience in making music.

If you're willing to compose, Finale would be the right program for you. Well, I'm sort of biased because I understand music through composition and editing.

You're going to want a DAW (digital audio workstation), I highly recommend Ableton Live, I've used Fruity Loops and Cubase, the UI and user friendliness of Ableton is amazing. Ableton also comes with Drum Racks for mapping drum sequencing, layering, processing/effects. I like Drum Racks although I really prefer Xfer Nerve plugin, I've never found making beats so fun and easy (use to have Maschine). As for inputting drums via live input you can always get a midi controller (the novation launchpad is really sick, or the pad control and knob thing are great for begginers and cheap). As for synths I'm really loving FXpansion Synth Squad - be prepared for a steep learning curve with programming any type of synths.

Depending how serious your going to get you will really want to get a decent set of Monitors and an Audio Interface. Let me know if you have any questions.

Ableton live for everything
Audacity for quick small things
Renoise if you need a tracker
Finale only if you know traditional musical notation

This is a great source of knowledge if you're serious about recording.

Clyde Machine to the rescue!

Excellent suggestions so far. I still use Audacity (for exporting songs as mp3s as my DAW doesn't, and for checking if the track isn't close enough to peak volume/is over peak volume), and use Steinberg's CuBase LE 4 (it's up to 5 now, which has really cool additions to it you'll definitely want) to record with my Digitech RP350 via USB. Desktop microphones (like the kind you'd use for Skype or voice chatting) do work well for getting started making those 'bedroom recordings', but if you're looking for top-quality cost-efficient recording, get equipment that a DAW can record from via USB.

I still have and still recommend FL Studio (I use 8 XXL) though I don't use it as much, but that'll get you all the electronic sounds you could ever stand. You'll need VSTs for it and pretty much any other DAW you get (Virtual Sound Technology, they're digital instruments and effects, unbelievably useful). If you want excellent drum sounds, Addictive Drums provides manipulatable sound libraries. You can make a 70's psychedelic rock kit and change it to a contemporary post-hardcore drum set (which I have done and am very impressed with). :D It's incredibly flexible and infinitely useful.

So, FL, CuBase, Addictive Drums, Audacity. If you're interested in VSTs you may find useful, I recommend Sytrus (comes with FL), Image-Line's Autogun (metallic and breathy, was used heavily with Critical Flaw), Image-Line's PoiZone (arpeggiators), and Edirol's Orchestra (for very good sampled orchestra sounds - not real sound libraries, but still very good).