Composing music

Topics centered more on music performance

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Paradoxical Wit
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Composing music

Post by Paradoxical Wit » Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:36 pm

does anyone know of a software program that helps compose music?? If so i would be so gracious
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Post by cosmicirony7 » Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:39 pm

I would suggest Finale. It's kind of expensive I suppose, but it's worth it if you're real serious about writing music. You can also download Finale Notepad if you don't want to pay for the full version of Finale. It doesn't have as many features, but it works well enough.

You can get more info if you go here: http://www.finalemusic.com/index.asp
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Post by mkosbie » Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:57 pm

Finale '05 is pretty good. They actually have an entire line for beginners on up. Get yourself a keyboard with a MIDI out, a MIDI card, and some MIDI enabled software and you'll be composing in no time.
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sibelius

Post by armysax » Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:42 pm

When it comes to overall speed of writing, I've found sibelius to be much more facile than finale. That being said, it does take a little more initial investment of time to understand how to use it, but it is very easy for arranging. Helps to be a piano player.
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Post by drummermom » Fri Feb 04, 2005 2:26 am

Ditto on the votes for Sibelius. It's definitely the most powerful I've seen.

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Post by Hostrauser » Fri Feb 04, 2005 11:52 am

Sibelius is the most awesome music composition program ever invented, but MY GOD is it expensive ($600-ish).

I personally still use a cheap little MIDI-renderer called "Noteworthy Composer." It's nothing fancy, and basically just one step up from pencil and paper, but it's simple to learn and easy to use. And it's cheap.

Noteworthy Software

Bottom line: if you're getting a degree and are really serious about composing, start saving up for Sibelius (or Finale, which is also good). But if you're just a student tooling around and experimenting, Noteworthy's a decent enough starting block.

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Post by cobybos » Fri Feb 04, 2005 12:43 pm

Sibelius also has an entire Music Education suite. I would look at Compass, which is a software program that teaches composition. Go to www.Sibeliususa.com for information. I think Compass goes for $159 retail and is mostly geared to teachers who are teaching composition, it may serve your needs as well.

Sibelius is the most powerful program on the market right now, in my opinion. I have used both Finale and Sibelius and was converted to Sibelius within 2 days of using it.

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Post by MusicCoach » Tue Feb 08, 2005 3:49 am




Hey! Paradoxical Wit

Are you doing this for fun or are you real serious about composing music. And if you currently enroll in school you can get there Finale or Sibelius for a student education discount. I currently own Finale 2004! I'm going to be upgrading to Finale 05 soon.


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Post by malletphreak » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:36 pm

i use finale, but i really want sibelius.. oh well.. I don't write much anymore so I can't justify the cost... (yet)
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Post by Hostrauser » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:16 pm

I've had "composer's block" for the past month or so. I've got about 40-45 minutes finished on my Fourth Symphony and am simply searching for the right way to finish it off.

I've got a bit of interest inside me to write an orchestral tone poem based on Shakespeare's "Titus Andronicus" for my next work.

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Post by Wildabeast » Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:35 am

Pssst. About those prices.

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/marke ... _platform=

Finale 2005 - $199.00
Sibelius 3 - $219.00 (to see this price, click on the bold "Sibelius" listed on the page of the site listed above)

Click the link in the upper right that says "Who is Eligible?" to check your status and requirements.

You might also want to check out Noteheads' software called Igor Engraver:
http://www.noteheads.com/
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Post by MusicCoach » Mon Apr 04, 2005 2:41 am



wtran00
i use finale, but i really want sibelius.. oh well.. I don't write much anymore so I can't justify the cost... (yet)



I totally love my Finale 04 one. But I cant wait to upgrade to Finale 05 soon. Plus Im also considing on purchasing Sibelius if I never decided to switch softwares.



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Thanks

Post by Paradoxical Wit » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:34 am

Hey thanks guys. I got finale but i dont really like it. Anyone know where i can get sibelus for free :D
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Post by Hostrauser » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:43 am

Nope. If I did, I'd have it.

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Post by Hostrauser » Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:38 pm

Surprisingly (to me, at least) I've started work on a march. It's in 6/8, and I've got the entire intro and first strain complete.

I wrote about 12-14 marches in High School and the first year or two of college. I noted with amazement that this is the first march I've written in ten years.

I need a title for it. Maybe I'll hold a naming rights contest here. :)

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