Music Creation Help

[Dave Gray]

I want to write a march.  I have ideas in my head, and know how different instrument parts should be laid out.  However, I don't have the ability to play tuba/clarinet/oboe, etc, and I don't want to have to go through the hassle of transposing the music myself into the different keys of each instrument in order to complete the score.  I also don't have a band readily available to help me work things out.

I know music.  I know computers.  ...but the combination of the two, I know nothing about.

I'm looking for a program that will allow me to input data, either through playing a keyboard, or through manually selecting the notes.  I want to be able to create lines for each of the parts and have them played back to me, in the different sounds of the instruments.  (it doesn't have to be a quality output...just enough to hear what's going on).  Then, I'd like it to be able to print the full score for each instrument (in the correct key), so that I could have a band play it.

Does anyone know what equipment or software I'd need to make this happen?  ...and how easy using said software would be?

[Frimp]

Equipment...You can buy keyboards with very accurate sounds for all brass, reed and percussion instruments.

I know of freeware for drums, but I'll get to that later.

Recording software, I'd recommend the latest version of Cool Edit Pro. This software is amazing. It is literally a recording studio in a box.

To record, you can do one of 2 things. If you're only recording one track at a time, (which is what you will be doing if you're recording off a keyboard) all you need is a good sound card with a mic input. The sound card input on most cards (IE, Soundblaster) is the same as the input for headphones on a walkman. You can get a male/male cord of that size and run it into a female adaptor with a quarter inch male that plugs into the "line out" on a keyboard.


Now, for the percussion...

http://www.rhythmrascal.com/

This is a freeware demo. The drums sound real, and it has a built in metronome.






(See the PM that I just sent you.)

[TonyB0D]

frimp, that doesn't really answer his question whatsoever.


Dave, you need the program called Finale.  its the best program to fit what you described above.  its also VERY simple to use.  its basically just a midi sequencer, but it has a graphical sheet music interface, so as you play the notes, they pop up as actual written notes.  you can do a whole score, and have the computer make seperate parts for each.  it will even write out the correct transcriptions of any instrument if you wanna print out a copy for a friend who's a trumpet player or something.  it enables you to write the whole piece in just 1 key, and let the computer do the transposing.  its a nice piece of software....check it out.



PS - my degree is Audio Engineering - hit me up on AIM if ya need help with ANYTHING audio/recording related. you have my SN.

[Dave Gray]

Thanks for the suggestions:

Equipment...You can buy keyboards with very accurate sounds for all brass, reed and percussion instruments.

I have a keyboard.  It's kind of old, but has Midi output.  I've never really understood how that aspect of it worked, though.  I'm not really into having a keyboard that sounds like the instruments.  I just want to be able to get by so that I can write the music for an actual marching band...not to create the sound myself.

I know of freeware for drums, but I'll get to that later.

Drums are a whole new ballgame.  I'd probably have to go over some Sousa pieces and stick closely to hit beats.

Dave, you need the program called Finale. its the best program to fit what you described above. its also VERY simple to use. its basically just a midi sequencer, but it has a graphical sheet music interface, so as you play the notes, they pop up as actual written notes. you can do a whole score, and have the computer make seperate parts for each. it will even write out the correct transcriptions of any instrument if you wanna print out a copy for a friend who's a trumpet player or something. it enables you to write the whole piece in just 1 key, and let the computer do the transposing. its a nice piece of software....check it out.

This sounds cool, but does it have any semblence of playback so I can hear the different parts laid over each other?

[Frimp]

frimp, that doesn't really answer his question whatsoever.

How so? If I wanted to put together a march, thats exactly what I'd do. I have everything that I mentioned, and then some, and it works quite well.

[TonyB0D]

frimp, youi're talking about straight up recording into the PC.  this isn't what dave wants to do.  the best thing for him to do would be use a midi sequencer, ala Finale. 

Dave, my bad, i didn't realize you werent that familiar with MIDI.  AIM me and we'll chat, i'd rather do that that type it all out here.  although if anyone else wants a quick rundown of how this'll work, then i'll post it (not like i actually have any work do to here at Sony anyways....SONY = Soon, Only Not Yet!)