Music Software; Where should a beginner start?

As someone who hasn't got the first clue about making music on PCs and such...help? Even trying to google around a bit just leads to further confusion and questions.

Which software is good to start with? How long does it tend to take people to learn? Which is the cheapest? General hints and pointers?

Having thought about it more recently, I'd love to have a shot at doing something music related as well as the art stuff I already do. But I haven't the foggiest on how to go about it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

I, honest to God, still have my copy of Midisoft that I still use from time to time.

http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

That should get you started.

While I had already got Audacity for voice recording and such, by coincidence, I should probably mention I need something that runs on Windows 7 Not Linux. Thanks though Saist

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Techbot -

I have Noteworthy Composer, Sound Forge Studio, and Acid Music Studio. Acid was what I used to modify one of the existing COH pieces of music into something a lot more complicated.

Are you looking for direct input (plugging a keyboard into the program and recording as you play)? Or are you talking more about mixing elements together to create a piece?

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

I think it would be more mixing, really. I don't have a keyboard, and I don't really know how to play one properly even if I had one, heh.

I have properly played music before, however, so I have a sort of idea of what to do (I hope)
So, yeah, more mixing and synth...I think? This is the thing, I don't have a clue how folks do the stuff they do around here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

While not precisely what you're looking for, I'm still going chip in, here.

Personally, I use Finale Allegro. It's not really mixing software -- in fact, it's more like writing sheet music than mixing. There's a bit of a learning curve, and the user manual is terrible sometimes, but it gets the job done. It can be kinda pricey for casual usage, but it's definitely cheaper than the premium software the company produces.

The best feature is how easy it is to hear the music as you're working on it. Everything I've written is totally dependent on this feature, because I can't read music.