Re: [Harp-L] Best Free Music Creation Software

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Frank franze"wrote:
<Best Free Music Creation Software- link below
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<http://tinyurl.com/yewcp69

I read the descriptions of these things, and they look okay.  But there's a lot of learning curve in there for people who don't know a lot about MIDI, or recording, or whatever. In 1985, the tools cost a lot of money; in 2010 the tools are dirt cheap, and the knowledge is what matters most.  

I strongly, strongly recommend that anyone interested in recording music who does not have much background in engineering, mixing, MIDI, etc. pick up the latest copy of Computer Music magazine.  Every copy of this magazine ships with a DVD that includes a full library of software for making music, including a simple sequencer program, VTS instruments and effects, and tutorials.  Many of the software instruments on that disk have been used by professionals to make commercial releases.  It's much more than enough to get you started, for a price around $15 in the USA. Beyond that, every issue of this magazine includes VERY detailed tutorials on how to record and mix various styles, profusely illustrated and accompanied by sound files that illustrate the results of the various processes you apply to the music.   The orientation of the magazine tends towards electronic music, but the recording techniques they describe are absolutely applicable to any genre.  (Mixing the bass is mixing the bass no matter what style you're talking about.)

If you're really, REALLY interested in recording your own music, I recommend also that you take out a one-year subscription to the same magazine.  For a cost in the neighborhood of $US 100, you will get a full year of cool software updates and tutorials.  This is a lot cheaper than a course at your local community college, and for many people more effective.  There are a lot of magazines out there that talk about recording--this is the only one I know of that shows a novice exactly HOW it's done, in sufficient detail to enable a novice to follow.

regards, Richard Hunter





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