Your favorite Music making software?

[Mega Man Volnutt]

Hmm, FL studio. It's free and it's premium features aren't too bad.

 

[m4uesviecr]

I use FL Studios but, if you want to get even more serious, you'll have to at least learn the basics of Pro Tools and Logic. Kontakt is also becoming a force to be recokned with, especially since there are so many amazing vsts that utilize Kontakt (and NOT the free kontakt player, which really sucks).


I say learn other programs because there are quite a few jobs in the industry that are specific about what DAWs they expect you to be proficient in, despite whether or not you are amazing at one in particular.


I apologize for the tangent, but my DAW of choice is also FL Studios. FL is easy to handle, but difficult to fully grasp. There is SO much you can do with it.

 

[Janusz]

I did not touch music software for the past few years, but earlier Cubase + Reason + VST + VSTi + large library of sounds from various magazines were able to give me almost everything I needed to create music from scratch, it is surely better combination than FL, no doubt.
Also, I will repeat what I always write / speak - to create the music you need a specific sound card - it is a priority. Otherwise any good DAW / VSTi only slow down the computer so that it will not be suitable for comfortable work. Along with many sound cards you can get good music softwares like Cubase, Sonar, Pro Tools, Finale or other ...

 

[Olivier]

I use Logic Pro X. I grew up with GarageBand so the switch to Logic was easy.

 

[Lars Ulrika]

I use FL Studio since version 7. Now I added Kontakt 5 elements with VI.One to have a decent enough library. If you have low budget like me I highly advice you to check VI.One. For 200$ you get a very wide array of instruments which are all of a pretty decent quality.


FL Studio is exactly the sequencer I need as I'm one of those accursed musicians who doesn't know a damn about theory I do everything by ear exclusively.

 

[Magixe]

I, the noob, use Noteflight. Ehehehe. It's just music notation.

 

[taarna23]

Magix Music Maker (Premium or Pro or whatever the heck they call it). A little noobish, maybe, but fun when I actually sit and work on stuff. I like the result, too, which is the main thing that matters. The sound sets for commercial use have a bit of a price tag, though.

 

[jwideman]

FL Studio, hands down.

 

[Crispy-Ghee]

Another one for FL studio. It's intimidating to look at at first, but it's pretty easy to pick up and write once you play around with it a little bit and get a tutorial or two.  ((i'm also one of those musicians who learned by ear and what little I know of music theory was from my stint in choir lol so the FL studio interface is pretty optimal for someone like me)) 

 

[LaFlibuste]

I'm a bit like Ms Littlefish, for me it's Finale + any DAW that's available. I've used GarageBand a good deal, it did the job I required it to do, but I also worked with Logic Pro and Protools in school.

It's really not my thing, but a very very interesting piece of software is Reason. It's paid software but there are trials. It's basically a virtual rack to create synths and loops. Very interesting, very powerful! I personally prefer music notation, I can't work with something like that, but for someone who might have less formal musical training or maybe for different kinds of music I guess it could be a very powerful tool!

 

[jwideman]

I'm a bit like Ms Littlefish, for me it's Finale + any DAW that's available. I've used GarageBand a good deal, it did the job I required it to do, but I also worked with Logic Pro and Protools in school.

It's really not my thing, but a very very interesting piece of software is Reason. It's paid software but there are trials. It's basically a virtual rack to create synths and loops. Very interesting, very powerful! I personally prefer music notation, I can't work with something like that, but for someone who might have less formal musical training or maybe for different kinds of music I guess it could be a very powerful tool!

What DAW uses musical notation? Musical notation is useful for reading and performing music, but it's the least efficient way to compose.

 

[LaFlibuste]

Well I know it's an option in Logic Pro, I think it is in Garage Band too (and probably most DAWs to be honest), but honestly it's kinda clunky, unintuitive and, ultimately, not really practical. That was my feeling anyway, but maybe it comes from having fine-tuned my finale to my needs and knowing its shortcuts so well. Also, if you don't work with a midi controller, the efficiency loss might be felt less... Just try a few ones and find one you like, I guess.

 

[Ms Littlefish]

I think the matter of efficiency just depends a lot on what your brain makes the most sense out of. For me, notation personally gives me the most clarity, control, and ability to communicate music because it's second nature for me. I've been using Finale for over a decade, sheet music all together even longer, so I've gotten pretty fast at it. 

 

[Baerthe]

Magix music maker (troll face. lol) 2016

 

[Feldschlacht IV]

Audacity, but I usually only do cuts and samples; I don't dabble much in actual composing, which better programs excel at! It's great for what I need it for, though.

 

[jwideman]

Audacity, but I usually only do cuts and samples; I don't dabble much in actual composing, which better programs excel at! It's great for what I need it for, though.

There are people who use it as their DAW. These people are not well.

 

[taarna23]

@Baerthe It's okay. Me too. If you snag the Windows Store copy of Music Maker Jam and get your free styles, you can use those in it. It'll actually find them on startup of the program. You'll just need to buy a license for the styles you use if you want to use the music commercially. It's something like $10 for each Jam style, so it's actually not too bad.

 

[255]

Another FL Studio enthusiast here.


I did every kind of music genres with it.


It's fast and simple, and yet powerful.

 

[Gaiaman77]

I use Cubase. Paired with Spectrasonics Omnisphere which is an incredible synth engine that combines synth and samples. I can find literally any sound I need on it thanks to its exhaustive library, thats anything from perfectly sampled eastern string instruments to environmental sounds like birds, people e.c.t. 


https://www.spectrasonics.net/products/omnisphere/


I also use Milasov Philharmonik for specific orchestral instruments. (The oboe, clarinet and flute on this VST are incredibly dynamic!)


For drums I use a combination of Superior Drummer 2.0 and some of the electronic percussion sounds from Omnisphere.


http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/philharmonik2/


I also have a secret weapon for 8 bit sounds (which I like to apply effects to using cubases simple delays e.c.t)


Finally I just recently found a bass guitar VST that is almost perfect for Retro RPG stlyes. It is called OMB2 by a great developer called Samsara Audio Circles.


All of the plugins and instruments here are completely FREE which is amazing. Great sounds, easy to use.


https://www.facebook.com/SamsaraCycleAudio/?pnref=story


This for me is constantly changing however. I have a violin that is begging to be recorded for a game score. there is nothing, I repeat -nothing- comparable soft synth wise to the sound of directly recorded classical instruments.


Keep up the good work everyone! ^_^

 

[Shepard]

I find FamiTracker the best for making 8-bit music, but I'm not sure about other music since I haven't really tried to make any.