A good composing program?
 

I was wondering if anybody knew any good composing programs for Windows. I'm a vocalist looking to compose a couple of songs. I can play the piano a bit and know some things about reading music. I read about "Band in a Box 2007" and "Finale SongWriter". Both of them sound good to me but looks can be deceiving. Both of them have good points that I like.

I'm just looking for a virtual band that will sound good. I just want a good program that will actually sound like a real band.

Thank you.
Keep on Rocking

Sibelius is good for notation and sounds ok.
Band in a box sounds good but is not as good at notation.
Sometimes you need more than one program to do everything you need.

Sibelius or Finale would be your best bets.

Cubase is superior. Without any doubt. Plus as far as Im aware Sibalius doesnt record vocals.

I was assuming he just needed a program to write and listen to music, not one for recording and mixing.
Personally for that I use a combination of Audition and Reason, don't really like Cubase.

You might be right, I just assumed when he said he was a vocalist. Cubase if used properly, or atleast the most recent package...Has everything you could need in a software package, however it can be difficult to use efficiently for anyone who hasn't been taught to use it.

i can't figure out if it lets you directly manipulate audio. from what i can tell i can't actually edit waveforms in it, which is why i end up using audition. if i'm wrong though, i'd definitely invest more time in it.

I'd try and answer your questions IF I knew what you meant by directly minipulating audio, maybe I'm being ignorant or maybe you're being vague I don't know but if it's the latter then if you try to explain i'll try and come out with an answer for you.

Anyway I don't know why we bother answering these questions, the guys clearly gone.

sorry I am being a bit vague, i have a picture attached of what i'm talking about

basically i often need to edit the wavs i record, and i don't know if cubase will let me do that or just loop/apply effects to them.

Oh no It can be done, I'm sure I'v edited the wavelengths when being taught how to use samples. If I had the software infront of me then I'd explain how but I really don't remember off the top of my head, I remember it being straight forward. And I'm sure it'll be in the manual or on a tutorial site for the software.

Cubase allows many different types of editing. Most of the editing does not actually change the source audio files. This is good though it means you can go back to the original file any time you want.

You can cut, paste, change volume, etc right from the arrange window in cubase.

When I really want to change a file like flipping it backwards or the like I use a wave editing program called wavelab. This program actually changes the files permanently.

But in short yes cubase will do what I think you are describing.

^ This guy seems to know more than me, :p

No, I was asking if Cubase would allow me to directly alter the source audio files, which I didn't think it would. I could use wavelab, or I could just use Adobe Audition which lets me do that plus everything else Cubase can do, although it doesn't have the greatest VST or MIDI support.

Newer versions of Cubase can directly alter source audio. It will warn you before you do this and it will create new files so you have the original ones as well as the altered ones. Really this is the best way to do this.
I had not done this yet through cubase as the non-destructive editing is so powerful in cubase. Though yesterday I needed to alter audio and cubase does it no problem.

I was recording a xylophone part and did not have a C# or a G# so I recorded a C and G and the select "pitch shift" from the audio menu and it created new audio files at the new pitches I needed.

Then once I checked it out I found lots more options where you can alter audio directly.
Cubase rocks!!:band:

Use FL Studio Version

You can try MagicScore Maestro, there is a demo to download at mymusictools.com

Especially for the piano I find it super, it has a virtual piano keyboard, so it can't be easier to notate the music, you just click the keys like on a real piano. Or you can connect a piece to your computer and record in the real time.

Dude, Garden... the post was made two fucking years ago. The original poster had 1 post. IN TWO FUCKING YEARS.
Do you really think he's monitoring this thread, waiting for your great idea?