JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum The best software?

I've been looking into software to install into my computer that will take the place of a keyboard and give me all the sounds and rhythm.I was looking into cakewalk products. Do any of these programs focus on someone who wants to make music strictly via the software with keyboard music and won't be importing any other instrument but the vocals? Also do any programs have the one touch chords like some keyboards do where after you hit lets the the G key the whole G chord starts playing with a rhythm and style already preset. I'm looking for something that has that as well as me being able to add to the preset arrangement little added sounds here and there to make the music unique.

I am curious what is a loop?

Cakewalk Home Studio is a good program to get started on. I think it will do what you want, except I don't think it has a "one-note chord" feature. You might want to look into a program called "Band-in-a-Box." It will do chords, a bass part, guitar parts, drum part, riffs, and even solos. You type in the chord changes you want, select a style, and it does the rest. It is a little cheezy, but useful.

A loop is a short musical phrase that is actually a recording. By stringing loops together, you can create a song. Loops are very useful in doing hip-hop, dance, techno etc. You can buy loop libraries. ACID is a program that focuses on using loops. Most of the loops you can buy are ACID-compatible.

Hi All,
While I haven't tried it myself as I don't have a burner or enough memory in my computer I came across a Program that I think is on the TAXI Web site or recommended by them you can get for only $19.00. Go to http://www.anvilstudio.com and check it out. You can download a trial version to try out.

I use Jammer and find it does what I want.
Hradly ever use my midi keyboard to compose on since I found it, and have done around 200 backings on it.
Also have upgraded to the current Pro 5 series recently and enjoying the little extras on that too.
www.soundtrek.com should get you to a fully (bar for record and save etc) usable free trial version.
Have fun.
I got my original version as a bundle with Cakewalk Home studio by the way.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

I just purchased Band-In-A-Box (BIAB)2005 for Windows but I havn't received it yet. I hope it does everything because I'm not a musician (just chunk a little on the mandolin).

I heard the Jammer program was really good and simple but I had already purchased BIAB.

Will let you know how it goes when I get it uploaded to my computer....
Dale

Also give chordware.com a try. It has an interesting way to build rhythms from 3 simultaneous arpeggiators as opposed to being limited to a preset list. Or you can import/outport midi and combine with arps. Also has a lot of chord and scale features. But don't rely on only one product to do everything you need (composition verses mastering), some do things better than others and may introduce new ways to create and put together music.

Try Logic Audio. It's unbelieveable! It has everything. But... it may not be as easy to learn on if you've never really recorded before with a computer. I think you can use it with a regular PC but it is made for a Mac. (by Apple)

It actually shows you the back of the plug ins and you can wire them up just like real outboard gear.

It goes for around $1000.00 I use Cubase SX as well and it has all kinds of instruments in it. It's unreal what these creators can do these days.