I'm a newb at this - I searched google and came up with some subpar results at best. If I wanted to tinker around with music composition, what is the best freeware/shareware for the job? Preferably something that lets you save in mp3 format, though I know some of them give you a certain number of "saves", and that's fine too.

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Have a good one,
Freelancer

Fruity Loops is probably your best bet. I've played with it very, very little. I prefer Apple's Garage Band or Soundtrack over it.

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Put me in the hospital for nerves and then they had to commit me,
You told them all I was crazy,
They cut off my legs now I'm an amputee, God damn you.
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Frogblast the Vent-Core!

Thanks for the suggestion, though that isn't exactly what I am looking for. To clarify a little more: I am looking for something with a stave that I can start composing music with.

[This message has been edited by Freelancer (edited July 24, 2004).]

I know of a program that does that, I just don't remember what it is.
And you are talking about actually writing the notes down and not some silly thing that fruity loops does to represent notes.
http://www.math.bas.bg/~nkirov/2003/digit/chopin1.gif
Like that?

Anyway, i'll ask around, I think I know someone with that type of program.

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*

The only programs I know of that use that cost money and only use midi. Some examples are Finale (which has a free version actually, called Finale Notepad), Sibelius, Cakewalk... that's all I can think of. Sibelius is the best, but it costs lots.

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"I'd rather be hated for who I am rather than loved for who I pretend to be." -Janis Joplin

Sibelious is good.

Cubase can show you the written music but it does not use the sheet for composition.

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Drugs & Stupidity, Tons of it.

I'd reccommend Sibelius.

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"Look at me! I'm Tracer! BLAHBLAHBLAH!"

-MBeggar

Well, I definetely recomend FL Studio 4 (fruityloops).

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Massassi - Muh-Sah-See

I'd check out NoteWorthy Composer. I've been using it for quite a long time, but it only saves to MIDI.

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When guitars are outlawed, only outlaws will have guitars.

You could probably use noteworthy to compose the song, save it as a midi, then import it in fruity loops, replace the midi tracks with synths, add some effects and save as mp3.

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WAITER: Here’s your green salad, sir.
ANAKIN: What? You fool, I told you NO CROUTONS! Aaaaaaargh!

It's going to be very difficult to find a free solution. Cubase SX has exactly what you're looking for, but has quite a hefty price-tag.

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</sarcasm>

Thanks, MaD CoW! I have actually since found NoteWorthy and have been using it. It's really quite extensive.. I had no idea midi even supported tempo and volume changes, heh. Yeah, this is really close to what I was looking for, thanks.

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Have a good one,
Freelancer

It supports reverb, chorus, and all sorts of modulation effects. Sustain pedal, etc. Have fun

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When guitars are outlawed, only outlaws will have guitars.

Jeskola Buzz

www.buzzmachines.com

A bit more electronica inclined, but you can do pretty much anything with the right instruments.