Nifflas' Support Forum
Being Creative => Creativity Support => Topic started by: Dandelion on August 11, 2009, 07:36:34
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The topic title explains it. I would like to be able to create music, or at least try, but I don't want to spend money on a program because I'm afraid I won't like it or just won't get how to use it effectively. Does anyone know of any free programs I can create music in?
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Linux MultiMedia studio (http://lmms.sourceforge.net/) is awesmoe.
Its still in beta though, so there might be a few bugs in it. I didn't see any when I tried it tough, so you should be alright.
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There's plenty. ModPlug Tracker, MilkyTracker... um... hey, isn't there a topic covering this already? There was, at least.
EDIT: Apparently there isn't one on the new forum. Also, musicshake is a good program for people who don't have enough patience to use trackers and the like, but most of the songs end up being quite similar, unless you go totally nuts on the thing. Then they're just slightly similar.
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Linux MultiMedia studio (http://lmms.sourceforge.net/) is awesmoe.
Its still in beta though, so there might be a few bugs in it. I didn't see any when I tried it tough, so you should be alright.
I personally don't like lmms. My songs were literally the same.
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PXtone.
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What sort of music are you interested in making?
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I want to make quiet, nature-like ambient music for Knytt stories. I tried out lmms and figured it out fairly quickly, but it dosen't have the kind of sounds i'm looking for. I'm sure I can get them elsewhere on the internet though. :)
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Linux MultiMedia studio (http://lmms.sourceforge.net/) is awesmoe.
Its still in beta though, so there might be a few bugs in it. I didn't see any when I tried it tough, so you should be alright.
I personally don't like lmms. My songs were literally the same.
That has got less to do with lmms and more to do with you. The software doesn't make the music, you do.
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Well i think i worded that wrong.
I meant they sounded the same because they all had the same sound samples X-P
I can make good music with other programs but lmms isn't really my type.
Ive seen very good things done with it! ;)
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You can use what I'm using for years.
MODPlug Tracker (http://lpchip.com/modplug). Its free, has a good tutorial to get you started (yeah, I wrote that one :nuts:) and a very good and helpfull community.
OpenMPT is one of the best free music programs there is. It can be made portable and is open source too, has support for VST effects and VST instruments. (samples too ofcource)
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I used to use OpenMPT, but now I use LMMS.
If it 'doesn't have the kind of sounds you're looking for', have a look for some free VST instruments, or find some SoundFont files in the style you''re looking for and use those.
And if you don't want it to sound the same, don't use default sound samples :D
Seriously, LMMS can make just about anything. You should try OpenMPT too though- you may prefer it. :)
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If you have a Mac...
GarageBand FTW!!!! C)p
and it comes free with your computer WOOT!
and it comes with heaps of default clips WOOOOT!
and you can record straight fram the aux-in port on your computer WOOOOOOOOOOT!
and you can download clips other people made WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!
[pants]huff-puff[/pants] that was one loong sentence!
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I have Windows Vista. X-P Thanks for the advice though.
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Some free sound software:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and http://www.reaper.fm/
Maybe http://www.freesound.org/ would be useful for making atmospheres
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Many people would suggest trackers, however, I'm not a huge fan of those.
I find them to be very time-consuming for larger projects.
I'd recommend Audacity (mentioned above) for a free recording and mixing program, but don't expect to be blown away.
If you really want to get into music making, you're going to want to get a quality program. And there's always demos.
I personally love Reason, and find it to be one of the most useful, time saving, and learnable programs out there. But since this is a "free" topic, I won't delve more into it.
Reason demo (it's the full program, but saving and exporting is disabled.): http://www.propellerheads.se/download/
Also, here's one of my fave freebie VSTs (a VST is a virtual instrument, in case you didn't know) :D. You'll need a VST host to run it (which can be downloaded here (http://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htm)), but can export into MIDI (which can be imported and edited by Audacity.) http://www.amvst.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=39
VSTs are good tools, and there's a lot of em out there. This one has over 200 presets (instruments) on it, so it could keep ya busy for a while. (I like number 8.) If you have any more questions on VSTs, feel free to PM me.
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Many people would suggest trackers, however, I'm not a huge fan of those.
Trackers are good for more digital, video-game-esque sounds though.
It all depends on what samples you use. Ultimately, trackers aren't any more genre-inclined than any MIDI editor.
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Many people would suggest trackers, however, I'm not a huge fan of those.
Trackers are good for more digital, video-game-esque sounds though.
Thats not true. You can make any kind of music with a tracker, same as you can with Reason. I say this, because many people say, that programs like Reason and FL Studio are only for dance music due to their sequencer. This is not true either.
When it comes to a music tool you can simply say this: A tool is as good as what you can do with it. Its not a matter of what it can do, but how easy you can work with it. The actual difference in tools lie in its approach.
A sequencer gives you more control and easiness over automating a setting whereas a tracker gives you easiness over having your pattern overview so you can see what your song plays at that moment. I favor a tracker for composing in it for its overview, while I use EnergyXT (same sequencer Nifflas uses) to record what I play on the piano because then I record an entire piece and build on that in the same manner. EnergyXT however is not free either but for 45 euro its a great deal. You could try a demo of it (saving is disabled too).
Basically the question is: Do you want to record your playing of an instrument over midi? -> Sequencer. Do you want overview while you work on your song from start to finish building first the intro, complete that, then moving on etc... -> Tracker.
I'm not saying you can't do both in the other software, but the software is designed around that concept thus making it ideal to do it that way.
EDIT: Changed Renoise for Reason, as I meant that. tnx Razzorman
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Thats not true. You can make any kind of music with a tracker, same as you can with Renoise. I say this, because many people say, that programs like Renoise and FL Studio are only for dance music due to their sequencer. This is not true either.
I think you are confusing Renoise with Reason. Renoise is a tracker. :P
Basically the question is: Do you want to record your playing of an instrument over midi? -> Sequencer. Do you want overview while you work on your song from start to finish building first the intro, complete that, then moving on etc... -> Tracker.
I use FL for both of those things. Really, it only depends on what interface you are most comfortable working with.
True, they both have their strengths and weaknesses, but in the end, it really just comes down to personal preferences.
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You're right. I meant Reason.
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Many people would suggest trackers, however, I'm not a huge fan of those.
Trackers are good for more digital, video-game-esque sounds though.
It all depends on what samples you use. Ultimately, trackers aren't any more genre-inclined than any MIDI editor.
Many people would suggest trackers, however, I'm not a huge fan of those.
Trackers are good for more digital, video-game-esque sounds though.
Thats not true. You can make any kind of music with a tracker, same as you can with Reason. I say this, because many people say, that programs like Reason and FL Studio are only for dance music due to their sequencer. This is not true either.
Yes, that's true, but I've found trackers to be, for the most part, more complicated to use for larger projects. I'll change my original post to sound less critical. I just find sequencers to be much more time-saving and resourceful. trackers are known for being relatively basic, but if you find them useful, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that.
Many people would suggest trackers, however, I'm not a huge fan of those.
Trackers are good for more digital, video-game-esque sounds though.
Basically the question is: Do you want to record your playing of an instrument over midi? -> Sequencer. Do you want overview while you work on your song from start to finish building first the intro, complete that, then moving on etc... -> Tracker.
and this isn't necessarily true. many (and I'd say most) sequencers, especially professional ones, allow you to review and change your song while working on it, including the individual midi notes, in a system similar to what trackers use.
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and this isn't necessarily true. many (and I'd say most) sequencers, especially professional ones, allow you to review and change your song while working on it, including the individual midi notes, in a system similar to what trackers use.
Ofcource, editing allows everything in both, but when you create something from scratch, a tracker gives you more overview than a sequencer. Thats my point.
In a tracker: If you want to create a full-length recording in a tracker, you first must create a lot of empty patterns and you have to guess how many you'll need. Then you can record using midi and hope for the best.
In a sequencer: If you want to create your song piece by piece (intro, then the next part, then the next part, etc...) you can't see what your other instruments are doing while working on one, especially when you already have like 8 different used. So you have to add the instrument, edit its pianoroll and enter notes, play the whole to see that you did it right, close the piano roll, edit another instrument's piano roll, make changes, switch back etc...
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So, as I said, nothing is really better than the other. Now get back on topic. This thread isn't about trackers vs sequencers, its about free music creation software.
Speaking of, here is a list of 'em.
- Linux MultiMedia studio (http://lmms.sourceforge.net/)
- MODPlug Tracker (http://lpchip.com/modplug)
- MilkyTracker (http://www.milkytracker.net/?about)
- Skale Tracker (http://www.skale.org/)
- Aodix (http://www.aodix.com/)
- Psycle (http://psycle.pastnotecut.org/portal.php)
- MadTracker (http://www.madtracker.org/main.php)
- Rosegarden (http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/) Linux only
I could probably make the list longer, but I can't think of anything else right now.
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Two free (well the latter is shareware but you don't have to pay for it if you don't want to - I have however :D) pieces of music software I use almost daily:
(http://www.ilovecubus.co.uk/pete/buzz_small.jpg)
Buzz - http://www.jeskola.net/buzz/
(http://pic.leech.it/i/3e10d/8e7d8d9f0907231131.jpg)
Reaper - http://www.reaper.fm/
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I'm extremely late with this post, but if you want to make MIDI songs (what is wrong with you? :P), then Anvil Studio (http://www.anvilstudio.com/) is free (unless you count the various fairly useless accessories) and very easy to use. It's Windows-only, though.
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mcbpete - Reaper is only free for a month :/ you have to purchase a license after 30 days.
it looks interesting though, so i'm going to try it out.
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also, very helpful website :^^:
http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/
has a list of almost all free/freeware/shareware/demo music programs out there, both trackers and sequencers.
and if you have a mac, (i don't) Ardour (http://ardour.org/) looks very good
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mcbpete - Reaper is only free for a month :/ you have to purchase a license after 30 days.
You can still use it after 30 days though, just with a brief nag screen on boot....
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Thanks guys, i'm using LMMS now.