I'm after some simple composing/playback software, any suggestions?

Tenebrous

I'm looking for something relatively simple that has the ability to handle more complex stuff should I need it. I remember using Power Tab Editor or something similar back in the day & clicking notes, selecting an instrument, & just having it play - I'd like something like that, with lots of sounds & total flexibility when it comes to timing, dynamics, etc. I can read & write sheet music so that's absolutely fine - If anything, it's preferred.

Any suggestions for what I should be looking at? I'd just like to get some ideas down without having to actually record myself playing, as what I want to write is too much for one guy to play anyway.

Cheers.

Branshen

MuseScore

Tenebrous

Crazy fun, exactly what I wanted.

Cheers!

stratman3142

Branshen said:

MuseScore

+1 for MuseScore. Superb software and I find it a better fit to my needs than Sibelius which I previously had to subscribe to.

Tenebrous

stratman3142 said:

Branshen said:

MuseScore

+1 for MuseScore. Superb software and I find it a better fit to my needs than Sibelius which I previously had to subscribe to.

It's awesome. I managed to get 8 bars out of some weird 11/8 lydian idea I've had in my head for a while in like 40 minutes, and that's without the benefits of a midi controller & knowing exactly how everything works.

I'm actually chuffed.

Branshen

Great to hear! 

Tenebrous

It's probably a daft question but I'm so inexperienced with DAWs that you'll have to forgive me. If I export a piece from MuseScore into a MIDI file, would I then be able to open it up in a DAW & have it played back through a synth plug-in or something like that?

Branshen

I think you can. But I've never tried and so I don't know how well it'll work. 

WiresDreamDisasters

Tenebrous said:

It's probably a daft question but I'm so inexperienced with DAWs that you'll have to forgive me. If I export a piece from MuseScore into a MIDI file, would I then be able to open it up in a DAW & have it played back through a synth plug-in or something like that?

Yes you can absolutely do this. That's sort of the entire point of midi. Transferable information that you can point at any synth or sampler and tell it to make sound.