Easy music software?
April 15, 2012 10:26 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for music software with an easy programming interface for amateurs.
Basically, I want to be able to program music without having a strong background in music. I can't read sheet music, but I have a basic understanding of scales. I know what sounds "nice" and I like to play around with instruments until I have a sound I like. I'd like to have an interface where I can say, "play middle-C every 1 second, then play D every 1/2 s".
I'm thinking of something sort of like this, but more customizable.
I'd like to be able to easily save/export the sounds to be mixed in with other pieces of audio.
Also, I'm using a Mac.
Does such a thing exist?
Basically, I want to be able to program music without having a strong background in music. I can't read sheet music, but I have a basic understanding of scales. I know what sounds "nice" and I like to play around with instruments until I have a sound I like. I'd like to have an interface where I can say, "play middle-C every 1 second, then play D every 1/2 s".
I'm thinking of something sort of like this, but more customizable.
I'd like to be able to easily save/export the sounds to be mixed in with other pieces of audio.
Also, I'm using a Mac.
Does such a thing exist?
Yeah, basically you want Garageband.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:37 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:37 AM on April 15, 2012
I have a feeling this is way too complicated for what you want, but related: Overtone is a "live-programmable music exploration & collaboration toolkit."
You can see an example of somebody live-coding in it here (4 minutes, with helpful narration): http://vimeo.com/22798433. You can use it to build chord progressions, repeating patterns, etc. Here's another link to a longer live-coding video (15 minutes, no narration, but pretty amazing product by the end): http://vimeo.com/2503257.
posted by high5ths at 12:58 PM on April 15, 2012
You can see an example of somebody live-coding in it here (4 minutes, with helpful narration): http://vimeo.com/22798433. You can use it to build chord progressions, repeating patterns, etc. Here's another link to a longer live-coding video (15 minutes, no narration, but pretty amazing product by the end): http://vimeo.com/2503257.
posted by high5ths at 12:58 PM on April 15, 2012
Standard procedure that most everyone I know seems to follow: Garageband --> Logic.
posted by lobbyist at 1:18 PM on April 15, 2012
posted by lobbyist at 1:18 PM on April 15, 2012
do you have any android devices? (also relevant for iphone i guess)...even simpler than garageband: uloops...ive only played around with it a bit...i also like playing plasma sound or other instrument apps along with other music...theres also a bunch of different 4track recorders in the android market (and im sure itunes) (4 track recording is fun...lay down a drum and bass tracks, then squish em together into one track...repeat with other instruments...much easier than playing with a million tracks (but less undo-able unless you save all your versions separately...4 tracking is a really good place to start...it's like layers in photoshop)
long story short...dont look for a big complicated program that does everything...break it up into bite-size pieces...then when you go to garageband you'll know more about where to start. also, there's tons of free apps out there...
posted by sexyrobot at 2:41 PM on April 15, 2012
long story short...dont look for a big complicated program that does everything...break it up into bite-size pieces...then when you go to garageband you'll know more about where to start. also, there's tons of free apps out there...
posted by sexyrobot at 2:41 PM on April 15, 2012
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posted by humboldt32 at 10:59 AM on April 15, 2012 [1 favorite]