I have a problem. My game, NightRise, takes place in the future so most of the music is rock. However, for some parts I need oriental and/or fantasy style music. I am currently using Acid Music to create the songs, and they kick ass. I''m not just spreading the tracks out. I''m creating them one note at a time. The great part about this is I can get different guitar effects and not have to be stuck with the tunes I''m given. The other program I own is Finale 2001, however the songs don''t get loud enough and I''d like them in WAV or MP3 format (I can convert WAV''s to MP3''s for the game). Does anybody have any suggestions for a program I could use and that''s easy to learn to create the music for my game? Anything from rock to classical music, and none of those MTV programs. I just need to make music. Thank you.

Magic,

If you have been using Acid you might check out Sonar by Cakewalk http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/default.asp or Cool Edit Pro by Syntrillium http://www.syntrillium.com/cep . Both of these programs can do looping, multitrack recording, and come with a lot of effects. If you are not going to be using midi, CEP might be a better choice as you can create the sound FX you’ll need for your game (it’s a great audio editing program), plus you get over 2,000 loops with the program and they have a website http://www.Loopology.com that you can get free loops at. (No, I dont work for Syntrillium...I just realized I sounded like a commercial - sorry) You might also check out Reason by Propellerhead http://www.propellerheads.se . You can somewhat easily create “techno” type songs in that program. The music for the TV program Alias is done mostly in Reason. Hope this info helps. Good luck with your project.


info@sonicfarms.com
www.sonicfarms.com

You can always use free-ware tools..

There''s a lot of high quality tools which are not midi based out there such as trackers, integrated tracking studios.

You may want to check out MAZ Audio http://www.maz-sound.com/

Trackers are Sample Based composition tools, though these days the good ones (DOS based) don''t run very well under WinXP, so you may want to try some Windows based trackers like ModPlug Tracker. There are commercial ones available as well, but I haven''t found the need for one yet.

Integrated Tracking Studios such as BUZZ, and Psycle are two that I have seen. Both use native plugins (Software Synthesizers, effects units), but can accept VST as well. Psycle is built more like the traditional tracker interface, whereas buzz is more designed for individual plugins which I found a little confusing to get into).

The power of these tools is increased even more when VST is introduced. You can pick up free VST plugins on the net, as well as some really cool commercial ones too.

Psycle = http://psycle.pastnotecut.org/

I think there''s a link to Buzz in MAZ .. search on the net returned too much other cr*p.

HOpe that helps..



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Proffessional Music/Sound Engineer

"Music is not something you just do, it''''s part of who you are"

Thank guys. This helps a lot. And seeing as Alias is my absolute favorite show (X-Men Evolution coming in at #2) I should check out that program. Thanks a bunch !