I'm Googling around but was wondering if anyone had any advice or preferences or could point me where to look.

I need to compose some music and then add vocals to it. What is a good program? I'm thinking something that emulates piano/keyboard, guitar, base, and drums should get me started. Something where each instrument has its own timeline and then you can combine them, and then add vocals to it.

Thanks!

Microsoft Songsmith

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Garage band?

Windows.

ProTools

Acid or Acid Pro, but really, any looping software will be fine.

Pro Tools has a far steeper learning curve than what the OP wants or needs.

Speaking of recording software, anyone have a legit copy of the old Cool Edit Pro they want to part with? I used to use that a long time ago, and I'm wanting to do some recording again. It was cheap and easy to use.

PM or email me if you can help. Thanks.

FruityLoops is very easy to pick up.

So far of all the trials I've tried I like FruityLoops the best. But for the life of me I can't find the timeline to drop stuff to create a melody. ARGH I want something simple

Cool Edit Pro is now Adobe Audition...

That timeline is called the 'playlist' in FL.

I found the playlist. How do I start adding stuff to it? Grr. I want something SIMPLE. Here's a drum sound, here's a piano sound, here's a guitar sound. Have a line for guitar, one for drums, one for bass, one for piano, one for vocals. You can play one, multiple, or all lines together. Drag and drop and play. Something really simple that does just that, but does it well.

You create patterns first, those are the things with a bunch of little squares with instruments by them. You drag and drop instruments onto this (it defaults with basic drum instruments like snare) and then you can fill it with beats and basic notes.

Each pattern can then be edited in the piano roll if you want to actually create melodies with those notes, otherwise it will just play the same note over and over again.

From there you can drop the patterns in the playlist. It's tricky to get the hang of but it's (relatively) simple to at least do the basics once you get over that initial learning curve.

The best way to get a hang of the program is to download FL 'remake' files of popular songs. Or, get on Youtube and search for "FL remake" and you can see videos of how people recreated popular pop, hip hop, and dance songs in the program.

And I really need one of these... FL seems the simplest of them (I haven't been able to create a melody with any of them), and I just made $250 extra on the holiday so it's the right price. I'm going to have to put in some quality time with it on Sunday.