Top 30 Best Music Composing Software

Best Music Composing Software- The era of using pen and paper when composing music is fast fading out. If you want to be a great and professional composer, you need to step up your game.

Professional composers now make use of software to make great musical compositions. This software has great tools, are easy to use and are affordable. In fact, some of them are even free. In this article, we have listed the best music composing software and the great features of each one. Keep reading to discover them.

List Of Music Composing Software

  1. Garage band
  2. Audacity
  3. Muse Score
  4. Ableton Live
  5. Sibelius
  6. Cake walk Sonar
  7. Finale
  8. Pro Tools
  9. FL Studio
  10. Tracktion Waveform
  11. LMMS
  12. REAPER
  13. Steingberg
  14. Logic Pro
  15. Ardour
  16. Noteflight
  17. Storecloud
  18. Studio one
  19. Rose garden
  20. Magic Score
  21. Magix Music Maker
  22. Forte
  23. Dorico
  24. Lily Pond

Top 10 Best Music Composing Software

  1. MuseScore 2
  2. Sibelius
  3. Noteflight
  4. Quick Score Elite Level II
  5. Notion 6
  6. Magic Score Maestro 8
  7. Finale Print Music
  8. Dorico Pro2
  9. Denemo
  10. Forte 11

1. MuseScore 2

This is one of the best music composing software used by a lot of music composers & writers. Its tools are easy to access. This software enables you to import MIDI & Music XML files. Templates are available that can aid you in your music composition.

Features of MuseScore 2

  • Download is free
  • It is easy to use
  • Importing and exporting on the software is easy.

2. Sibelius

Sibelius is another great music composing software. You can never be stranded while trying to compose your music as there are lots of templates on Sibelius. The software is quite easy to use and is available in different versions:  free, limited sixteen instruments version, four instruments version and paid forty instruments version.

The software offers a cloud option for storing and sharing data & files. Sibelius is really great when you need to compose music requiring 4 parts.

Features of Sibelius

  • Notes are easy to use
  • It is easy to share your composed music
  • The limited version is affordable

3. Noteflight

This music composing software is great for both songwriter & composers. The tools are easy to understand. The software is app-like program and it works well with iphone, windows and Android.

Because the software is an online program, sharing of your writing and composition is quite easy. It is also compatible with some learning apps like google classroom, which makes it great for music composers.

Features of Noteflight

  • Sharing of files is easy
  • Software is free and can be used remotely
  • It has an online community where members actively discuss and share views
  • There are unlimited features on the software, but usually requires a paid subscription

4. Quick Score Elite Level II

This is another interesting music composing software. There is room for plenty creativity as a result of the unique audio & MIDI editing feature in it. The software enables recording, synchronization, playback and audiomixing of music.

5. Notion 6

Notion 6 is another music composing software to watch out for. Even though it is not really cheap, but it is a great asset to have. A number of great artists use this software for their recordings. This software is highly compatible with the MIDI device. It makes allowance for swift input MIDI notes from your guitar, piano or keyboard.

Also, the software is a large instrumental library. It has a user-friendly interface for music composition.

Features of Notion 6

  • It has great editing option
  • Software is user-friendly and highly detailed
  • A great tool for music composers
  • Easy to set up and use
  • Has a great library of instrument samples

6. Finale Print Music

Finale Print Music is a very good music composing software. This software has lots of built-in instruments, thus making it really cool. The program allows you to enter notes with a mouse, keyboard of a MIDI keyboard.

Finale Print Music is user-friendly and its quite easy to navigate around it. It is also affordable.

Features of Finale Print Music

  • User-friendly & easy navigation
  • Sharing of composition is easy and could be in PDF, graphic files or MP3 format

7. Magic Score Maestro 8

It is a great music composing software that is fully-equipped with all the tools to compose and write music. It has one of the best virtual piano. The program allows you to add note and select the duration. Navigation on this platform is quite easy. The platform has lots of templates which you can edit to suit your taste. However, magic score maestro 8 is compatible with only windows.

8. Dorico Pro2

Dorico Pros is a user-friendly music composing software. The software has a lot of built-in instruments. There is a library that comprises about 1500 sounds. The software was created by Steinberg, the owners of VST Plugin Standard & Cubase.

Features of Dorico Pro2

  • It has a piano roll MIDI editor
  • Presence of DTP page layout
  • It has a great automatic engraving
  • Easy to import and export via music XML, MIDI, PDF, etc.

9. Denemo

This music composing software makes use of lilypond application to produce lovely sheet music of high standards. It is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. Beginners and veterans can easily use it. It is free to use.

10. Forte 11

It is another music composing software that aids in music composing/writing. It has a friendly user-interface and a companion reader app.

The software makes allowance for note inputs like computer keyboard, MIDI keyboard or virtual piano. Forte II comes in two versions: basic and premium. Premium version is much preferable for experienced musicians.

Music Composing Software: What You Need To Know

Most professions are fast moving away from the use of paper and biro for optimal work. Almost every profession is beginning to adopt the use of computer. The music industry is not left behind in this new move too. The computer is a great tool for musicians that wants to make wave in this 21st century.

As a musician, you can now compose music with the aid of a computer and then save your piece for future use. For you to effectively compose music using a software on a computer, you need to take heed to the following.

Requirements To Using the Music Composing Software

  1. You must have passion for music

You shouldn’t start thinking of composing music because that is the only available job to do or because of the money involved. Rather, you should be doing it because of passion. It is your passion that will motivate and drive you on even in the face of difficulties.

2. It requires hardwork and commitment

Even though you are composing on a computer, you will still need some work from your end. Don’t act lazy at all.

3. Make your research very well

Before determining what software you should use, make adequate research. There are a lot of video tutorials online on some of those software. Watch them and see which one will work well for you. Adequate research will save you both time and money.

4. Get the right Instruments

Instruments you need include a good PC, a sound card, music composing software and some additional writing tools like MIDI (Musical Instrumental Digital Interface) controllers and keyboard, Plug-ins such as VST

5. Practice

Don’t just prepare to write music. Start writing. The more you write, the better you get at writing

Last Note

As a musician that wants to thrive well in the music industry, you cannot continue to compose songs with paper & pen. Music composing software will assist you in doing your composition. With all the great tools present in the software, you cannot but have a great music piece.

The software listed in this article are in different categories in terms of price. Depending on budget and your preference, you can make a choice of one. Even if you are not sure of how it would turn out, there are some free software you could use to check things out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Composing music requires a lot of hardwork. You need some discipline and consistency too. The more you write, the better you get at writing more songs. Don’t just procrastinate or plan to write. Just start anyway and get better at it.

  • Attention to details
  • You must be very creative
  • You must have good knowledge of the music industry
  • Have some background/basic knowledge of music
  • Have some musical ability e.g being able to play some musical instrument will make you better at song composition
  • Good communication skills

Music composers write and arrange music for different forms of media such as Tv, film, stage productions, video games and advertisements.

Yes. Below are some good free softwares for music composition:

  • Tracktion Waveform Free
  • Garage Band
  • Ohm Studio
  • Audacity
  • ProTools First
  • CubaseLE
  • Cakewalk by Bundlab
  • Pre Sonus Studio One 5 Prime
  • Ableton Live lite

References

  • www. indeed .com – What does a Composer do? Skills, Salary & Requirements
  • www. imusician.pro-The 9 best free music composition software programs
  • www. musicianwave. com –The 10 Best Music Writing Software Program (2022)
  • www. careersinmusic.com – 7 Best Music Writing Software programs for DIY musicians

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