Free is never free!!

The free software is a limited version of the full program. It has most of the functions, enough to let you know if you like it.

You can also download a trial version of the complete version.
I did that just to check it out and found it useful and easy to use.

I have another program, Finale, that is hard to learn but will do anything.

FORTE is a good program for all but the most demanding users, at least that is my take.

I use and recommend the following if cost is not an issue.

Finale...Standard notation software, around $600.00

Band In A Box Audiophile...Best accompaniment generation software, around $550.00

Sonar Platinum...Best DAW for general use for cheap, around $500.00

Pro Tools HD...for live recording of drums and vocals, if and only if you have a professional studio designed for professional recordings. Be ready to spend BIG BUCKS for this. Most likely at least $20,000 just for microphones alone. Somewhere in excess of $200,000 to set up a OK pro studio, nothing special. I don't own this, just rent time. About $30 to $50 an hour to rent.

Real top of the line studio setup now days is in excess of 15 million dollars. I certainly don't own this and have rented time in the type of studio only on a few occasions. I recorded at Sony in LA for about $300 per hour as I remember and PolyGram in Chicago for something around $200 per hour several years back. Sugar Hill in Houston, Texas...I don't remember, it was a long time ago. Sun In Memphis, don't remember. Blacktop studio in Slidell, Louisiana $125 per hour. Don Robey's studio in Houston, Texas...well, I was just a really young kid when I got to go in that studio to watch Lighten Hopkins record...lol

With excellence musician's and excellence sound engineers very good quality recordings can be produced with less that $5000 worth of gear.

I think it is possible to get a recording about 85% as good as it gets with 5K worth of gear, all other things being equal.

Just my 2 cents worth.


Cheers,


Billy


Last edited by Planobilly; 09/13/15 10:59 AM.
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”