Originally Posted By: Mike "ex-genius" Kelley
Maybe it's just because it was over a decade ago, but I never found a DAW that had a notational view I liked, the way Finale would display things.

I've since looked at Notion and I really like the idea I can jot things down on my iPad/iPhone. At the very least I'll get the iOS app and then perhaps move to the Windows version if I continue to like it.

When you say to use a DAW that does display notation, do you have a particular one in mind? I'd rather not spend a fortune on something I'm really only going to use to control volumes in (for the most part).

Also, anyone here have any experience with the VST Orchestral Suite? It sounds nice as well. I really don't want to start putting together my own VST full of samples (like installing Kontakt and then buying various samples for it) but just want all my stuff in one, so either GPO5 or this Orchestral Suite look to be something that would work nicely for me.


I think Finale is designed to do notation. So it should handle it batter than a DAW. I don't have Finale but I've heard about it from a few that do.

I use Sonar as my DAW and it has a fairly nice, workable, staff view as they call it. You can work in that view with notes displayed properly. Click and drag, set the resolution, add additional track's staff to the view.... you can display and hide musical staves as needed. You can buy Sonar Home Studio or Music Creator 7 for $50. Both should give you a usable staff view. I used MC4 for many years and it had the staff view I mentioned.

Kontakt comes out of the box from NI with a ton of samples and sounds. You don't need to buy anything 3rd party unless you need that specific instrument. I bought a 3rd party dulcimer since Kontakt didn't have one. But if you're looking mainly for band and orchestral instruments, you won't need to buy anything other than Kontakt. It has orchestra, choirs (male & female), and band... guitar, bass, drums, piano, etc, as well as some world instruments in it ready to go.

When it comes to synths and such things.... having a good one is indispensable, but.... just like me, as I go to work in my business, I have a tool belt with various tools. A pair of pliers and a screwdriver will get many things done, but when I need a hammer, I use a hammer, not the pliers. The same thing applies to this thing we call music. GPO does a fine job, but Kontakt can do it better and Storm Drums can do drums better than either but it doesn't do synth pads very well. See my point? Use the right tool for the job. I have a number of synths that excel at one particular thing. When I need that thing, I pull out that synth and use it to get the job done right.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.