I am looking for some a good, easy, and inexpensive song writing software package.

I would like to be able to write via a computer mouse as well as midi interface. Please help!

I downloaded “Forte Free” recently and have written one manuscript with it. It is kinda limited.

I am new to using music software so please push me in the best overall direction.

Thanks,
Pete

You didn't say what you wanted to use the software for. Although it's primarily for lyric writing, I think the new version of Masterwriter is awesome. It will record audio for you and you can document and archive your song but as i mentioned, it's primarily aimed at lyricists.
Aside from that, I don't know. Although not specifically for songwriters, Garageband is a free app for Mac users, and Fruity Loops is a very inexpensive one for PC (not sure about Mac).
JP
JP

I must say, I'm rather confused by the question.

Are you looking to record, to generate computer-based charts (i.e. manuscript) for music that you write, or both?

It makes a huge difference in the responses you are going to get (I will withhold my own until I know more about your goals).

My short term project is to get my originals recorded on manuscripts. This would include the lyrics, melody and some basic accompaniment.

However, getting usable demos of the songs is the goal.

I currently have Tascam 2488 recorder that can be utilized for the demos.

Currently money is an issue, so upgrading my small laptop is out for a while.

I do want to move towards computer based recording.

Band In A Box

+1 for Band-In-A-Box - awesome tool and relatively inexpensive.

I tried a demo of MasterWriter when it first came out and it was more like a notepad for musical ideas that can then be "constructed" into a song. See if the demo is still available, try it for yourself and see what you think!

Not familiar with Band-in-a-Box so hopefully it does what you need.

Most dedicated notation programs, and most recording software (much of which includes rudimentary notation), do not provide for a way to include lyrics lined up with the music, unfortunately.

Band In a Box has become quite a powerful program, that covers a whole lot of bases. Someone who is real familiar with DAW software might have trouble with the paradigm. But it does MANY things, and has the ability to line up lyrics with the music.

Mark, Please define "dedication notation programs."

Dedicated notation programs are ones whose primary goal is to produce lead sheets, printable manuscript, scores that you can send to actual publishing houses, etc.

The best-known ones are Sibelius and Finale, with Encore and Notion (the one I own) creeping up on the Big Two.

Such programs rarely include the capacity to record, but increasingly include playback instruments to realise the score; often with some sort of mechanism for wiring the output to a recording program.

And to follow up on that, these programs tend to be full-featured, vs. just a nice display of MIDI note data like in most recording software.

For instance, you can include standard dynamic markings, arrangement cues (e.g. "De Capo"), alternate time signatures based on the part (a common notation tradition in orchestral scoring, where different instruments might be written in different time signatures to make the parts easier), transcribed parts for the key of the instrument, etc.

There is some rudimentary support for lyrics but it is more in the form of annotation and comments than linked directly to the meter/rhythm/phrasing. This is a common criticism and I'm not sure if the latest releases of the major notation programs finally address this need.

The software I am using is a Forte notation software. I suppose it is what you call dedicated notation software. It has some limitations, so I am looking for the best overall solution. Forte allows you to line up the lyrics with the vocal line. I am using the free version and the upgrades may have the notation issues solved, but getting a package with other useful parameters would be great.

I hate to get a whole bunch of manuscripts written and then end up re-writing them in another program for recording proposes. (Forte Free will not export midi files)

It’s really hard to know what software will really do or not do until you have it!

The “Band in a Box” looks interesting. I can understand why you say some might have trouble with the paradigm. It appears to be a program designed for someone with very little musical ability, but I believe it’s much more. It also interfaces with Powertracks.

FORTE NOTATION SOFTWARE LINK

The other thing to keep in mind is that MIDI is very limited. Most notation programs will NOT translate traditional musical markings into MIDI messages that meet the composer's intent.

So basically those end up being primarily useful for live players, or for the composer to remember their intent later on. They correspond directly to hand-written manuscript, but MIDI doesn't.

You can get a lot done with MIDI and with MIDI CC's, but the resulting files are not as easily interpreted as manuscript. Notation programs are trying to get better at "interpreting" MIDI CC's into corresponding musical markings.

Was just reviewing the Finale offerings for a decision of my own. Program comparisons here: http://www.finalemusic.com/CompareFeatures.aspx
Looks like there are some trial downloads on the site, too.

Songwriter is likely enough for me, but I will probably overbuy and go with PrintMusic.

All of the notation software vendors provide trial downloads. I recommend downloading demos for Notion, Encore (recently revived), Finale, and SIbelius. A few of those have "lesser" editions that are cheaper and simpler, but you can probably sort that out via the individual vendor websites.

There are a couple of other programs of note, but I can't list them from memory. And they aren't ones I've tried personally.

I have used all four of the ones listed above. I chose Notion because it was more composer-friendly. Encore is as well, but was abandoned at the time I made my decision, and only recently got back into business, with a major new update (a rewrite).

Both Finale and Sibelius have been getting closer and closer over the past few releases; they are the two biggest sellers and are in a fierce competition. They're historically a bit more oriented towards the publisher than the composer, but that point is a bit mooted by recent ergonomic improvements in both programs.

You may find it surprising that all of these programs are resource-intensive, even compared to multi-track recording programs. My G4 PPC iMac can barely run any of them without crashing, and the cheaper guitar-oriented Progression program from Notion won't even launch on my current computer.

very quick take on Finale versions

NotePad = beginning songwriter; composer for small groups; good way to determine how involved you want to get with this stuff
Songwriter = songwriter
PrintMusic = bandleader; music director; pop music arranger
Allegro = professional classical (or film) composer or arranger
Finale = Allegro + amazing print options and output flexibility; does everything but manage your investments and buy your groceries; best playback within family