I want to make some of my own music and I know with garageband you can hook up a USB keyboard and go to work but I'm wondering if there's a program for the PC like that???

Yeah, it's Sony's ACID. In fact, some of the same people that worked on ACID also were part of the creation of Garageband.

really I have an older version of ACID I'll look it up thanks

any other suggestions would be great to.

Sonar, Nuendo both have Garageband-like properties as well.
ACID, Sonar, and Nuendo are all far less limited, and more difficult to use than Garageband.

What about Reason?? do you know anything about that program??

Reason is a great tool, but not really Garageband-like. it can trigger samples, loops, or notes assigned to a soft synth. Same with Cakewalk's Project 5 tool.

I don't think anyone's mentioned FruityLoops yet.

Oops...Fruityloops!
They are pretty good too, from what little I know. When Cakewalk first started distributing Fruityloops with Cake 9, I played with them a little. But then the new ACID came out, Reason came out, and soon after, Sonar 1 came out. All of the above made me not need/want to use any more third party or plugs when I didn't need to. But they do make a great tool, no doubt.

There is also Ableton Live. It seems not as easy to use but people I know who use Reason and Acid are moving on to Live.

I just got a copy of reason 2.5 off of ebay
and I want to get Acid 4.0
I also have to get the USB keyboard as well any recomondations on a keyboard?? The apple store by my house has a couple from $100 to $200 they all seem to do a lot of the same thing though.

By the way thanks for all the input I've gotten some good ideas from you all.

Low cost, USB keyboards can be gotten from M-Audio and from Edirol. I like the M-Audio Oxygen for travel, and the Radium for Studio use. I don't have an Edirol.

Great that's what the mac store has are models similar to that I'll have to pick one up this weekend. Thanks!!

So when I get a Keyboard can I select an intrument on Acid or Reason and play the notes on the keyboard for it like garageband and then loop them???

Okay now one other question???

I got a keyboard (the M Audio Keystation 49e )
So once I get my programs (I have Reason 2.5, acid pro 4.0 and sound forge 7.0 on the way) will I be able to play different instuments on my keyboard and be able to record them like in garageband?? like can I tell the keyboard to play drums so it'll play drums so I can record them??

You can't tell the keyboard to play drums, but you can point the keys on the keyboard to drum sounds, which is effectively the same thing. the 49e doesn't have sounds in it, so it's just a controller, and yes, it can control/trigger drum sounds in the various applications you've mentioned. Sound Forge will only let you trigger sounds/samples, not full blown instruments.
Reason has a relatively tough learning curve, ACID will be up and running in minutes. Reason does more than ACID, so it stands to logic that it will be more challenging to master.

<<<-- Originally posted by Douglas Spotted Eagle : Oops...Fruityloops!
They are pretty good too, from what little I know. When Cakewalk first started distributing Fruityloops with Cake 9, I played with them a little. But then the new ACID came out, Reason came out, and soon after, Sonar 1 came out. All of the above made me not need/want to use any more third party or plugs when I didn't need to. But they do make a great tool, no doubt. -->>>

Huh? FruityLoops Studio (http://www.e-officedirect.com/FLStudio/English/frames.html) isn't a plugin. It's a standalone program, and for many, the preferred program of its type.

Fruityloops plugged/plugs into Sonar as a DXi. I suppose it depends on your lexicon. Fruityloops can be standalone, or controlled as an instrument from a variety of hosts.

SO with aCID it's just like garageband in that it can trigger the drums and other instruments with the keyboard???

by the way thanks for all the help

Bumping an old thread...

Ableton Live is probably the closest (also more advanced) PC equivalent to Garageband. Very similar interfaces, similar methods for composing, editing, etc.

http://www.ableton.com/

<<<-- Originally posted by Patrick Jenkins : Bumping an old thread...

Ableton Live is probably the closest (also more advanced) PC equivalent to Garageband. Very similar interfaces, similar methods for composing, editing, etc.

http://www.ableton.com/ -->>>



And was mentioned by Ignacio Rodriguez back on August 13th :)


Also, if you pick up a copy of Computer Music magazine it will come with a free copy of Computer Muzys, as well as some synth and drum VST plug-ins. It's not really my favorite interface, but I use the drum plug-ins now in Tracktion (by the way, thanks DSE -- Tracktion is definitely worth the $80!). But if you're starting out and looking for a free solution (or at least $14 for a magazine plus a CDROM with samples, plug-ins, and the Muzys app), then you might try a copy of Computer Music magazine.

Although I hope Kyle has solved his problem by now :)

Doh! Teaches me to skim through page 1 and only read page 2 ;-)

Spot, does it stand to "Logic" or to "Reason"? :-)

Gotta love that garageband for the price!

<<<-- Originally posted by Mike Butler : Gotta love that garageband for the price! -->>>

Yeah, for $500 you get GarageBand, and as a bonus they throw in a Mac Mini to run it on ;-)

Good quip, Mike! I'll have to remember that one. :-)
Actually, Verdeen from EWF used that same line in the M-Audio booth at NAMM. You're in good company.

<<<-- Originally posted by Boyd Ostroff: and as a bonus they throw in a Mac Mini to run it on ;-)-->>>

As a packaging designer, I approve. It beats the little blue box that Tiffany rings come in. :-)