User blog comment:CloverLeafNine/Music Making Programs?/@comment-32500188-20140930063212

FL Studio seems to be the way to go. I plan on getting my producer edition of it sometime this week... been watching tutorial videos for the past couple of weeks and recently trying the demo with what I can. It's still a little difficult for me to get, but I'm sure once I get used to everything that's there and have the ability to re-open projects I'll have an easier time. :-D

Right now, though, I'm actually relying on freeware software like:


 * Anvil Studio for MIDI sequencing (since you have the option of either using its notation feature or piano roll; I'm way more comfortable seeing actual notes); this sometimes can be glitchy during their updating process, but most of the time they fix the major bugs ASAP.


 * SynthFont for varied use of soundfonts and VST effects/instruments (different instrument banks can be used for each individual channel... I use the 1.713 version under the DL link, since the newer version); this also has the ability to edit/sequence MIDI, but the interface for that is pretty dated, and I find it extremely difficult and cluttered for that particular usage.


 * Audacity for mixing and mastering. You can also install most of the same VST effects that you can use for Synthfont and Anvil Studio (even though I still have a time figuring out how to use them with the latter.)

So basically, if you short on cash for any reason and can't invest in a DAW at the moment, there's always stuff out there that can help kick-start the learning process. Requires a little bit more work than just having one program to do it all, though, but at least it's something. :-)