Some Questions

[netro1123]

I have another question about Sonatina.

Most of the samples have multiple versions of themselves, and each version has a different combination of charcters next to the name. What do these mean, and what are the differences? My guess is something with chords, but in all honesty I don't really know.

[popeye1234]

You have a technical hitch, playback for those samples should be at perfectly acceptable level.
Try using RGC Audio SFZ player.

Learn to use a USB midi keyboard. Just at a very basic level should help, just keying into the DAW produce lacklustre results if you do not even get the relationship of the notes in a more meaningful way. Orchestral music requires changes in dynamics shifting from soft & gentle to powerful and loud, swift micro changes in tempo; not just painting notes on the screen on a wing and a prayer.
Get one with at least 49 keys, any less is extremely limiting. You will not have to be a virtuoso, though of course that would help!
Read some consumer reviews of entry level 49 key (and above) keyboards. If you want to do orchestral music (or Piano or Synth) get a sustain pedal. They are cheap to buy and very useful.

Well, some of the greatest classical pieces have been composed with nothing but a quill pen and paper... and in some cases, by deaf guys

I don't know if it's strictly a requirement to use a MIDI keyboard for any kind of music. It can make things easier and faster, but on the other hand, there's no benefit in it if you don't have any skill in playing the keyboard... and arguably, when you're forced to enter notes one-by-one in a sequencer, you'll be forced to pay more attention to each note/chord, and you'll be able to get every note where you want, with the velocity you want.

I know you are sort of joking about this, but lets run with this. Beethoven (deaf at the end of his life) was a skilled keyboardist. He understood the relationship of notes arguably better than anybody! Beethoven was schooled in music and performance from a very young age. Beethoven would compose with a keyboard. Actually some composers only got to hear keyboard performances of their work.
He understood music on an incredibly deep level. Genius composers like this can look at a musically score and hear the results in their heads. They can imagine how each musician will handle each musical phrase.

I do not believe that any piece of Orchestral music worth listening to has ever been written by an amateur (dragging note blocks in a DAW) one that is both totally incapable of playing any instrument and also does not understand proper musical notation. You do not have to be remotely good at the keyboard to get started but pressing keys on a keyboard allows you to at least hear a rough impression of what you are trying to convey.
If you can think of anyone lacking both skills that has written a great (or even half decent) Orchestral piece (not cloned) please point me to an example.

However there have been composers who could no longer play an instrument due to injury but could compose. Also there are fantastic musicians and composers who cannot read music, such as Vangelis.

There are guys who do not use a midi keyboard to input the music that can compose music with a DAW. They can all play instruments and know music. Also they all know that better results will come from performing the notes with instruments too.

Have a listen to the work of this guy. He can do both of course:
http://guybacos.com/demos.php

[popeye1234]

I have another question about Sonatina.

Most of the samples have multiple versions of themselves, and each version has a different combination of charcters next to the name. What do these mean, and what are the differences? My guess is something with chords, but in all honesty I don't really know.

This is where familiarity with Classical music pays dividends, even just as an avid/attentive listener so that you understand what is humanly possible and what sounds right together. Really this is far too broad a question. Answering this properly would require a book or two.
Some sounds will sound weird if used in the wrong context, such as combos of instruments that would not ordinarily play together or instruments playing notes in the wrong fashion such as for too long. impossible for a musician to play will sound false, such as never ending flutes etc. (can they breathe?) At least Sonatina does not let you play instruments in the wrong octave, as some synth emulation would allow, they are all just straight samples.

As a starter:
Sustain = held notes
Staccato = short jabbing short note.
Pizzicato = plucked strings

Types of Trombone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_trombone

I suggest you just have some fun with the samples, enjoy playing with the sounds. Make your own music, do not consider it truly Orchestral. In the mean time listen to lots of magnificent real Orchestral music, not just movie scores.
Beethoven 7th for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MqrBauptrE
Or Mahler's 5th:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URKGIa0b_jI

[netro1123]

I have another question about Sonatina.

Most of the samples have multiple versions of themselves, and each version has a different combination of charcters next to the name. What do these mean, and what are the differences? My guess is something with chords, but in all honesty I don't really know.

This is where familiarity with Classical music pays dividends, even just as an avid/attentive listener so that you understand what is humanly possible and what sounds right together. Really this is far too broad a question. Answering this properly would require a book or two.
Some sounds will sound weird if used in the wrong context, such as combos of instruments that would not ordinarily play together or instruments playing notes in the wrong fashion such as for too long. impossible for a musician to play will sound false, such as never ending flutes etc. (can they breathe?) At least Sonatina does not let you play instruments in the wrong octave, as some synth emulation would allow, they are all just straight samples.

As a starter:
Sustain = held notes
Staccato = short jabbing short note.
Pizzicato = plucked strings

Types of Trombone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_trombone

I suggest you just have some fun with the samples, enjoy playing with the sounds. Make your own music, do not consider it truly Orchestral. In the mean time listen to lots of magnificent real Orchestral music, not just movie scores.
Beethoven 7th for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MqrBauptrE
Or Mahler's 5th:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URKGIa0b_jI

Ah, I understand all of that stuff, as well as the trombone types(Considering the fact I play trombone), but what I meant was this kinda stuff: c#4, e6, g4, and so on. Are these the pitch than? And are there just multiple samples for each instrument? How do I know which one to use?

[popeye1234]

I have another question about Sonatina.

Most of the samples have multiple versions of themselves, and each version has a different combination of charcters next to the name. What do these mean, and what are the differences? My guess is something with chords, but in all honesty I don't really know.

This is where familiarity with Classical music pays dividends, even just as an avid/attentive listener so that you understand what is humanly possible and what sounds right together. Really this is far too broad a question. Answering this properly would require a book or two.
Some sounds will sound weird if used in the wrong context, such as combos of instruments that would not ordinarily play together or instruments playing notes in the wrong fashion such as for too long. impossible for a musician to play will sound false, such as never ending flutes etc. (can they breathe?) At least Sonatina does not let you play instruments in the wrong octave, as some synth emulation would allow, they are all just straight samples.

As a starter:
Sustain = held notes
Staccato = short jabbing short note.
Pizzicato = plucked strings

Types of Trombone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_trombone

I suggest you just have some fun with the samples, enjoy playing with the sounds. Make your own music, do not consider it truly Orchestral. In the mean time listen to lots of magnificent real Orchestral music, not just movie scores.
Beethoven 7th for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MqrBauptrE
Or Mahler's 5th:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URKGIa0b_jI

Ah, I understand all of that stuff, as well as the trombone types(Considering the fact I play trombone), but what I meant was this kinda stuff: c#4, e6, g4, and so on. Are these the pitch than? And are there just multiple samples for each instrument? How do I know which one to use?

Trombonist!
Well you really ought to know much more about it than me then
You have been playing the individual unprocessed WAV file samples. That will sound awful, don't do that. Instead choose the SFZ files, then the key will be sorted for you.

Assuming you are not using it already; You need something like this (load as Vestige VST):
http://www.cakewalk.com/Download/sfz.aspx

[netro1123]

Hmm. I'm using that right now, but something may have happened while I was downloading it. I'll see if I can figure it out, I think I know the problem.

[diiz]

Or download Polyphone, use it to convert the sfz and wav's to SF2 files, and use the LMMS native SF2 player to play them.

[popeye1234]

Or download Polyphone, use it to convert the sfz and wav's to SF2 files, and use the LMMS native SF2 player to play them.

Link here:
http://www.polyphone.fr/index.php?lang=en&page=download

[netro1123]

I got it figured out. The first time I downloaded Sonatina was a bit messy and somehow the sfz files got deleted. Thanks for you help!

I have yet another question though:

I have had Audacity on my computer for a few years now, and I've seen other people mention how they use it to create tracks. So where would Audacity be helpful?

[popeye1234]

Lets start with something different; Do you know about notation software?
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/soft ... re-review/
http://davidbolton.info/articles/musescore_review.html
https://sourceforge.net/projects/mscore/reviews/
http://musescore.org/

Audacity is mostly for editing WAV files.
If you are not recording voice or live instruments with microphones or using a midi keyboard plugged into the PC or any other midi device then Audacity may not be required at any point. But check it out anyway.

If you want to record midi data to edit in the DAW use piano roll functions in a DAW, such as LMMS. The data remains very small as it is instructions to play sounds rather than an actual recording.
If however you want to record the performance as if playing live then Audacity will allow you to do this. It does not have to be a finished product, you can cut and edit tracks (as you can with multi track tape in a studio) but it isn't as simple as rubbing out or moving individual notes in Piano roll.

Also the Piano roll info could be recorded alternatively as musical notation and could be a worthwhile learning experience for a musician such as yourself.
In your position I would look at composing with notation software.
http://www.notionmusic.com/products/notion4.html
free alternative (doubt it comes with quality sound software):
http://musescore.org/

Playing and recording with Audicity or Wavasour is a totally different experience, more like the old days in a studio (but quicker and easier to edit) before DAWs changed the game, at least for Pop (and Orchestral mock ups or say TV work). If you are experimenting it will take a lot longer.

If you get a midi keyboard you could use both. Both have significant advantages. Recording a performance with a WAV editor allows you to play with greater expression, much of which disappears when you fill in notes in a Piano roll.