Anvil Studio Resources: A Look at Music Composition Software

Anvil Studio can be a great tool for any musician. But without the proper resources, its potential is limited. With these tools and websites you'll be able to get more from Anvil Studio.

The best place to look first is AnvilStudio.com. In addition to the program download, you can buy add-ons that enhance the music composition software's abilities. Some user-submitted audio samples can be downloaded, and you'll find lots of tips, hints and help with using Anvil Studio.

MIDI

Anvil Studio works nicely as a MIDI audio player. Classical Archives has over 40,000 audio files from 2,000 composers -- almost any Renaissance, Baroque or Classical music can be found here and downloaded for free. Just run Anvil Studio, load the MIDI and enjoy.

MIDI versions of popular music are easy to find, as well. Just search "Cure MIDI" in Google to find renditions of Cure songs; it works well with any artist.

Because Anvil Studio displays the transcription of a MIDI file in addition to playing it, you can use the files as sheet music. It's great for music students and instrumentalists -- there's no need to buy the official sheet music or tablature to learn a riff or study a song's melody.

And with the $30 Print Sheet accessory from Anvil Studio's website, you can print out copies of the MIDI transcriptions. Be warned, though -- many MIDIs found online are recorded through a keyboard and may not fit entirely with Anvil Studio's sheet music display. It's worth the effort to download a few copies of a file you would like to print.

Tutorials

An excellent tutorial can be found at TommyMc's website. Not only does it demonstrate basic functions in the software, but it adds music composition techniques and music theory to create an excellent beginner's resource.

Music Learning

Anvil Studio has a built-in mode for teaching notes on the grand staff. An add-on pack includes ear training exercises, rhythm instruction, scales and even voice training. This may be the most forgotten use for Anvil Studio: a powerful educational tool. Most use it to compose, some use it to examine MIDIs, but many people could benefit from its teaching ability.

A solid, purely music theory website can be found at Numbera.com. Once users are familiar with Anvil Studio, it's a good idea to read this site and begin learning more music theory.

Most Anvil Studio users appreciate it as composition software, but may not know all the things it can do. With add-on packs and a few MIDIs, it's one of the most versatile music programs around.