What free and also legal MIDI Maker do you prefer?

I mean what free and also legal MIDI Maker would you prefer [recommend] to download to be able to make .mid, .midi etc. music files please? Thank you.

I posted in this thread earlier but it’s not showing up, which I suspect is due to my post count and having put links in the comment. Oh, well. In hopes that omitting links will allow the post to go through, here is the gist of what I said: I am not very familiar with making MIDI files like something you’d find on OC. However, I am a composer, so I do have familiarity with music-making software. Most of my work is done in notation software, allowing me to produce a readable score and parts. I put that stuff in front of people to read, but I can use the same program to export MIDI or Music XML, allowing me to communicate with other music software. Typically, I would load that MIDI into tracks on a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Most people use DAWs for MIDI sequencing, and they are required for recording and mixing.

These are the programs I use. None of them are free.

Finale – Notation
Logic – DAW
Max MSP – I don’t know what you would call it. It synchronizes multimedia.

Some free alternatives:

Finale Notepad – The lite version of the notation software I use. Should be able to export MIDI.
TuxGuitar – Notation, can import and export MIDI and Music XML. I try to avoid it, but it can get the job done.
LilyPond – Notation, requires more skill to operate.
Anvil Studio – MIDI sequencer, seems to be more along the lines of what you’re looking for. I haven’t tried it.
Reaper – DAW
Ardour – Another DAW, more flexible, but requires some know-how.

You can probably find some free sample libraries and a sample host somewhere on the net.

Pirate yourself a free copy of Cakewalk Pro Audio from like, The Pirate Bay or something.

or try FL Studio and export your projects as a midi file ^_^

What is your operating system? If you have OSX, you could even do this kind of thing in Garage Band. Either way, you’ll need a way to input notes. Like I said, I like notation software for producing MIDI, because I can see exactly where the notes are and I don’t have to stare at hundreds of lines of MIDI events. If you want to go directly into the DAW, you can point and click, but it is far easier and faster to get a MIDI controller. I have an M-Audio Keystation 88 Pro, and that’s very versatile. You can pick them up on the used market for around $250. I used to have the Keystation 88es, the cheaper version of the Pro, until it got stolen. I think I paid $100 for it. It’s just as good, but it only transmits to one channel. Those are good prices for an 88-key keyboard (semi-weighted keys, too). When I’m away from home and I need to sequence, I bring my little two-octave controller. At any rate, if you end up buying a MIDI controller, I would make sure that the keyboard has USB and/or Firewire. They all should now, but weird things happen.

Recommended budget controllers:

M-Audio Keystation series (already mentioned)
M-Audio Oxygen series
Roland Edirol PC-50 (or 80 or whatever)
Alesis Q-49 (or 61, etc.)
Korg K series

^ Note that "MIDI controller" means that they don’t come with sounds – they only trigger MIDI. Sounds come from a synthesizer or from a sample library.