There's a similar thread, but I don't think a generator is what I'm looking for. I've been using Finale Notepad, since it's free it has some limitations (i.e. only 8 staffs, no tempo change in the middle, no anacrusis). Before I go and Buy Finale '09 I thought I'd check here first. My requirements are pretty much:

Traditional Western Notation, not Piano Roll or graphic notation.
Comes with samples, or emulation at least. Various non-orchestral/wind instruments (i.e. Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, various atypical drums, etc) would be a plus (just in case).
Pick-ups/Grace notes.
Ability to mark up tempo in the middle, with accelerandos and ritardandos etc.
Articulation and dynamics that are also emulated when you have it play.
Turns and other ornaments.
Able to be condensed into a MIDI or MP3 of some sort.
Key and Time Signature changes.

Some things I'd like but are unnecessary in the long run:
Able to input via pitch reading, either from a cable from an electric keyboard or a microphone (i.e. play a flute into a microphone and have it scribe while you do that).

Checking for parallel fifths, octaves and such. I know it doesn't matter if it sounds , but if somethings off it would be a great tool to see if that's the issue.

Ability to generate an RNA (Roman Numeral Analysis) of your work, preferably also pick up on mode changes, but that's asking a bit much probably. It's not necessary, but it's kind of cool to know the chord progression if you weren't thinking about it at the time (I usually do but sometimes I just write).

There are obviously tons of programs that fit the main requirements, but if there are any composers here that can recommend any that are really /haven't failed you yet I'd appreciate it. I'm composing music for an idie game and Notepad worked as a lower-level theory student last year, but as a game designer/composer that's doing more elaborate stuff it just doesn't cut it anymore.

---

Have you tried Sibelius? I haven't used it, but I know people who have and they rave about it.

---

Retro One - Part 2 My SFX and Music on Xbox community games

Fable 2 audio tribute!

I use guitar pro. works .

---

logic will work for most of the points you put

I'm not a composer of any sort, but I do mess around, and FL Studio can take care of some of those wants, but you used some things I don't know about, so I can't tell you if it has that stuff, but its satisfied my needs, onlything, it has a Piano Roll... so yeah.

stomp224:

Have you tried Sibelius? I haven't used it, but I know people who have and they rave about it.

Yep.

Sibelius is pretty much one of the most superior bits of software out there for dealing with traditional notation. Personally, I hate writing music that way, but if that floats your boat, Sibelius is where it's at.

You can even have it scribe notes for you via a keyboard like you want, even the earliest versions could do that. I don't know about microphone + flute though, that would be completely different technology. (The cable  + keyboard thing works via midi on + off commands).

And I'm not certain about the other two on your wishlist.

---

The only thing worse than beating a dead horse is betting on one.

Guitarworks pro might cover some of the basics you're looking for, Sibelius probably better though I haven't used it myself.

FL Studio, an alright suggestion but I don't think it covers most of that criteria - more importantly IMO FL Studio has gotten quite bloated over the years and gotten harder to work with.  It does have plugins for everything under the sun so perhaps you could get it to do all the tasks you're looking for, but to do so with a lot of plugins could be very convoluted and CPU intensive.

---

Phil,
Computer based training - cbt

I use Steinberg's Cubase, in combination with Edirol for orchestral sounds. It has the ability to show your work in notation form albeit a little limited in comparisant to Sibelius, but Sibelius doesn't sound anywhere near as . Cubase (and later Nuendo) also have great non-midi audio options, handy for mixing the two together if needed. Cubase supports all the tracks you'll ever need (I write full orchestral works on it) but with Edirol you'll need program changes to fit everything. Cubase is by no means easy to use, but once you get the hang of it, it's worth it in every way (in my totaly biassed opinion).

As far as writing traditional music goes, I think Sibelius is more straight-forward and intuitive than Finale, but I think Finale has better playback and samples. If you're serious about creating authentic-sounding music using samples, though, you're probably going to have to purchase additional samples and manipulate them yourself to get a sounding end product. You can't put music into any computer program and expect it to play it back convincingly. Don't forget that Finale and Sibelius are both primarily for publishing sheet music, and that's where they're strongest. If you're trying to get a recording using samples, there are separate programs designed for that. Hope that helps.