music creation software

For shareware, the pickings are slim. But Audacity does allow some multitracking capabilities (sorry, no MIDI). It's free, and it's available for Windows (XP/2000/ME/98) or Mac (9/X). Give it a shot -- you've got nothing to lose.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net

I wouldn't call the shareware pickings slim at all, on either platform. If you're willing to include programs where paying the (usually small) shareware fee makes them more than just demos, there's quite a few out there.

I think they've moved recently so I won't give you a URL, but try searching for the "shareware music machine" - it's a roundup and review site of pretty much everything that's out there.

You can download Propellerhead's Rebirth-338 for free now. Wierd interface (unless you're used to mid-80s Roland grooveboxes) but fun, and sounds gorgeous.

rebirth is great. i'm using it since years now, it makes great fun playing around with but it is also quite suitable for "real" productions too. that's definitely my favourite.

there is a freeware called hammerhead for the pc, it's quite usable too. i think fruity loops is shareware, it's also worth to check out.

edit:
check out the links page of the hammerhead website too, for other music software. (it's on the download page, the link is in the text and says something about "free stuff")

ReWire is great technology. I'd imagine that you'd need a pretty hot machine to be running something like Reason and, say, Logic Express on the same machine, bridged with ReWire. I wonder if Pro Tools Free v5.0.1 supports ReWire on the PC side... unlikely. But its great free software for tracking and mixing small projects.

... patterns of beats and noises ...

somthing i can set a specific time that i want the track to be, and see it all on one big page, and put the patterens ive created in certain spots.

And open up the patterns while they're laid out and edit them,move them around etc...

Sounds like you want a proper-fella sequencer then, but one that's straightforward and easy to learn. I'd recommend Mackie's Traktion but it's not free or cheapware. I'd also -not- recommend either Cubase or Logic as easy to use. Have a look here under sequencers -

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/

Read the description and reviews and see what program sounds like the way you imagine working. If it reads like technical gibberish it may not be the program for you.

But no-one gets to create a "great track" in half an hour, first go. it takes time and talent. Have a go, then keep having a go until you start to get it.

You'll maybe want to read one of the beginner's guides to computer music production around the web.

There's a zillion different ways of going about this, some dating to wayback before computers could make their own sounds, and they just told hardware synths what to do ("sequencing" them). You're looking for something that can make sounds itself (sequencer with synth/sampler/drum machine etc) or a sequencer that can "host" plug-in synths/samplers etc (VSTs, Direct-X, and Audio Units are all kind of plug-ins - your "host" program has to be compatible with the plug-in type for it to work - ie "Cubase is a VST host")

Groovemaker? Heard of it, never tried it. You did say PC or Mac didn't you? Any reason why Garage Band is no good? It's cheap, for music software.

Rebirth is discontinued but can still be downloaded for free here:

http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/