I also started with Noteworthy... then moved to Cakewalk. It''s a great program. I have a Soundblaster sound card, which allows me to attach soundfonts to my midis. Here''s an example of a midi with soundfonts attached:

http://www.tidepool.com/~danad/temp/CelestSample.mp3

The first couple of months of using Cakewalk were quite frustrating, but now that I''m fairly comfortable with it, I love it. If you do decide to go this route, I''d recommend buying the book ''Cakewalk Power'' - it helped me a lot.

(BTW, I have a midi keyboard, but I suck at playing keyboard, so I mainly use the mouse and computer keyboard to enter notes).

You don''t need to use Vienna to use SFs (soundfonts). I use it occasionally, but it really isn''t necessary. You can find plenty of nice SFs that do not need any editing.
I didn''t listen to the examples that you posted (I have a slow connection and not enough patience to wait over an hour to listen to one of them).
I don''t see why you couldn''t do what you want to do using Cakewalk and SFs. There are some great sounding SFs out there - the tricky part is learning to be a great composer (and to a lesser extent, learning to use Cakewalk).

I hate to say it (because I always hate to hear it), but I would give 10:1 odds that Nobuo Uematsu, along with just about any composer you''ve heard of, has a couple really good sample-based synths in their arsenal. I''m not saying this because its *impossible* to do in software, but its a hell of alot harder. Still, an excellent soundfont is basically the same thing as one excellent patch on a good sample-based synth, so it follows that with some work, you should be able to build up a good collection of soundfonts to rival what the "big guys" use. As far as programs go- they more than likely use Cubase or Logic (probably Cubase) for sequencing. This is more or less the professional standard. Yes, there are professional composers who use everything from FruityLoops to Cakewalk to ModPlug to make really excellent music, (btw, there are better trackers around than ModPlug, take a look around) but you will find that they are few and far between compared to the composers who use primarily external gear and sequence through Logic or Cubase. Do what you want to get your feet wet, but keep in mind that you may have to learn a whole new way of doing things from the "Free Sequencer/Software-Only" approach in order to work professionally.

If Cakewalk scares you, you have not truly known fear, my friend. Take a look at Cubase''s deep options sometime. (You may want to wear plastic pants when you do so) Still, overall, Cubase is probably easier to use after a few weeks with it than Cakewalk is after the same time period. Its just a better-designed program, IMO. Also, there is no "glass ceiling" with Cubase like there is with Cakewalk. With Cakewalk, you will find after a year or so with it that there are things you would like to do that you just can''t because of built-in limitations.

Having said all that, I''ve tried Logic, (didn''t give it enough of a chance, honestly) and I own Cubase, Cakewalk, Reason, and some others, (including an uhhhh *extended evaluation* copy of Fruity Loops. glad i didn''t pay for that POS- it''d be nothing but a $150 coaster for me) but I still use Buzz Tracker for 90% of what I do. But I''m not interested in orchestral or instrumental styles as much, so YMMV Like I said, I''ve heard excellent examples of this style from each and every one of the major music-making methods out there. (holy alliteration, batman!) So my reccomendation is based on what *I* think will be easiest for you in the long run, nothing more. Master any one of these programs, and if you have excellent ideas to begin with, they will come through in the music.

If you see the Buddha on the road, Kill Him. -apocryphal

Hi Anonymous -
I''m curious... what are the main differences between Cubase and Cakewalk. I''ve never even seen Cubase. I mostly work w/ SFs and midi. I occasionally record one of the SF/midi tracks and add fx, but that''s about the only audio work that I do at this point. Is there a big difference in what it can do w/ midi, or is it mainly audio stuff?
Thanks.