I’m in the same boat as williery10.
I write lyrics and sometimes melodies (which I record on Audacity, and then send the track to my co-writers).
I did buy a state-of-the art Yamaha keyboard some years ago, and managed to extract one pretty melody out of it by pulling an all-nighter.
However, I finally had to admit that I prefer to focus on what I can do (write lyrics and compose melodies in my head) rather than on what I can’t (play an instrument).
Currently, I write most frequently with three composers/vocalists (in England, Scotland, and the US). The guy in the States charges a fee so ridiculously low that I prefer to think of him as my co-writer rather than work-for-hire. If by some miracle one of our songs ever got licensed for publishing, though, the split would certainly be equal.
If I work with anyone planning to write his/her own melody for the lyric, I often send an Audacity file (sometimes spoken) to indicate the phrasing. This helps ensure that the correct words will be emphasised, and that the flow will be natural.
Den, that magix software sounds good (for non-Mac folks). I note for the beginners’ package there’s a huge price discount, valid until tomorrow.
I remember that in my pre-Mac days, Microsoft had a recording programme (called Tunesmith, I think). It was cheesy, but it worked. You sang into the mic, and the notes were ‘recorded’ so that you ended up with something you could at least pass on to a musician to turn into actual music.
(Having an iMac and an iPad, I've fiddled a bit with Garageband - a fantastic progamme - but the 'technology' is beyond my ken.)
Luckily, there are diverse ways one can end up with a finished song.
Donna
