Klarinet Archive - Posting 000254.txt from 1994/09

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Music writing software
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1994 20:05:16 -0400

I have no experience with any software for the printing of music outside
of FINALE and the only reason I got it was because it was offered to me
at a tremendous discount at the community college where I teach math.

I think the Egghead Software price is more than $800 but I got it for about
$210. But it also needs a printer that can handle Post Script.
and that was some more money. Then one requires windows, lots of memory,
and, as was said by someone else, it is not user friendly in the least.

In fact, when I don't use FINALE for a few days, I have to relearn the
most basic elements. The company is very helpful but it is a tough
learning curve. For simple things like an orchestral part it is not such
a big deal, but let there be a lot of clef and meter changes and it is
tough to remember how to do things.

So I cannot recommend or not recommend FINALE over any other music printing
software because I have not used any other. But I do have a bunch of parts
that I prepared for myself (such as the D clarinet part in Mahler 5, now
transposed for E-flat clarinet, etc.).

I guess by the time I got done adding things on to my IBM/PS1, I was
$1,000 out and that included the printer additions that I had to make
(about $800), the software (about $200). Then there was the time involved
to learn the damn thing and I still can't do anything too complicated.

I can make a part. I can make a score. I can play either back over my
speakers to see if I have any wrong notes. I can print scores. I can
print parts. But if I wanted to publish something, I would have to go
to a place that has a far more precise printer.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
(leeson@-----.edu)
(dnl2073@-----.edu)
Any of the above three addresses may be used. Take your pick.
====================================