Klarinet Archive - Posting 000030.txt from 1997/01

From: Roger Shilcock
Subj: Re: Notation Programs (fwd)
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 00:58:22 -0500

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1997 09:32:40 -0500
From: Robert Brown <rjbrown%CPCUG.ORG@-----.UK>
Subject: Re: Notation Programs

I have had good luck with NoteWorthy, also distributed as shareware. The
shareware version has some built-in nuisances, such as printing
"shareware version" prominently on every page of the score. Also, files
created with the shareware version can only be saved 10 times. However,
the program did meet my needs, I purchased the full version. A few
things are missing, but they are very receptive to suggested
enhancements, and issue updates fairly regularly.

They have a pretty good web page at:
http://www.ntworthy.com/

Bob Brown
Burtonsville, MD

> It is probably a bad time to ask about musical
> notation programs since most of our academic types
> are on vacation (lucky dogs). However, there hasn't
> been anything on the list lately.
>
> I downloaded Mozart, a shareware musical notation
> program, a few weeks ago. It has a really great,
> easy to use interface. You can enter music very
> rapidly with it. The price is right, too, only
> $49.95 or so. Unfortunately, it is missing a lot
> of basic features like slurs, grace notes, dynamic
> markings, etc. It also didn't work right when I tried
> to do something in 12/8 time.
>
> So I downloaded the Encore and Finale working demos.
> I didn't think much of Encore and gave up on it
> quickly. (I don't have midi on my system and it
> gave me constant error messages.)
>
> Finale, which I gather is the most popular program,
> seemed to be ok. However, I thought the online help
> was really bad. It took me about 10 minutes to figure
> out how to put in accidentals (not listed in help
> at all). Page formatting seemed unfriendly as well with
> my first efforts having a single measure with only a
> rest filling an entire line. Anyway it seems to be able
> to do most everything and I suppose I could get used
> to it. (I am a computer professional with 18 years of
> experience.)
>
> Is there anything else I should look at?
>
> Gary
> Las Vegas, NV
>
> Gary_VanCott@-----.com
I have the shareware version of Noteworthy, too. I was going to make use
of it, but it turned out to be at least as slow as writing the stuff out
by hand. It uses an awful lot of key shortcuts; no doubt it would be
slightly faster if I had the time to learn them.
Roger Shilcock