 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ted
Date: 2005-04-30 17:26
Hi Gang - I'm looking for a good music software writing program for home. I have finale at school but get very limited access and the printer is always breaking down
(and I'm a teacher). Also, it offers much more than I ever use. I usually write for four or five pieces and even when I arrange for band I don't need more than 12 lines. And, I tend to do more creative work at home. So, what's the scoop? Anything new and exciting out there? Anything that prints and records in the same program? Not too too expensive? Thanks - TD
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Author: christian_comeau
Date: 2005-04-30 18:00
I recommend Melody/Harmony Assistant, this is a shareware, with a lot of functions....Try it at www.myriad-online.com
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2005-04-30 19:43
Finale has many cheaper versions that might suit you needs better. They even have a free "intro" version called NotePad. It might be a little too stripped for your purposes, but they offer stuff in between that and Finale, so it's worth a look. Check out their website...
<www.finalemusic.com>
DH
theclarinetist@yahoo.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-04-30 20:03
If you meant a sheet music program (as apposed to sometihng like Cubase) than I recommend Sibelius. Imho it's much easier and intuitive than Finale and basically much better. It is expensive though if I remember correct.
Post Edited (2005-05-01 05:20)
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-04-30 22:18
The version in between NotePad and Finale is called Print Music. There are a couple different versions but I believe both will come in under $100. Have you also checked out Band in a Box? It is possible to use that in conjunction with notation software for recording, etc.
Sue
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-04-30 22:35
Sibelius now has a Student version for $99. Check it out at www.sibelius.com.
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2005-04-30 23:20
For ease of use, Mozart Music Notation Software
http://www.mozart.co.uk
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-05-01 02:25
Finale NotePad has some serious shortcomings.
One of the most serious for me is the lack of grace notes.
It does a lot, however; and its worth more than its (free!) price.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Jerry
Date: 2005-05-01 03:09
PrintMusic is a good, inexpensive, middle-of-the-road, do-what-you need-to-do compromise. I have it and it is quite intuitive, straightforward, and has a fair amount of features. Definitely worth a look.
Jerry
The Villages, FL
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2005-05-01 05:08
I wouldn't recommend the student version of Sibelius, it has many serious limitations, such as no separation of parts, and no transposition capabilities, and I would imagine as a teacher you may need more than what the student model offers. As a teacher you can get the academic discount, and pay just about $200. If that is in your price range, I would definitely recommend it, I just purchased it myself and am very happy with it.
So many instruments to play........so little time to play them!
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-05-01 07:47
What about Noteworthy? I bought it a few years ago and it was quite cheap. Layout on the screen could be a lot better, but the print-outs seem okay.
Haven't really used it much though.
Steve
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Author: Erdinet
Date: 2005-05-01 12:12
As a music copyist and woodwindist here are my two cents.
Finale has had the advantage of being the industry standard for many years now, but Sibelius has done much to catch up. If memory serves correctly, Finale some how aligned itself with Band In A Box a few years ago. (If you check out the Band in an Box website, it offers a bundle with Finale.) Finale has a great performing / practicing software program that it is compatible with called SmartMusic. The latest versions of Finale also have a performance assesment feature that is a direct play for the education market. Not being as familiar with the Sibelius line of products, I know that Finale does posess a steep learning curve and is not necessarily the most intuitive program around. But, I am not sure if that is a probelm with the program itself as much as the demands of good clear music copying and engraving. The extent of my experience with Sibelius has basically been watching some one use it. It does not appear to be any more or less difficult to use than Finale from that point of view.
The essential fact of the matter is that it comes down to personal preference. Me, I use Finale because that is what I started using 12 years ago in college. The people I have done work for never demaned a change (unless you count changing to Windows and using Score, a MS-DOS based program.) My suggestion would be down download the demo version of the two programs as well as the Free-ware programs that the two companies offer and get to work on something. That will only give you a taste of what they are like. Don't expect things to necessarily be faster, especially in the beginning. In most instances computer copying / engraving is actually SLOWER in the input phase (i.e. creating a score). You make up massive amounts of time (and I mean massive) in extracting or creating the parts from said score. Of course you are guaranteed a neater and cleaner looking page by using a computer based program too. The simple fact of the matter is that you will need to invest lots of time to really make it work for you.
Kind of like playing clarinet.....
Adam
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Author: SolidRockMan
Date: 2005-05-01 22:51
I've been using Finale Notepad for several months and for free software I think it's terrific. The downside of being free of course is that there are limitations - the most irritating one for me is that it does not allow the key to be changed within a piece, something we frequently do in my church group. The workaround is to do the parts in different keys seperately and after printing stick them together!
I have also tried Noteworthy Composer but I think Finale is better.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-02 00:13
The program "Encore" is out again and has been a favorite for years for many for it's simplicity and logic.
It's not free, but it is quite logical and powerful with lots of options.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-05-02 01:03
solid, if you upgrade to print music that will solve your problem of changing keys. its a 59.95 upgrade from notepad.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Ted
Date: 2005-05-02 21:41
Thanks for all the great info everyone. I've downloaded NotePad and will try some others soon. "May all your reeds be playable and all your registers smooth and even". - TD
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Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-05-03 05:07
If you had access to Linux there's this great looking freebie - RoseGarden
http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/
I see Band-in-a-box mentioned above. I have used it for years, and it is great for printing lead sheets, and making backing tracks for playing along with - especially as you can print the music already transposed for Bb Clarinet or whatever key your instrument is in.
The same comany, PG Music, sell a very cheap seqencer called PowerTracks, that can also print music - but probably too basic for most needs?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2005-05-03 22:40
For ease of use Encore or the intro (cheaper version) MusicTime Deluxe both now available again.
If you are accustomed to Finale, get PrintMusic! Note that the exclamation point is actually part of the name.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2006-05-26 01:11
Hi,
Just a quick update on Finale. I got the PrintMusic Academic version for a very nice price just last week. You will need to furnish the seller (I got mine on a famous electronic auction site) with proof of your academic/educational or sacred music affliliation. Non-profits also qualify.
Importing MIDI files and working with them is a snap. In just a day, I had gotten through the basic without doing a tutorial (it's a guy thing not to read the directions). While there may be other software just a good or better, I thought for $53 plus shipping, I got quite a deal.
HRL
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-05-26 14:32
I'm probably a nerd - I use Lilypond. The user interface is a bit rustic (read: text) and there's no "click and play" (good for me to learn the notes' names). The quality of the output rewards you for a lot.
--
Ben
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Author: beejay
Date: 2006-05-26 22:35
I've used Noteworthy for years and still recommend it highly. Once you get used to entering notes, spaces etc. from the keyboard, it becomes as quick and easy as using a word processing program. You are not confined to using templates as in most other programs, and it prints very professional-looking scores.
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2006-05-27 10:23
I have been using Lilypond too. The front end is a bit ponderous (think writing computer code), but it's well documented and does all the notation you would want including transposition, grace notes articulation, fingerings, etc. If you don't like the way it prints, you can tweak it. Best of all, it's free.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-05-27 10:59
For all music notation programs, please read the contract carefully before deciding whether to buy. As an amateur composer, I use Sibelius 2.1, an outstanding, professional-class tool and highly intuitive. This version is now somehwat obsolete. I think they're up to 4.2 now, or maybe higher. I refuse to ugrade and in 2002, I withdrew all of my sheet music from the composers' web site, sibeliusmusic.com, because Sibelius now requires users to agree to a contract of adhesion so onerous--so outrageous, in fact--that I refuse to sign it. At some point, the consumer should just say no, and I have said no.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2006-05-27 11:00)
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Author: Dan1937
Date: 2006-05-27 11:51
The problem with statements such as "Finale has a steep learning curve" is that it's a program with many capabilities. You don't have to learn everything up front; just learn the operations that you need at each step of the way, view the video clips and do the tutorials before undertaking a notation project. I've been using Finale since 1994, and am still learning (I'm not finished yet!), but my scoring and extracting of parts are much faster than they were 12 years ago, and the finished product looks quite professional.
If after doing the tutorials and viewing the videos you need help, just log onto the Finale webboard and ask the more experienced users for their assistance:
http://forum.makemusic.com/default.aspx?f=5
There are separate forums for Windows and Mac. These guys have "saved my bacon" on more than one occasion.
Regarding the cost of Finale (list price nearly $600), Lentine's Music currently has it available to educators for $215, and no shipping charges. The educational version is identical in every respect to the $600 package; all you need to do is furnish evidence that you are a teacher. I recommend that you check into this option.
http://www.lentine.com/86464.htm?source=google&campaign=Finale
Good luck!
Dan
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Author: ned
Date: 2006-05-28 01:43
All of this looks very interesting, but I wonder if any one can explain to me (a computer duffer!) which if any, of the programmes offer the following?
1/ Writing software +
2/ Playback medium +
3/ Reasonable cost
Is a midi/piano keyboard necessary or can the programme be written from the computer keyboard?
Many thanks in advance to those who can assist me, I hope I have asked the correct questions - I have had a look at a number of the websites as suggested, but it's a minefield of information and I'm afraid it also somewhat of an information overload for me.
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Author: ken
Date: 2006-05-28 04:36
Last December during my compulsory pre-purchase product research I too compared cost versus individual usability factors. I opted for Coda Allegro as the best e-tool for my writing needs.
As advertised, I mailed Coda $220 for full version program discs; I was shipped a surprise "competitive upgrade" to Finale 2006 for the same price.
Arranging predominately for 4/5-piece combo and chamber, I'll likely never use all of Finale's power functions ... however, hyper scribe and generous VST plug-ins have proven useful and it's certainly nice having all the high-end bells and whistles a click or two away. As well, getting roughly a 60% backdoor discount provides a dubious sense of consumer satisfaction.
Perhaps, if Coda is currently doing the Allegro to Finale upgrade promotion, it may be worth casting additional bread across the webpage. v/r Ken
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Author: Dee
Date: 2006-05-28 12:26
If you are accustomed to Finale, I'd recommend their PrintMusic! software since you've already mastered the learning curve.
My personal favorites of those I've tried are MusicTime Deluxe and Encore. Both are now available. They are almost totally intuitive (i.e. the learning curve is very easy). While Encore is a bit pricey, it's little brother (MusicTime Deluxe) is very affordable and has a lot of features.
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Author: Dan1937
Date: 2006-05-28 12:43
Ned,
I'm not sure what you consider "reasonable cost," so that part is difficult to answer. As far as features of each program in the "Finale family" are concerned, this web page may be helpful to you:
https://www.finalemusic.com/store/products.aspx
Concerning your questions about which products offer the various features, visiting the website above may help you sort that out. All of the Finale products allow you to enter music from the computer keyboard (the new "Simple Entry" introduced with Finale 2005 can be very quick), and playback is very good, at least in Finale (I don't have experience with the other members of the "family).
Good luck in your quest!
Dan
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Author: beejay
Date: 2006-05-29 22:56
I agree with Lelia that Sibelius's contract of adhesion is draconian, to say the least. What puts me off them, however, is their disgraceful grammar -- e.g. "It's powerful features."
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Author: John25
Date: 2006-05-30 18:39
I am interested to see that no-one has mentioned "Capella" - a German programme quite popular in the UK and Germany. It does all that Sibelius does (including scanning in printed music) but is cheaper and therefore slower! In the UK it costs about £120 (the scanning software is extra).
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Author: diz
Date: 2006-05-31 00:34
pen and paper?
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-05-31 02:46
diz,
Pen and paper is the very reason I'm having to use software. The band's arranger often makes mistakes, e.g., an extra beat in a bar (inevitable, when writing 24 parts by hand). Transcribing the music uncovers these. It also makes the music much more legible, since the prints are perfect.
The playback feature lets me check for wrong notes.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: diz
Date: 2006-05-31 05:52
hans, my tongue was firmly in my cheek
I use Sibelius and Finale ...
I'm more virtuosic (no pun intended) on Finale as I've owned it longer, but find Sibelius' interface slightly less dialog box driven.
Don't know PrintMusic ... not sure how it handles transposing instruments (important issue in band arranging/composing).
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2006-05-31 10:29
Diz,
PrintMusic does transpose. I'm not sure of all the transposition options since I have been using just a few lines at a time but so far, I learn new things each day. IMHO for what I plan to do, this software will work well for me.
Sometimes, the lingo as a bit hard to follow but once I figured out the exact textual descriptors that were being used, I was OK. But then, Microsoft software has its own lingo as well.
HRL
PS I'm going to be trying my first transcription of Bach's Sleepers Wake tomorrow evening with clarinet/sax and piano/organ. We have not figured out the exact final instrumentation but the keyboard player likes the timbre of clarinet with organ.
Post Edited (2006-05-31 14:03)
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Author: diz
Date: 2006-05-31 22:30
Hank, the lingo should at least be unerstandable to a musician as it's our vernacular. Which is why i don't find learning music software particularly problematic. It's more the interface that is an issue at times.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: ginny
Date: 2006-05-31 23:42
I use noteworthy. Incredibly cheap and very easy to use. I have played with Music Assistant as well and it seemed fine. I would suggest trying shareware and see if it will do the job before makeing a larger investment.
What can the more expensive programs do that the shareware doesn't? No sarcasm, I honestly don't know.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-06-01 11:36
The shareware programs differ from each other, so I won't try to describe what they can't do; but the better full-feature programs allow:
...user's choice of the mouse, the keypad, MIDI or scan to enter notes
...print out the score
...save the score to a disk
...extract the parts as separate files (save and/or print out)
...copy music from one staff to another or from one file to another
...hear audio of the score with fairly reasonable simulation of instrument sounds
...add dynamics and other markings that work in the audio (crescendos, repeats, etc.)
...add text (for title, composer, copyright, etc.)
...add lyrics that stay attached to their notes
...auto-rewrite of notes/barlines when user changes the time signature
...when the key signature is changed in a previously-written score, automatically add or change the accidentals to match the new key
...transpose and un-transpose
...score for a full range of band and orchestra instruments (in Sibelius, a note that's out of the instrument's range shows up in red)
...re-format to correct spacing of notes and lyrics
...re-format to correct the amount of space between staves
...lock or unlock the format
...add or delete music, dynamics and whole bars within previously-written music
...automatically move previously-written music to the correct lines and spaces on the staff when the user changes the clef of a staff.
...add new instruments to (and delete old ones from) a previously-written score.
Offhand, those are features I wouldn't like to do without.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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