There is no solution to the chief problem I'm having with Finale - at least not until they change their software to remove the bug, with relates specifically to Intel Macs and has not been fixed since I bought Printmusic in 2007.

The two other problems are the lack of a graphic output system - tiff jpeg etc - which means you can only use it with printers that support their fonts - which mine don't. I fail to see why I should have to buy an expensive printer just because they can't be bothered to develop a graphic 'safe as.'

The third problem is that when you try to register on their help page (as you'll surely need to), you are asked to provide a password. This is not one you make up on the spot and use subsequently, or have entered previously. It is actually the word 'password' - but they don't tell you this anywhere. I found out eventually by ringing the States from the UK - at great expense.

This is a random example of their 'help'

"Sorry you are having troubles!. I show your PrintMusic registered to you, and only you. Additionally, your PrintMusic shows no registrations, let alone too many."

err, I beg your pardon?

and

"If you still have trouble, [boy did I] ~SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"~ -Try this: When you initially launch PrintMusic, and are prompted to register, choose the 'Phone Method' of registration. Please check that the user code matches the one you are trying to register with (this information can be found in your registration confirmation email ~SPAN class=txt11>)~/SPAN~. Also, make sure that the serial number is entered correctly in the appropriate field. Then, re-type your authorization code ~SPAN class=txt11~ via the phone method method. This should (hopefully!) fix the issue. If the user code does not match, or if you continue to experience problems, please contact us by phone at 800-843-2066."

Clear as mud.

It then emerged that I had to have the same firewire drive connected to my Mac when opening PrintMusic as I did when I had first installed it. That drive gave up the ghost long ago, so I can't do that today. Has anyone else ever heard of such a ridiculous registration system?

They also do stupid things like calling downloads (complete new versions of the software) 'updates' (which normally means just an upgrade).

They have 'fixed' the registration problems for me now, err, five times. It has just failed again - telling me for the umpteenth time that I'm still using the demo version and I have no days credit left.

I honestly believe Make Music to be the worst software organisation I have ever encountered. By quite a long way.

However, all is well, because it now emerges that the new Pro Tools PTLE upgrade has a good score function (much like Cubase Score - which I used for many years). You can input in real time to a click track - tweak using the 'piano roll' system (which makes sense to me and look normal on a screen) and then convert to that old-time manuscript thang (where the lines all curve round and the dots jump about on the stave like swallows on phone lines - if you're a dyslexic like me) at the very last minute.

I quite like Musescore and I like the look of Lilypad, but would only use these for final output once I was 100% sure I'd got it right in a real-time-input system.

Tom