Help: music writing software

Subject: music writing software
From: GUEST,Jiggers
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 09:18 AM

Hi,

I need to type about four lines of simple music (the melody of an Irish song)

I then need to export the music as a picture into Word.

Does anyone know a piece of s/w that will do this.

I don't need it to do anything else e.g. play the music, do guitar tab etc. I just need something really simple and free.

Thanks,

Jiggers.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: GUEST,Lynn Koch
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 09:26 AM

"Free" is the hard part. I don't know if you'll find something on the internet that would do that for you. Sibelius.com has a demo version that you can play around with, and it will print out one page of something for you with the logo emblazened across it, but I doubt it would let you import it into word. Another possibility - ask somebody with Sibelius to do it for you (a four line melody would take but a few minutes if I know the tune). Then it can be sent as an attachment to wherever you want. You'd need Scorch 2 to read it and hear it. It's a free plug-in. Let me know if I can help anymore.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: MMario
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 09:38 AM

jiggers - one of the simplest, easiest ones I know if is Noteworthy Composer -= and the demo will certainly allow you to do this. One of it's features is to export the sheet music as a placeable windows metafile which can then be imported into most windows compatible programs.

I'm sure there are others that will also do this - but I don't happen to know what they are.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 10:00 AM

PM pavane he has a product - he does require a consideration and I have the zip file but have yet to install it as I am an impoverished job seeker no if it weren't for the time jobsearching I would get into it and pay my measley fee.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: MMario
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 10:03 AM

there are a couple sites on the web where (if you can do ABC) you can input the abc and get a gif - which could then be put into word.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: M.Ted
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 12:03 PM

Yes--the ABC would probably be the best--it is FREE, and a very simple program, that is easy to learn (you type the note names in, with numbers for durations) and it is very easy to export the staff for cutting and pasting)--

Of course, you still have to remember Rule #1--Never try to learn a new program for a project that's due tomorrow--

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: Sorcha
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 12:07 PM

Wouldn't it be easier just to try to find the tune already printed, say at JC's and print it out?

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: pavane
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 12:22 PM

My program IS free for the first 30 days - which should be enough! But I do admit that some of the specialist scoring programs give a more pleasing result.

If you tell us the name of the tune, we may be able to come up with the abc notation as well,to save you writing it.

Mr Red - feel free to take advantage of the trial period. And it doesn't totally self-destruct afterwards, you just lose some features.

See my special offer to Mudcat, as well. I intend to donate the proceeds of first 5 registrations of the new version to help support it.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: M.Ted
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 12:46 PM

Try what Sorcha said--it will save a lot of trouble!

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: GUEST,Kernow John
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 05:39 PM

Jiggers
A Freeware download from Finale called Note Pad should do just what you want.

http://www.codamusic.com/coda/np.asp
KJ

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 05:55 PM

or, how about just hand entering it on some staff paper and scanning it?

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: GUEST,Jiggers
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 05:33 AM

Hi,

thanks to all for the advice.

I am surprised that there isn't something around that just lets you type notes onto a stave.

Writing it out and scanning it in was probably the fastest option given the amount of time I've spent downloading demos - e.g Sibelious, TablEdit.

I was looking for a neater solution as I may have to play around with the notes - maybe I'll try Finale next, then Noteworthy Composer next, then Pavane's s/w, then ....

I'll write back if I get one that works.

Cheers,

Jiggers.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 08:31 AM

Jigger - do try some of the software packages - even if it isn't in time for *this* particular project - some of them are pretty impressive!

y'know though, it's funny - but I've found the LESS expensive ones are the ones that are easier to use.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: M.Ted
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 11:31 AM

Amen to that MMario--

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 11:59 AM

If you have any graphics software like Photoshop or Illustrator, you can scan in or draw the staff, then add another layer with the music notation drawn on top. I just started using Photoshop, so I don't know how much hassle this would be, but it certainly wouldn't be as good as real music software.

What I've used is my good ole MusicTime Deluxe for the notation. Not free, but cheap, if it's even still available anywhere. It doesn't let me export it to WORD, however, so I print down the music and then scan it back in to make a jpeg file for WORD. Cumbersome, but gets it done.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 12:30 PM

Jiggers, Noteworthy DOES let you type onto a staff!

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 12:33 PM

well - sorta...So Does Songwright - (tho' Songwright isn't availabe any longer commercially)

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: pavane
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 12:41 PM

I find typing abc notation MUCH quicker than typing on a staff. My program was not originally designed with score display, but you can now insert and edit notes with the mouse menu. It is only really intended for making minor corrections to imported tunes though.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 12:53 PM

Pavane - I think the difference for some us (at least those who like me don't really read music) is that typing on a staff you don't have to know what the notes ARE.

Subject: RE: Help: music writing software
From: Noreen
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 02:27 PM

jiggers, as MMario said above, NoteWorthy Composer (click here) will let you do exactly what you have asked for, using the evaluation copy. I find it very easy to use, without a long learning period.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Noreen