John,

Score Writer and Overture have been "acquired" by a company called Geniesoft, so the Cakewalk folks no longer support either product. I sent Geniesoft an email describing my midi problem, and their response indicates that there is a sound problem in the software that they are working on trying to resolve. In the meantime, I'm going to use your 5:05 PM post of yesterday as a trouble shooting guide and see if I can get anywhere. Again, thanks tons for your help and advice.

M.Ted,

I fully agree with everything you said. Anyone with no background would find it rough going to produce sheet music, particularly with a computer. I've completed several music classes, one being music theory, so I have a basic understanding of music notation. I can sight-read, and I play the clarinet, flute, sax, and a little cornet, as well as sing. I'm not an accomplished pianist by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm not too shabby on the old ivories, either. I've often sat at my piano plinking out a song, a few notes at a time, committing them to paper by hand as I go. (The "old fashioned" way of writing music.) But that takes too long, and I'm impatient. I'd rather play out a song concept and be able to print it out on the spot, then go back and make necessary revisions. As you say, I may flail about in the abyss for a bit, and thanks for the heads up. But anybody like myself, who has some level of musical experience and a whole lot of enthusiasm, can write a song, especially with the kind of encouragement one gets from Mudcatters such as yourself, JohnInKansas, and others. Thanks again.

Scott