Tech: music notation software

Subject: Tech: music notation software
From: GUEST,stevethesqueeze
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 02:18 PM

Hi guys.

Now then. I would like a reccomendation for inexpspensive music notation software. Anyone like to share their experiences?

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 02:38 PM

Depends on what you mean by inexpensive. If you want really good package and can spend about £50 (current amazon.co.uk price) this is it. Despite the name it is a full, general purpose notation package and has all the features you're likely to need. (The full Finale package, which is what I use now, is considerably more expensive for a lot of features you won't usually miss). Comparisons between Finale Guitar and Sibelius' comparable G2 all seem to come out in favour as Finale Guitar as best value for money.

But do a filter on notation in the Forum index page - there have been a lot of discussions before and you'll find info on other packages there.


Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 03:33 PM

We like Noteworthy. It cost us $35 but you can get a free evaluation download at their web site.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 03:36 PM

Many threads, much input, easily searched. Use the filter on notation, or try out the names of packages you are considering, in the "Lyrics & Knowledge Search [Advanced]" up top in the blue box.

God luck!

(I use NWC for some functions and MidiNotate for other functions)

~S~

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: just john
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 04:08 PM

Rosegarden is free. It's for Linux.

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: Oaklet
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 04:52 PM

My recommendation is this. Not without tank-traps but for tunes and songs seems to be worth every penny (it's free):

http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: M.Ted
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 05:00 PM

Think about what you want to do, and what you would like to do--

There are a lot of software options,some are expensive, others don't offer a lot of options--are you just looking for lead sheets, or do you want to to do full orchestrations? Do you want to simply enter notation from a typewriter keyboard, or do you want to do want to do entry from a piano keyboard? Do you want it to read and notate MIDI files? Will your files have a lot of pages? Do you want the option to change the appearance of the staff?

One thing to remember is that some programs, like FINALE, have frequent and expensive updates--

Also, I use Mac (which tends to be a standard platform for music and graphics)--I invested a fair amount, over the years, in notation programs and upgrades--now that OSX, the Linux based operating system, has replace the old Mac OS, I am in the position of either using an OS that is obsolete with unsupported software, or buying all new software--So think about what you'll be doing in a couple years--

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: Dave Earl
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 05:14 PM

Noteworthy does it for me too.

I can enter and print off the notation and playing through my soundcard gives me an idea of what it should sound like if I don't already the piece.

dave Earl

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: John Routledge
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 05:39 PM

Yet another recommendation for Noteworthy.!! Less than £20 but with free evaluation download. Great for transposing by pressing pressing your mouse two or three times. I transpose tunes into bass clef instantly. :0)

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: Wrinkles
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 05:42 PM

Personally I prefer the freeware "anvil stuidio". It'll play midis just fine (with the right soundcard/midi hook up).

I use the compose page to enter the sheet notation of folk tunes and then sit back to hear what they sound like.

There's a cut down free version, and an all whistles and bells bought version. I find the free wersion good enough for my needs.

It's available from so many sites that a google is recommended to get a copy

Barbara

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: DMcG
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 06:08 PM

M Ted is exactly right: decide what you want to do first. I have Noteworthy but only use it when I get a file that is in Noteworthy notation already; I mainly work with Myriad's products.

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: pavane
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 02:59 AM

There is also my program HARMONY, although I wouldn't describe it as full notation software, as I haven't yet incorporated all the symbols that might be needed. Call it 'draft-mode' perhaps, but suitable for folk song.

But it DOES have the following features

Imports most abc tunes
Displays lyrics, including multiple verses of aligned lyrics
Automatically adds beams (between quavers, semiquavers etc)
Writes and plays back tunes as MIDI files
Adds chords to a melody (This was the original purpose of the program)
Adds accompaniment notes/voices based on the chords, in various styles

Now has drag and drop of notes for editing
Automatically generates new tunes in specified styles

Can include effects such as bend, pan, volume change, modulation (tremelo/vibrato) by 'note styles'

IMPORTANT
If you want to try it, please do NOT download until version 3.3.7 is available, which should be by Monday (24th Jan).

The current download, 3.3.6, does work, but has a few bugs in the drag and drop facility.

My site where you can see some examples of the output by moving the mouse over the navigation links on the main page.

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: Grab
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 06:56 AM

I use Melody Assistant. $30 or 30 Euros (either way, it's about £15-20) isn't bad. It's got *lots* of features. Unfortunately it's not perfect for entering guitar music, because it's not so great at those things like playing the same note on two strings or letting one string ring while you keep playing on others - it tends to get a bit confused about note periods.

One of these days I'll get Cygwin sorted and try out Rosegarden or Lilypond/Denemo, but that's a bigger technical step than I want to deal with right now.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 07:29 AM

To follow on from MTed and Dmcg's comments:

It may be worth while looking for MusicXML import/export facilities in whatever you go for as that seems the most likely format to become a "universal (if there is such a thing) music exchange format".

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: pavane
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 07:37 AM

HARMONY has just had MusicXML Export added (although some scoring information is not fully exported yet, such as note beaming), and I am working on Import.

HARMONY registration is set at $25 or equivalent.

(By the way, you have full control over timing of all notes! Unlike some packages, apparently)

Harmony also does transposing (notes AND chord symbols), and has a handy Reel to Hornpipe converter!

(Many hornpipes have been wrongly notated in abc as reels)

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: Swave N. Deboner
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:31 AM

Stevethesqueeze,

I use Mozart music notation software and I love it. It's easy to use, quite versatile, and very reasonably priced. Go to the link below to check it out. They offer a 30-day free evaluation version. Try it. Remember - like most things, you get what you pay for.

http://www.mozart.co.uk/

SNB

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: Swave N. Deboner
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:34 AM

Sorry about that bad link. My bust. I didn't to the blicky thing right. Here it is.

http://www.mozart.co.uk/

Cheers
SNB

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: hesperis
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 12:38 PM

Finale has an entire suite of programs all devoted to music notation. Finale NotePad is quite nice and is completely free. It has more advanced programs for more advanced tasks, but the free one is very useful.

I used to have Noteworthy, never really got along with it. I use Cakewalk (definitely not free though) to make midis, and Finale NotePad to make beautiful scores out of my tunes. It's also very easy to use.

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: EagleWing
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 04:42 PM

"I used to have Noteworthy, never really got along with it. I use Cakewalk (definitely not free though) to make midis, and Finale NotePad to make beautiful scores out of my tunes. It's also very easy to use."

Just goes to show how different people can be. I have cakewalk, Finale "Print Music" and Noteworthy and the only one that I find truly intuitive is Noteworthy.

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: GUEST,stevethesqueeze
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 05:04 PM

Thanks for all the great advice. This is what the mudcat cafe is all about.

best wishes

stevethesqueeze

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 10:29 PM

I am guessing you are an "Apple" person.

Many of the Apple's Type People like the soft texture.....no work...little pain....no gain.

For less than 100 bucks (US) you can achieve what musicians, twenty years ago, drueled over.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

http://www.garageband.com/

Subject: RE: Tech: music notation software
From: GUEST,pavane
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 06:00 AM

A bit of history:

The thought behind HARMONY was that it was NOT just a way of puting notes onto paper. That is like using a wordprocessor strictly to emulate a typewriter - giving no added value.

HARMONY aims to add value by automating some music processing tasks.
For example, most musical packages will transpose, but some offer little more than that.

Of course, in order to make it useful, there has to be an input facility, an output facility, a playback, and an Edit facility - these are what takes all the development time!

Once the above facilities are in place, it is a case of identifying functions which can be added.

So far, HARMONY has the following

Add chords to a tune (This was its original purpose)
Add accompaniment based on these chords
Transpose chord names (as well as tune)
Validate tune structure, reporting on overlength or underlength bars
Automatically join notes with beams (or remove all beams)
Make a tune into a round
Convert a reel to a hornpipe
Add and play PARTS specification (mainly for dance music)
Create Melodeon & Anglo Concertina tablature
Add a harmony part a specified interval above the melody
Create a new, random, tune in a selected style

Note styles give you full control over all MIDI functions, and can be used, for example, to pan, bend or change volume MID-NOTE.
(Does any other package provide this? I don't know of any myself)

Advanced edit facilities include making selected notes into a Tuple (Triplet or similar)

Suggestions as to other functions which could be added are always welcome.


As for ease of editing, in the pipeline already are
Drag and drop - detecting the note pitch automatically by the place on the staff where it is dropped. (This is basic stuff, but not easy to code)

Moving or copying existing notes by dragging to a new location on the staff