Music Composition Software?

Subject: RE: Music Composition Software?
From: frogprince
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 08:42 PM

I had one decent program that cost about 40 bucks; naturally it wouldn't run with the next edition of windows. I use Voyetra Music Write now; not bad for writting midis and printing sheet music, not too expensive. It's from Voyetra Turtle Beach, or Turtle Beach Voyetra.

Subject: RE: Music Composition Software?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 07:59 PM

As I understand it, Finale and Sibelius are the two "professinal" music software packages. They have every feature you could imagine. I have Finale, but I have to admit I don't use it veyr much and I haven't mastered it. I use it merely to help my stepson's violin teacher when she has problems with the program - but my 15-yr-old stepson seems to be able to do a lot with it.

There are big student discounts on both Sibelius and Finale. If you want to do serious composing, it's certainly worthwhile to look into these programs.

I have been using Noteworthy Composer for years, and it does everything I want it to do. Therefore, I've been too lazy to learn Finale or Pavane's Harmony program.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Music Composition Software?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 07:35 PM

Sibelius is pretty well accepted as the "standard" for sophisticated users, but if you get a the "accessory" Phot0Score the list price was close to $800 US about a year ago. The PhotoScore gives you the ability to "OCR" scanned images of scores and convert to Sibelius files.

If you qualify for the "educational price" it's half that or even quite a bit less. Sibelius won't tell you what the "educational price" is unless you prove you qualify, but some resellers offered the "ed" version, with Photoscore, for about $390 about a year ago.

While I certainly support giving a break to students, the extreme difference in pricing sort of makes me believe the Sibelius people don't really want people to use the program, they just want to sell a lot of them to students and teachers.

Most larger music stores should have the "demo" version, which should be free. You can also download the demo from the Sibelius site, but it's a rather large load. The demo that installs is the full program, and you can get an "unlock" code - for the retail price of $600 - $800. The demo will only print one page of anything, with a "watermark" on it; but otherwise does everything except 1)print and 2)save and 3)let you look at the Help file to learn how to use it.

(Giving away a demo, so you can decide whether to buy, and then disabling Help in the demo so you can't tell whether the program does what you want, seems like these people aren't very bright IMHO. That may have changed in latest demo versions, but was true for the CD version I have.)

If you're interested in the program, a possibly "bootleg" copy of the Users Manual for the demo was posted at
Sibelius Demo User's Guide recently. It's not too hard to crack into the help on the demo CD (select a tool and hit F1 for "context sensitive help" and if you find a tool that opens the help file you can navigate in it from there) but the .pdf is a lot easier to poke around in.

The closest competing program, if you want a "full-feature" setup, is probably Encore. I don't have much in my notes about it, since it lacked a couple of rather arcane features I thought I wanted the last time I looked seriously; but for most users it would be a "full-feature" program. My recollection is that the list price was somewhat less than for Sibelius, but not a lot.

Neither of these programs can be called "affordable" unless you have a "professional/student" need and discount qualification. There are numerous programs around, either freeware/shareware or shrink-wrapped smaller packages that are generally more appropriate for most of us, and you should be able to get something reasonably usable for free or less than about $60-$80 (US) if you shop around.

The Overture program, from the CakeWalk guys, is reasonably full featured, but is really more aimed at the MIDI side than at notation. If you want to work MIDI, it has a lot to offer.

Recommendations are sure to follow. If you want to poke around a little, key words for Google could include "Cakewalk" "Rhapsody" "Sibelius" "Encore" "Overture" etc. Several of these will tell you about the "full feature" programs, but also offer lesser programs that you can compare. I'd suggest at least a brief look at what the "full feature programs" are claimed to do, and then look for a cheaper one that does what you want it to.

There have been quite a few threads on the subject, but most of them are a year or two old by now. You'll need to set the time back a bit to search the 'cat for the best of them.

John

Subject: RE: Music Composition Software?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 07:35 PM

We need more information. How old is she? How much music education has she had?

Unless she has done college work in music, I think that Noteworthy Composer would be workable and affordable.

Subject: RE: Music Composition Software?
From: pavane
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 04:58 PM

My program HARMONY might be an option.

As it is shareware, it doesn't cost you anything to try it.
It will add chords and harmony lines to a melody, and can even create original tunes.

I am trying to make it as easy as possible to edit tunes.

Download from www.greenhedges.com

Subject: RE: Music Composition Software?
From: Chris Green
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 04:44 PM

The best one I've found is Sibelius by Steinberg. It's about £600 (dunno what that comes to in dollars) but cracked copies (so I hear!) aren't too hard to come by. It's actually quicker and easier than handwriting scores!

Subject: RE: Music Composition Software?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 09:46 AM

My suggestion would be to start with NoteWorthy Composer. In my opinon it gives the most "bang for the buck".

Subject: Music Composition Software?
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 09:42 AM

I'm wondering if anyone here has had personal experience with really good music software. (Actually, I'm sure some of you have as I've been to several of your websites.) The daughter of a friend of mine wants to start being able to compose music on her computer which she can then eventually have on her own webpage.

I'd appreciate any advice you might have on the best kind of software for her. I don't imagine she wants to spend a fortune but if you know what's a good starting program that if she then wanted to add on to as she progresses, would not be too difficult.

I'd be most appreciative for your suggestions.

Thanks very much!

..xx..e