🚀 go-pugleaf

On 11-19-92, SFR@PRAXIS.CO.UK wrote to ALL:

 S> I am seeking recommendations for a music editor for the Apple Mac.
 S>  
 S> I need a program which will allow me to copy instrumental pieces from 
 S> sheet music, `play' them using the Mac to achieve *reasonable* 
 S> fidelity, do a bit of harmonisation, and then print them out.  This 
 S> will be used as both a learning and a composition tool.  No MIDI 
 S> involvement is required, at least at the moment, but it would be nice 
 S> as an option for later.

Steve,

The notation programs that I am most familiar with are MusicTime 
(Passport) and MusicProse (Coda), which are stripped down versions of 
Encore and Finale, resepctively. They run about $160 to $180 mail order. 
Encore runs about $380, and Finale runs in the $500 range. The main 
difference between the lower priced and higher priced programs has to do 
with the ability to do non-standard notation. If your needs are pretty 
simple and you do more traditional scoring, then MusicTime or MusicProse 
would probably be sufficient. I have personally found Coda products to 
have a very high learning curve, while Passport products tend to have a 
very intuitive interface. When I was evaluating demo programs of MusicTime 
and MusicProse, it was extremely easy to get MusicTime up and running 
without any instructions. OTHO, I couldn't for the life of me figure out 
how to use MusicProse. Users of MusicProse, though, state that the program 
is quite powerful once you learn how to use it. I imagine that the 
functions between MusicTime and MusicProse are very similar.

You also state that MIDI is not necessary for your needs at this moment, 
but that you would like to be able to play your compositions via the Mac. 
All the programs that I mentioned use MIDI. IMHO, MusicTime's MIDI 
implementation seems to be much better that MusicProse. However, MusicTime 
will not play compositions over your Mac speakers - if I remember 
correctly, MusicProse *will* allow you to do this. I don't know if the 
more expensive programs will let you do this. I would suggest that you get 
a MIDI interface and an inexpensive MIDI keyboard. Both can be obtained 
inexpensively on the used market, and you can expand your system later as 
your needs change.

One final note. MusicTime only allows 6 staves per system. I believe 
MusicProse allows 32, Encore 64, and Finale 128. Thus, if you are 
composing for large groups (>6 instruments), MusicTime will be 
insufficient for your needs.

Hope this is helpful. Good luck!

|)
| aul


 * Freddie 1.2 * The first full-featured QWK reader for the Mac.
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 Paul Huang - Internet: Paul.Huang@f204.n2603.z1.ieee.org