I'm conducting a survey on music score editors. If you use a score editor, I'd very much like to hear your opinion about it -either via this board, by email from thesession, or by email to my website:
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use?
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use?
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware?
- Can it import abc files?
- Can it export abc files?
- Can it import midi files?
- Can it export midi files?
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)?
- Can it show guitar chords above the score?
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen?
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer?
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations?
Assuming that I get sufficient feedback, I plan to publish the results in summary form on my website, for the benefit of the session/traditional online community.
What is the name of the music score editor that you use? Music Master works and Scorch
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? I cant remember. I'm at work now.
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Scorch is commercial and MMW is freeware I think.
- Can it import abc files? I dont know
- Can it export abc files? I dont know
- Can it import midi files? Yes
- Can it export midi files?Yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? Scorch can although MMW can display text so yes too.
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? Yes
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? Music Master Works has some limitations but is quite adequate for trad... or at least its enough for my basic requirements.
That was quick, session savage! And thanks for your help. I hadn't even heard MMW or Scorch, so that info is useful in itself, and I will incude these editors in my survey results. If you are subsequently able to find out about the abc import/export capabilities, that would also be appreciated.
Sibelius, amongst others. It will do everything but handle ABC notation directly, but I do keep pestering them to consider that, or for someone to build a patch to do it. Sibelius does everything else and then some, and I'm a perpetual learner. I haven't yet found an ABC program I like, so I do it all longhand. I sometimes use online tools like at Concertina.net. Once I've a midi file Sibelius can convert that. It has been awhile since I used Finale, so I don't know the current program, but that was the same, full of features. I have considered upgrading that, as it is supposed to allow the user more hands on control than Sibelius currently does. I'd like to know what the differences actually are.
With the ABC programs, to be fair, after the endless headaches and shight results I gave up on looking a few years back. It is possible someone has produced something that isn't daft and bug ridden... The thing that turned me off them, being as visually driven as audio, was the awful print-out quality of the programs, including the more pricey contestants. None earned more than one or two stars out of five...back then...
Thanks for the feedback, Ceol. I had heard that Sibelius couldn't handle abc, which would make it a no-no from my personal point of view. A bit of a shame for a product that is supposed to be a market leader, and so very good in all other respects. Keep pestering them!
The editor that I'm currently trying is MusicEase 8.1 (Standard Edition). The print output is excellent - pretty much publishing quality on laser. The only thing in won't do is scale the output down to a smaller size, but I could overcome that problem if I purchased the professional edition.
One big advantage that it has is the ability to determine the number of bars per line (on-screen=printer). I always use 4 or 8 bars per line, as this makes things much easier to follow for traditional musicians who are not good sight readers (including me!)
It can import abc (great!), but not export it (grrr!)
It can't import midi, but it can export it (but with some limitations).
It can handle/display guitar chords (letters or diagrams).
There do seem to be quite a few minor quirks and bugs in it, but I've found workarounds for most of them.
To sum up, if it could handle abc export (and preferably midi import) I would unreservedly recommend it for use by traditional musicians.
I use Finale, it can do everything except import/export ABC files, (and if anyone knows of a plug-in that can do that it would be really useful) Finale is not free, but there is a free version with a lot less features called Notepad, which would be adequate for most purposes.
Bernie, I'd never heard of .niff files, but I've now added this type to the list of music-related file types that I have on my website, so thanks for that!
Bernie/Cathy - with such a huge supply of abc files available on the net, its a shame if you can't import them into your score editors - unless of course, you enjoy typing! So (speaking personally) I won't be buying Mozart or Finale!
Those are three I've used ~ Sibelius, Finale & Mozart ~ and yes, same problem with regards to ABC files... I also have 'Photoscore Professional', which is an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for the dots, sheetmusic, but haven't exercised it much... What I have scanned has given results that I consider reasonably successful, useful...
I'll have to check out MusicEase and give it a try out of curiosity...
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? MusicTime
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? 3.0
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Commercial. I think the original company went bust, but someone else has acquired the rights
- Can it import abc files? No
- Can it export abc files? No
- Can it import midi files? Yes
- Can it export midi files? Yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? Don't know
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? Yes
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? I've not hit any major probs
Noteworthy
Commercial (windows only) ~£20
No built in abc support but a 3rd party shareware abc2nwc converter (both ways) can be found online.
Free plugin for viewing/playing/printing NWC files
A bit overkill for trad, aimed more at classical scored music writers like Sibelius - but cheaper
What is the name of the music score editor that you use? Melody Assistant
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? 7.4.3 Windows
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Commercial but inexpensive
- Can it import abc files? Yes and loads more
- Can it export abc files? Yes and loads more
- Can it import midi files? Yes
- Can it export midi files? Yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? Yes and like llig suggest them too. Also strings and harmonica tab.
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? Yes
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? No but Harmony Assistant is better suited for big scores.
Don't see how it could be better.
I use ScoreWriter, from GenieSoft.com. It doesn't do ABC, but it's very easy to use. It takes just a couple of minutes to input a single-melody tune.
It will show guitar chords, and it reads and writes midi files too. It lets me tweak the number of bars per line, and does honor 1st/2nd repeats in playback. It does everything in your list except ABC (alas). It's about $60 US to download, and a few bucks more for the shrink-wrapped version.
Ceolachan has sorted me out there, it is sibelius I have. My memory is not great when it comes to names.
Personally i do find Music Master Works is a great little program. Its does everything i need it to and is only 3MB.
Whereas sibelius is a pretty big program... although it does make that lovely sound when you start it up
I generally use one of three, depending on what I'm trying to do at the moment..
For audio playback:
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? ABC Navigator 2
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? 2?
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? freeware
- Can it import abc files? yes
- Can it export abc files? yes
- Can it import midi files? no
- Can it export midi files? yes (chords not included in output)
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? yes - excellent playback controls (volume, pitch, speed, midi "instrument", bar selection)
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? yes (it's the same as on screen)
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? no pdf output - and I don't like the output it does give (in general, it looks to 'flimsy' to me)
For generating sheet music:
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? ABC Edit
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? don't know
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? emailware, I guess. You have to email and ask the developer for a code to unlock it, but it is completely free.
- Can it import abc files? yes
- Can it export abc files? yes
- Can it import midi files? no
- Can it export midi files? maybe.. I'm not sure
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? yes (it's the same as on screen)
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? Nope.. it's just the sound playback controls (limitted to "start" and "stop" functions) that I don't like.
For audio playback or generating sheet music when I'm not on my own computer:
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? online ABC converter at folkinfo.org
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? no clue
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? free use
- Can it import abc files? yes
- Can it export abc files? yes
- Can it import midi files? no
- Can it export midi files? yes (chords included in output)
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? no (unless you count the midi export)
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? yes (it's the same as on screen)
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? can only output one page at a time
Wow! More score editors than I can shake a stick at. Thanks guys - one and all - for your amazing and detailed feedback. As promised, I've published a survey of the data received so far, summarised in tabular form. You''ll find it on:
The table also incudes links to all the various softwares. Based on the minimum requirements that I suggested for a sessioneer's score editor, it appears that Melody Assistant (as recommended by Lurcherjohn) might well be worth a look. Certainly, it seems to tick all the boxes (as my estate agent would say). Oh, (and just so that you know that I do have a sense of humour) I've also included a link to llig's leahcim's favourite score editor!!!
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? can only output one page at a time (folkinfo.org)
The Tune-O-Tron can produce the 2nd page by inserting a postscript command.
Type %%newpage where you want the page break.
The 2nd page will appear in the PDF sheet music.
Thanks for your feedback, Random. I'm aware of Tune-a-Tron, but it doesn't count as score editor, because once you've created a score, you cannot modify it (unless you go back and edit the source abc).
Its a different genre really - I would call it an online abc coverter. It's a handy tool though for folks who don't need the facility of a score editor, so I'll add a link to it on my website under a separate heading.
Thanks also for the postscript page-printing tip - I guess that quite a few people didn't know about that!
Well in that case you may not want to include any of the ones i posted.. the score can only be edited through the ABC's.. although Navigator and ABC Edit do the conversion on the fly..
I use Joop Coolgem's ABCEdit.
Which is funny because I am on the verge of taking the 1 year pledge to play only by ear. I will take a pledge but still want to be able to read the "Tunes" tab "Comments" As the whole world can see also continue to offer what I have learned about Abc notation & editing.
Mix_O' ~ Since I still need to listen to "Random Notes Jig". At this time I have not heard or learned it. Soon I hope.
fiftymission ~ the folkinfo converter abc2ps did not seem to accept the postscript command <%%newpage>
It seems to work fine at concertina.net
The Convert-A-Matic was updated not too long ago.
Anyhoo I got called away & wanted to give transcription credits for 'Lilting Banshee' & 'Butcher's March'
In Abc code would include
Z; transcription notes
The transcription for each is in the "Tunes" link under the "Comments" tab
AbcEdit (using abcm2ps) saves a temporary midi file which can be played on your default media player.
It is creates the temp file when you play the abc file. You can save a copy by renaming the file.
The file is in the temp folder on the C; drive (tmpmid.mid)
I myself (thanks to a recommendation received through this board) recently discovered the version of Finale Notepad that they make available as a free sample via the internet. It doesn't do a lot of fancy stuff, like first and second endings, but it produces nice cleanly printed sheet music pages, and allows me to check my work as I go along by playing what I have written as a midi file.
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use?
Quickscore Elite Level II 8e
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? Quickscore Elite Level II 8e
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? commercial
- Can it import abc files? no
- Can it export abc files? no
- Can it import midi files? yes
- Can it export midi files? yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? no
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? yes
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? no
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? ABCexplorer
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? v1.3.2
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Freeware
- Can it import abc files? Yes
- Can it export abc files? Yes
- Can it import midi files? Yes
- Can it export midi files? Yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes, with standard ABC formatting
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? Yes, with standard ABC formatting
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? No
It can do Ok printout direct, or export as PDF for high quality.
It has an English Help file!
It has many other features.
Chris.
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use?
Melody Assistant by Myriad Music www.myriad-online.com
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use?
Version 7.4.4
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware?
Commercial but very inexpensive, circa $20
- Can it import abc files? YES
- Can it export abc files? YES
- Can it import midi files? YES
- Can it export midi files? YES
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? YES
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? YES
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? YES
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? YES
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? Not that I know of.
Brian
Thanks again to all those kind folks who took the trouble to respond to my survey.
Here's a quick summary of findings:
Based on the parameters that I specified for a "good score editor for the traditional musician", "Melody Assistant" would appear to tick all the boxes. If it's also good in all other respects, it might well be the score editor of choice.
"MusicEase" is also a well-featured score editor, with the added benefit of being able to import "songwright" files downloaded from the Digital Tradition website. Its only real drawback is its inability to import midi miles, or to export abc files. If you're not worried about these limitations, I would recommend it.
With regard to the abc utilities, if you just want to convert midi to abc, abc2mid looks to be the best bet (although ABCexplorer also has this functionality, and can do other things as well). Both of these products are freeware.
If you want to retain your tunes in abc format, but need to transpose them, use the (free) online application, ABC-Transposer.
As promised, the results of this survey have been summarised in table form, and are published on:
Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
I'm conducting a survey on music score editors. If you use a score editor, I'd very much like to hear your opinion about it -either via this board, by email from thesession, or by email to my website:
http://www.intermix.freeuk.com
In particular, I would like to know:
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use?
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use?
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware?
- Can it import abc files?
- Can it export abc files?
- Can it import midi files?
- Can it export midi files?
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)?
- Can it show guitar chords above the score?
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen?
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer?
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations?
Assuming that I get sufficient feedback, I plan to publish the results in summary form on my website, for the benefit of the session/traditional online community.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
What is the name of the music score editor that you use? Music Master works and Scorch
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? I cant remember. I'm at work now.
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Scorch is commercial and MMW is freeware I think.
- Can it import abc files? I dont know
- Can it export abc files? I dont know
- Can it import midi files? Yes
- Can it export midi files?Yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? Scorch can although MMW can display text so yes too.
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? Yes
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? Music Master Works has some limitations but is quite adequate for trad... or at least its enough for my basic requirements.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by session savage
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? My brain
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? One
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Free
- Can it import abc files? If it has too
- Can it export abc files? If it has too
- Can it import midi files? Definitely not
- Can it export midi files? Definitely not
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? It can suggest them
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? No
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? No
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
That was quick, session savage! And thanks for your help. I hadn't even heard MMW or Scorch, so that info is useful in itself, and I will incude these editors in my survey results. If you are subsequently able to find out about the abc import/export capabilities, that would also be appreciated.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Sibelius, amongst others. It will do everything but handle ABC notation directly, but I do keep pestering them to consider that, or for someone to build a patch to do it. Sibelius does everything else and then some, and I'm a perpetual learner. I haven't yet found an ABC program I like, so I do it all longhand. I sometimes use online tools like at Concertina.net. Once I've a midi file Sibelius can convert that. It has been awhile since I used Finale, so I don't know the current program, but that was the same, full of features. I have considered upgrading that, as it is supposed to allow the user more hands on control than Sibelius currently does. I'd like to know what the differences actually are.
With the ABC programs, to be fair, after the endless headaches and shight results I gave up on looking a few years back. It is possible someone has produced something that isn't daft and bug ridden... The thing that turned me off them, being as visually driven as audio, was the awful print-out quality of the programs, including the more pricey contestants. None earned more than one or two stars out of five...back then...
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
'Scorch' is a plug-in of Sibelius...
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Mozart virtuoso music processor (Commercial). Does all af the above except abc files. Additionaly it imports niff files. No limitations.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Bernie
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Thanks for the feedback, Ceol. I had heard that Sibelius couldn't handle abc, which would make it a no-no from my personal point of view. A bit of a shame for a product that is supposed to be a market leader, and so very good in all other respects. Keep pestering them!
The editor that I'm currently trying is MusicEase 8.1 (Standard Edition). The print output is excellent - pretty much publishing quality on laser. The only thing in won't do is scale the output down to a smaller size, but I could overcome that problem if I purchased the professional edition.
One big advantage that it has is the ability to determine the number of bars per line (on-screen=printer). I always use 4 or 8 bars per line, as this makes things much easier to follow for traditional musicians who are not good sight readers (including me!)
It can import abc (great!), but not export it (grrr!)
It can't import midi, but it can export it (but with some limitations).
It can handle/display guitar chords (letters or diagrams).
There do seem to be quite a few minor quirks and bugs in it, but I've found workarounds for most of them.
To sum up, if it could handle abc export (and preferably midi import) I would unreservedly recommend it for use by traditional musicians.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
I use Finale, it can do everything except import/export ABC files, (and if anyone knows of a plug-in that can do that it would be really useful) Finale is not free, but there is a free version with a lot less features called Notepad, which would be adequate for most purposes.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by cathycook
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Thanks for the feedback, Bernie and cathycook.
Bernie, I'd never heard of .niff files, but I've now added this type to the list of music-related file types that I have on my website, so thanks for that!
Bernie/Cathy - with such a huge supply of abc files available on the net, its a shame if you can't import them into your score editors - unless of course, you enjoy typing! So (speaking personally) I won't be buying Mozart or Finale!
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Those are three I've used ~ Sibelius, Finale & Mozart ~ and yes, same problem with regards to ABC files... I also have 'Photoscore Professional', which is an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for the dots, sheetmusic, but haven't exercised it much... What I have scanned has given results that I consider reasonably successful, useful...
I'll have to check out MusicEase and give it a try out of curiosity...
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? MusicTime
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? 3.0
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Commercial. I think the original company went bust, but someone else has acquired the rights
- Can it import abc files? No
- Can it export abc files? No
- Can it import midi files? Yes
- Can it export midi files? Yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? Don't know
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? Yes
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? I've not hit any major probs
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by TomB-R
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Sibelius 4, and agree with Ceolachen's comments.
It doesn't take long to enter a trad tune, so I just redo abc's. Haven't abc'd any tunes for ages but abc2win reads things OK.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by c.g.
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Noteworthy
Commercial (windows only) ~£20
No built in abc support but a 3rd party shareware abc2nwc converter (both ways) can be found online.
Free plugin for viewing/playing/printing NWC files
A bit overkill for trad, aimed more at classical scored music writers like Sibelius - but cheaper
Chris
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by spindizzy
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
I meant to say that Motworthy is yes to all the other questions
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by spindizzy
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Motworthy!!! aargh...I meant Noteworthy
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by spindizzy
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
What is the name of the music score editor that you use? Melody Assistant
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? 7.4.3 Windows
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Commercial but inexpensive
- Can it import abc files? Yes and loads more
- Can it export abc files? Yes and loads more
- Can it import midi files? Yes
- Can it export midi files? Yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? Yes and like llig suggest them too. Also strings and harmonica tab.
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? Yes
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? No but Harmony Assistant is better suited for big scores.
Don't see how it could be better.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Lurcherjohn
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
MusicTime can show chord letters and guitar grids, and apparently transposes them when the notation is transposed.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by TomB-R
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
I use ScoreWriter, from GenieSoft.com. It doesn't do ABC, but it's very easy to use. It takes just a couple of minutes to input a single-melody tune.
It will show guitar chords, and it reads and writes midi files too. It lets me tweak the number of bars per line, and does honor 1st/2nd repeats in playback. It does everything in your list except ABC (alas). It's about $60 US to download, and a few bucks more for the shrink-wrapped version.
I use it for all the tunes on our website, so if you want to see jpg images of its output, take a look at:
http://home.comcast.net/~saustin98/lark/
I also have Sibelius, but for simply notating Irish tunes, ScoreWriter is much faster to use.
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Steve Austin
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Ceolachan has sorted me out there, it is sibelius I have. My memory is not great when it comes to names.
Personally i do find Music Master Works is a great little program. Its does everything i need it to and is only 3MB.
Whereas sibelius is a pretty big program... although it does make that lovely sound when you start it up
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by session savage
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
I generally use one of three, depending on what I'm trying to do at the moment..
For audio playback:
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? ABC Navigator 2
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? 2?
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? freeware
- Can it import abc files? yes
- Can it export abc files? yes
- Can it import midi files? no
- Can it export midi files? yes (chords not included in output)
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? yes - excellent playback controls (volume, pitch, speed, midi "instrument", bar selection)
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? yes (it's the same as on screen)
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? no pdf output - and I don't like the output it does give (in general, it looks to 'flimsy' to me)
For generating sheet music:
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? ABC Edit
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? don't know
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? emailware, I guess. You have to email and ask the developer for a code to unlock it, but it is completely free.
- Can it import abc files? yes
- Can it export abc files? yes
- Can it import midi files? no
- Can it export midi files? maybe.. I'm not sure
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? yes (it's the same as on screen)
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? Nope.. it's just the sound playback controls (limitted to "start" and "stop" functions) that I don't like.
For audio playback or generating sheet music when I'm not on my own computer:
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? online ABC converter at folkinfo.org
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? no clue
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? free use
- Can it import abc files? yes
- Can it export abc files? yes
- Can it import midi files? no
- Can it export midi files? yes (chords included in output)
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? no (unless you count the midi export)
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? yes (it's the same as on screen)
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? can only output one page at a time
Hope that helps,
Pat
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by fiftymission
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
That Melody assistant looks a good deal at 20 euro,s for the licence..and you can test drive it for free .
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by pencross
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Wow! More score editors than I can shake a stick at. Thanks guys - one and all - for your amazing and detailed feedback. As promised, I've published a survey of the data received so far, summarised in tabular form. You''ll find it on:
http://www.intermix.freeuk.com/traditional_links.htm
The table also incudes links to all the various softwares. Based on the minimum requirements that I suggested for a sessioneer's score editor, it appears that Melody Assistant (as recommended by Lurcherjohn) might well be worth a look. Certainly, it seems to tick all the boxes (as my estate agent would say). Oh, (and just so that you know that I do have a sense of humour) I've also included a link to llig's leahcim's favourite score editor!!!
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? can only output one page at a time (folkinfo.org)
The Tune-O-Tron can produce the 2nd page by inserting a postscript command.
Type %%newpage where you want the page break.
The 2nd page will appear in the PDF sheet music.
http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html
This is a rough example;
X:1
T:Lilting Banshee
S:Murphy Roche session at the Kerry Piper, 2002
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Ador
|: EAA EAA | BAB G2A | Bee edB | dBA GED |
EAA EAA | BAB G2A | Bee edB | dBA A3 :|
eaa age | dBA G2A | Bee edB | def gfg |
eaa age | dBA G2A | Bee edB | dBA A3 :|
%%newpage
X: 2
T: Butcher's Fancy, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: G
B|:ded BAB|dBA A2B|ded BAB|dBA G2B|
ded BAB|dBA A2g|faf g2e|1dBA G2B:|2dBA GBd||
|:eAA fAA|e3 Acd|eAA g2e|dBA GBd|
eAA fAA|e2A efg|faf g2e|1dBA GBd:|2dBA GAB||
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Thanks for your feedback, Random. I'm aware of Tune-a-Tron, but it doesn't count as score editor, because once you've created a score, you cannot modify it (unless you go back and edit the source abc).
Its a different genre really - I would call it an online abc coverter. It's a handy tool though for folks who don't need the facility of a score editor, so I'll add a link to it on my website under a separate heading.
Thanks also for the postscript page-printing tip - I guess that quite a few people didn't know about that!
P.S. Have you learnt the Random Notes Jig yet?
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Well in that case you may not want to include any of the ones i posted.. the score can only be edited through the ABC's.. although Navigator and ABC Edit do the conversion on the fly..
Thanks for the tip Random, I'll try that out..
Pat
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by fiftymission
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
I use Joop Coolgem's ABCEdit.
Which is funny because I am on the verge of taking the 1 year pledge to play only by ear. I will take a pledge but still want to be able to read the "Tunes" tab "Comments" As the whole world can see also continue to offer what I have learned about Abc notation & editing.
Mix_O' ~ Since I still need to listen to "Random Notes Jig". At this time I have not heard or learned it. Soon I hope.
fiftymission ~ the folkinfo converter abc2ps did not seem to accept the postscript command <%%newpage>
It seems to work fine at concertina.net
The Convert-A-Matic was updated not too long ago.
Anyhoo I got called away & wanted to give transcription credits for 'Lilting Banshee' & 'Butcher's March'
In Abc code would include
Z; transcription notes
The transcription for each is in the "Tunes" link under the "Comments" tab
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/60
Posted on January 23rd 2003 by glauber
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1003
Posted on October 6th 2007 by Will CPT
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
AbcEdit (using abcm2ps) saves a temporary midi file which can be played on your default media player.
It is creates the temp file when you play the abc file. You can save a copy by renaming the file.
The file is in the temp folder on the C; drive (tmpmid.mid)
Lilypond is capable of importing abc format & converting to .lilypond but not vice versa.
http://lilypond.org/web/about/faq
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
I myself (thanks to a recommendation received through this board) recently discovered the version of Finale Notepad that they make available as a free sample via the internet. It doesn't do a lot of fancy stuff, like first and second endings, but it produces nice cleanly printed sheet music pages, and allows me to check my work as I go along by playing what I have written as a midi file.
# Posted on August 29th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use?
Quickscore Elite Level II 8e
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? Quickscore Elite Level II 8e
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? commercial
- Can it import abc files? no
- Can it export abc files? no
- Can it import midi files? yes
- Can it export midi files? yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? no
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? yes
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? no
# Posted on August 31st 2008 by dogmageek
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use? ABCexplorer
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use? v1.3.2
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware? Freeware
- Can it import abc files? Yes
- Can it export abc files? Yes
- Can it import midi files? Yes
- Can it export midi files? Yes
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? Yes
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? Yes
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? Yes, with standard ABC formatting
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? Yes, with standard ABC formatting
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? No
It can do Ok printout direct, or export as PDF for high quality.
It has an English Help file!
It has many other features.
Chris.
# Posted on September 2nd 2008 by Chrisp
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
- What is the name of the music score editor that you use?
Melody Assistant by Myriad Music www.myriad-online.com
- What is the version number of the music score editor that you use?
Version 7.4.4
- Is it commercial software, shareware, or freeware?
Commercial but very inexpensive, circa $20
- Can it import abc files? YES
- Can it export abc files? YES
- Can it import midi files? YES
- Can it export midi files? YES
- Can it play back the music that you have entered or imported (including 1st/2nd time bars and repeats)? YES
- Can it show guitar chords above the score? YES
- Can the user control the number of bars per line displayed on the screen? YES
- Can the user control the number of bars per line output to the printer? YES
- Does your editor have any scoring limitations? Not that I know of.
Brian
# Posted on September 5th 2008 by bpundyke
Re: Score Editors - Information Needed for Survey
Thanks again to all those kind folks who took the trouble to respond to my survey.
Here's a quick summary of findings:
Based on the parameters that I specified for a "good score editor for the traditional musician", "Melody Assistant" would appear to tick all the boxes. If it's also good in all other respects, it might well be the score editor of choice.
"MusicEase" is also a well-featured score editor, with the added benefit of being able to import "songwright" files downloaded from the Digital Tradition website. Its only real drawback is its inability to import midi miles, or to export abc files. If you're not worried about these limitations, I would recommend it.
With regard to the abc utilities, if you just want to convert midi to abc, abc2mid looks to be the best bet (although ABCexplorer also has this functionality, and can do other things as well). Both of these products are freeware.
If you want to retain your tunes in abc format, but need to transpose them, use the (free) online application, ABC-Transposer.
As promised, the results of this survey have been summarised in table form, and are published on:
http://www.intermix.freeuk.com
# Posted on September 9th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian