I'm writing a few tunes, but I only have them scribbled down on scraps of paper, and need to compile them properly. Anyone know of any good music notation software I could download (preferably free!!) so as to "join up the dots", so to speak?
Finale Notepad is either free or very cheap (I can't remember). You can export your efforts as .xml files, so people using other programs can see them. It's grand for doing just one-line melodies. It all prints out looking very professional. It does make you insert the name of a musical instrument at the start of each piece, which is slightly annoying but hardly the end of the world.
If it's just tunes (rather something like piano music) use ABC, it's the standard interchange format for folk music. There are many software systems for processing it, most of them free.
I use abc-plus (abcm2ps) to render abc into standard music notation. It'll let you do a whole symphony if you insist and handles multivoice folk music easily. If all you need are tunes you could use abc and the tuneotron convertamatic at concertina.net. All of that is free.
Another vote for Melody Assistant. It is also capable of importing or exporting other formats such as abc. There is a free trial version but I don't think you can save your work using that.
Melody Assistant, yip, a good wee program that works with most formats.
I only ever use it if I need to put dots down. I did look into buying Sibelius for some work I was offered a few years back, but the cost out weighed the profit from the job so I didn't take it on. For my needs Melody Assistant is more than enough..
Nothing wrong with what is suggested, but if you go the abc route let me suggest a look at EasyABC and Five Link Skink. Both are free, cross platform, and work with the currently standard printing and midi creation programs available for abc. EasyABC has those capabilities built in. ABC is not as easy as Music Assistant or Notepad for someone who is already familiar with music notation but does have a great advantage in terms of available tunes.
Personally I've used most of the programs out there (at least that will work on the Mac platform), and I've never been able to get my head around Melody Assistant, though I own it and it seems to work very well. Finale was, for me, easier to learn. YMMV.
"At the other extreme, Sibelius is is professional's choice, but it's quite expensive and last time I checked it couldn't import abc files."
It still can't, but it takes some beating! I've never really taken to Finale. Sibelius seems more intuitive.
I've been using Noteworthy since the days of Windows 3.1, it's easy to use and very fast (using the keyboard - preferrably the numpad). Combined with abc2nwc it is very useful, though as far as I know, Noteworthy2 still can't save as an uncompressed file, so abc2nwc doesn't work.
Sibelius shines when you need to write full scores, or multi voice parts etc, a different league, but I still use Noteworthy quite often.
I use a pen and a ruler (but any thing with a straight edge at least 20cm would do if you are using the the traditional A4 portrait paper) for those six parallel lines bit. And here's the clever bit ... I use a pencil to draw the dotty bits. It's great 'cause you can use a rubber if you make a mistake with the dotty bits but it doesn't rub out the parallel lines bit.
" use a pen and a ruler (but any thing with a straight edge at least 20cm would do if you are using the the traditional A4 portrait paper) for those six parallel lines bit. And here's the clever bit ... I use a pencil to draw the dotty bits. It's great 'cause you can use a rubber if you make a mistake with the dotty bits but it doesn't rub out the parallel lines bit."
Yep, and naebody else can read it, let alone Photoscore.
I've heard of skinflints, but drawing your own staves to save splashing out on a manuscript book......Do you use your teabags several times?
.... though I have been known to write out a tune in Illustrator. When you've written out the tune bit you can duplicate all the dots and use the centre align function to create your bodhran part.
It's the recognition of the bodhran part that is the most intriguing. That you should even contemplate a bodhran player being able to read even a single line is further intrigue.
Sibelius!
I use it all the time. It's fabulous. Compose stuff, orchestrate, proof it, print off band parts, drive midi tracks, assign all sorts of samples, cut & paste, go back and add cor anglais and shruti box...there's no end of possibilities.
.... there's no end of possibilities .... for those that are into that sort of thing.
I've had a shot of it and it's main problem is its versatility. You have to have a clear vision of what you want to be doing and enough dogmatic concentration to be able to not get side tracked. You'll be thinking the machine is helping your creativity but actually it's just pointing you down the road of empty mediocrity.
Interesting information for which many thanks too!
My circumstances often don’t allow me to get to a situation where I might download such and such programmes.
Some have commented on llig’s use of a ruler…what a skill to have!
I too, can, and often, as a reference, or a gift, write out a tune. Sometimes in pencil, sometimes in ink.
As I mentioned in a recently deleted thread, posted by raff2011, I am a calligrapher. Some members of the Session have received various pieces from me over the years, and know about this.
One my prized possessions is a “rastrum”! translated, this means a “rake/comb”. Before any of you call for a doctor, it is a nib with five (yes, 5!) points. It can be used for very decorative scripts, or…for writing out music.
I also make my own inks, sometimes using fungi,(Coprinus, Inkcaps) and Squid (Calamari). If anyone needs any advice on using/making these inks feel free to contact me.
My favourite scripts are the Irish half-uncial and the Chancery Italic.
As a gift, I’m working on writing out a jig to fit in with a friend’s painting. The eye, not the computer, especially that I don’t have access to one regularly, will determine how to set it in the right place.
If I can get it sorted out I’ll find out a way to put it on my profile. There is a wonderful feeling about writing in script, it almost gives a shape to the thoughts/words evolving from one’s consciousness.
"Some have commented on llig’s use of a ruler…what a skill to have!" briantheflute
Na, he's just tight. The cost of a manuscript pad being what it is, there's no excuse. Oh, and pencil doesn't run when your caught out in the rain, plus it rubs off easily for correcting mistakes.
The thread here isn't about hand written scores, it's about software; "Re: Music notation software", see!
I do apologise if I have somehow transgressed in this thread.
I was trying to be very positive in helping out, especially when,if one doesn't have much in the way of financial resources, one is hinting that they want to
"join up the dots", so to speak?"
I didn't think for one moment that a bit of practical help as I perceived it might be inappropriate.
I don't know all the circumstances in which Johnny Madra put his enquiry, and I wouldn't presume to know so, but I wrote in all honesty and humility! I live in very humble circumstances myself, and I wanted to be positive. I'd already written to him personally to try to help in my own way.
Let alone that I can't afford my own internet, I've lost my job two weeks ago, and if I cannot find work soon I'll be homeless and worrying about more than cheap shots like this, I'll be trying to find somewhere to live.
And I still say as I always do
All the best
Brian x
PS Please don't be offended Jeremy, I just try to be positive all the time.
Pencil and paper. Don't use a straightedge- Staff paper is easy to download free.
Being an 'old school' architect- part of my day job that supports my efforts to get into the lucrative field of ITM I enjoy the visual quality of nicely done hand script.
As an 'old school' church organist, I learned to write out music as kid and find for my purposes hand writing is sooo much faster than writing abc, chugging through a software program and printing.
And that demonstrates that I am a dinosaur professionally and musically.
If you have to write out music (e.g. for band, or other musicians), notation software is a huge time-saver. Most versions will play your music back to you, so you can hear what you've written, which is great for finding errors. You can make changes without writing it all out again, and the output is much easier to read than hand-written notation. You can also E-mail what you've entered by printing to something like CutePDF.
I've used MusicTime De Luxe (and its predecessors) for, oh, probably 20 years, and it's been an enormously useful.
melody assistant: downloadable with unlimited free trial, only €20 for a licence. it'll probably do everything you need. if you want more melody assistant is pretty cheap still ad very functional.
Touche. Unfortunaltely very few places carry staff paper for purchase any more.
For ITM though, since I tend to use the music more as an 'aide memoir' for my by ear work, it is faster to just write it out. I have sibelius and found it to be too time consuming for what I do.
Though davedupplaw's suggestion looks very intriguing.
Music notation software
Music notation software
A chairde,
I'm writing a few tunes, but I only have them scribbled down on scraps of paper, and need to compile them properly. Anyone know of any good music notation software I could download (preferably free!!) so as to "join up the dots", so to speak?
Any help is much appreciated.
Go raibh maith agaibh.
Johnny Madra.
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Johnny Madra
Re: Music notation software
Finale Notepad is either free or very cheap (I can't remember). You can export your efforts as .xml files, so people using other programs can see them. It's grand for doing just one-line melodies. It all prints out looking very professional. It does make you insert the name of a musical instrument at the start of each piece, which is slightly annoying but hardly the end of the world.
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Steve Shaw
Re: Music notation software
Noteworthy Composer is popular amongst our local group for the exchange of tunes:
http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Rick Payman
Re: Music notation software
If it's just tunes (rather something like piano music) use ABC, it's the standard interchange format for folk music. There are many software systems for processing it, most of them free.
http://www.abcnotation.com
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Jack Campin
Re: Music notation software
I use Melody Assistant ---- pretty good, and only $25 I believe:
http://www.myriad-online.com/en/products/melody.htm
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Jmbu
Re: Music notation software
I use abc-plus (abcm2ps) to render abc into standard music notation. It'll let you do a whole symphony if you insist and handles multivoice folk music easily. If all you need are tunes you could use abc and the tuneotron convertamatic at concertina.net. All of that is free.
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by fiddlentina
Re: Music notation software
There is also Lilypond (lilypond.org) which creates professional standard music notation from text input (a bit like ABC, but far more advanced).
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Music notation software
I use Finale Notepad too. It used to be free. Now's it's about $10. Well worth it. I can even play the tune for you.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by justwhistle
Re: Music notation software
I use Melody Assistant and find the results excellent.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Music notation software
Another vote for Melody Assistant. It is also capable of importing or exporting other formats such as abc. There is a free trial version but I don't think you can save your work using that.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by All Moldy
Re: Music notation software
Melody Assistant, yip, a good wee program that works with most formats.
I only ever use it if I need to put dots down. I did look into buying Sibelius for some work I was offered a few years back, but the cost out weighed the profit from the job so I didn't take it on. For my needs Melody Assistant is more than enough..
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Music notation software
Nothing wrong with what is suggested, but if you go the abc route let me suggest a look at EasyABC and Five Link Skink. Both are free, cross platform, and work with the currently standard printing and midi creation programs available for abc. EasyABC has those capabilities built in. ABC is not as easy as Music Assistant or Notepad for someone who is already familiar with music notation but does have a great advantage in terms of available tunes.
Personally I've used most of the programs out there (at least that will work on the Mac platform), and I've never been able to get my head around Melody Assistant, though I own it and it seems to work very well. Finale was, for me, easier to learn. YMMV.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by cboody
Re: Music notation software
I tried out most of them, before settling on MusicEase:
http://www.musicease.com/
It's not free, but you can download a free trial to evaluate it before buying.
The free offerings tend to have a lot of bugs and/or limitations and are sometimes difficult to use.
At the other extreme, Sibelius is is professional's choice, but it's quite expensive and last time I checked it couldn't import abc files.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Music notation software
"At the other extreme, Sibelius is is professional's choice, but it's quite expensive and last time I checked it couldn't import abc files."
It still can't, but it takes some beating! I've never really taken to Finale. Sibelius seems more intuitive.
I've been using Noteworthy since the days of Windows 3.1, it's easy to use and very fast (using the keyboard - preferrably the numpad). Combined with abc2nwc it is very useful, though as far as I know, Noteworthy2 still can't save as an uncompressed file, so abc2nwc doesn't work.
Sibelius shines when you need to write full scores, or multi voice parts etc, a different league, but I still use Noteworthy quite often.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Weejie
Re: Music notation software
I use a pen and a ruler (but any thing with a straight edge at least 20cm would do if you are using the the traditional A4 portrait paper) for those six parallel lines bit. And here's the clever bit ... I use a pencil to draw the dotty bits. It's great 'cause you can use a rubber if you make a mistake with the dotty bits but it doesn't rub out the parallel lines bit.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by ...
Re: Music notation software
You need one of these, Michael: http://www.scribblers.co.uk/acatalog/Brause_Miscellaneous_Nibs.html . Let a little technology into your life.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by RichardB
Re: Music notation software
Yes, bring a bit of order to your A4 portrait paper notations, look cool flying through the air once folded appropriately.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Music notation software
" use a pen and a ruler (but any thing with a straight edge at least 20cm would do if you are using the the traditional A4 portrait paper) for those six parallel lines bit. And here's the clever bit ... I use a pencil to draw the dotty bits. It's great 'cause you can use a rubber if you make a mistake with the dotty bits but it doesn't rub out the parallel lines bit."
Yep, and naebody else can read it, let alone Photoscore.
I've heard of skinflints, but drawing your own staves to save splashing out on a manuscript book......Do you use your teabags several times?
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Weejie
Re: Music notation software
Ah....Five parallel lines, not six. EGBDF.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Music notation software
I assume, Michael, after all you've said about dots, that you are referring to your efforts in classical composition, not diddley...
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Steve Shaw
Re: Music notation software
no, diddley (and I use the extra line to notate the bodhran part)
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by ...
Re: Music notation software
"and I use the extra line to notate the bodhran part"
My, my. You even write parts for the bodhran.
How times change.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Weejie
Re: Music notation software
.... though I have been known to write out a tune in Illustrator. When you've written out the tune bit you can duplicate all the dots and use the centre align function to create your bodhran part.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by ...
Re: Music notation software
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Steve Shaw
Re: Music notation software
It's the recognition of the bodhran part that is the most intriguing. That you should even contemplate a bodhran player being able to read even a single line is further intrigue.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Weejie
Re: Music notation software
@Weejie - yes, I also evaluated Noteworthy
However, I chose MusicEase in preference as I thought the print layout somewhat better.
Although I never play from dots myself, I run a ceilidh band and use MusicEase to create scores for others to use.
MusicEase supports multi-line scores, guitar chord annotations, etc which I need to do this.
My one beef with MusicEase is (although it can import abc files) , it can't export them.
Thanks for confirming that Sibelius still doesn't support the importation of abc files. I would certain consider switching to Sibelius if it did!
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Music notation software
Sibelius!
I use it all the time. It's fabulous. Compose stuff, orchestrate, proof it, print off band parts, drive midi tracks, assign all sorts of samples, cut & paste, go back and add cor anglais and shruti box...there's no end of possibilities.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by yhaalhouse
Re: Music notation software
.... there's no end of possibilities .... for those that are into that sort of thing.
I've had a shot of it and it's main problem is its versatility. You have to have a clear vision of what you want to be doing and enough dogmatic concentration to be able to not get side tracked. You'll be thinking the machine is helping your creativity but actually it's just pointing you down the road of empty mediocrity.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by ...
Re: Music notation software
Most people compose at the instrument and notate after the event or at a suitable pause during the creative process, no?
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Music notation software
Yes, most people do. Except that most people who use Sibelius end up "composing" on that.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by ...
Re: Music notation software
try FINALE NOTEPAD 2008 . It is free and you can find link on Google
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by fiddlemax
Re: Music notation software
"Yes, most people do. Except that most people who use Sibelius end up "composing" on that." llig leahcim
Your likely right.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Music notation software
A chairde!
Interesting information for which many thanks too!
My circumstances often don’t allow me to get to a situation where I might download such and such programmes.
Some have commented on llig’s use of a ruler…what a skill to have!
I too, can, and often, as a reference, or a gift, write out a tune. Sometimes in pencil, sometimes in ink.
As I mentioned in a recently deleted thread, posted by raff2011, I am a calligrapher. Some members of the Session have received various pieces from me over the years, and know about this.
One my prized possessions is a “rastrum”! translated, this means a “rake/comb”. Before any of you call for a doctor, it is a nib with five (yes, 5!) points. It can be used for very decorative scripts, or…for writing out music.
I also make my own inks, sometimes using fungi,(Coprinus, Inkcaps) and Squid (Calamari). If anyone needs any advice on using/making these inks feel free to contact me.
My favourite scripts are the Irish half-uncial and the Chancery Italic.
As a gift, I’m working on writing out a jig to fit in with a friend’s painting. The eye, not the computer, especially that I don’t have access to one regularly, will determine how to set it in the right place.
If I can get it sorted out I’ll find out a way to put it on my profile. There is a wonderful feeling about writing in script, it almost gives a shape to the thoughts/words evolving from one’s consciousness.
All the best
Brian x
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by briantheflute
Re: Music notation software
For me it's usually keyboard and Sibelius with a hint of baritone ukulele!
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by yhaalhouse
Re: Music notation software
"Some have commented on llig’s use of a ruler…what a skill to have!" briantheflute
Na, he's just tight. The cost of a manuscript pad being what it is, there's no excuse. Oh, and pencil doesn't run when your caught out in the rain, plus it rubs off easily for correcting mistakes.
The thread here isn't about hand written scores, it's about software; "Re: Music notation software", see!
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Music notation software
Reckon you "scored" a point there, Solidmahog ...
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: If you don't have Music notation software
Dear Solidmahog and Mix O'Lydian,
I do apologise if I have somehow transgressed in this thread.
I was trying to be very positive in helping out, especially when,if one doesn't have much in the way of financial resources, one is hinting that they want to
"join up the dots", so to speak?"
I didn't think for one moment that a bit of practical help as I perceived it might be inappropriate.
I don't know all the circumstances in which Johnny Madra put his enquiry, and I wouldn't presume to know so, but I wrote in all honesty and humility! I live in very humble circumstances myself, and I wanted to be positive. I'd already written to him personally to try to help in my own way.
Let alone that I can't afford my own internet, I've lost my job two weeks ago, and if I cannot find work soon I'll be homeless and worrying about more than cheap shots like this, I'll be trying to find somewhere to live.
And I still say as I always do
All the best
Brian x
PS Please don't be offended Jeremy, I just try to be positive all the time.
Thank you
Brian x
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by briantheflute
Re: Music notation software
I am with Llig.
I enjoy the visual quality of nicely done hand script.
Pencil and paper. Don't use a straightedge- Staff paper is easy to download free.
Being an 'old school' architect- part of my day job that supports my efforts to get into the lucrative field of ITM
As an 'old school' church organist, I learned to write out music as kid and find for my purposes hand writing is sooo much faster than writing abc, chugging through a software program and printing.
And that demonstrates that I am a dinosaur professionally and musically.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by zippydw
Re: Music notation software
"Pencil and paper. Don't use a straightedge- Staff paper is easy to download free."
That would be pencil and paper, computer, internet connection and printer then...
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by Rick Payman
Re: Music notation software
If you have to write out music (e.g. for band, or other musicians), notation software is a huge time-saver. Most versions will play your music back to you, so you can hear what you've written, which is great for finding errors. You can make changes without writing it all out again, and the output is much easier to read than hand-written notation. You can also E-mail what you've entered by printing to something like CutePDF.
I've used MusicTime De Luxe (and its predecessors) for, oh, probably 20 years, and it's been an enormously useful.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by rbs
Re: Music notation software
Looks like no-one mentioned Muse Score yet: http://musescore.org/ It's free and works well.
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by davedupplaw
Re: Music notation software
My vote is Finale Notepad, free, and so good the company lost a sale, because I didn't find the need to upgrade to a paid version.
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by AlBrown
Re: Music notation software
For those wanting to go the Llig way but lacking the skills with pen and ruler.
http://people.virginia.edu/~pdr4h/musicpaper/
Then you only need to print it out and use the pencil and eraser (as we say over here...rubber has quite another meaning to many!)
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by cboody
Re: Music notation software
"Reckon you "scored" a point there, Solidmahog ..." Mix O'Lydian
Aye but who's counting? I'm off to the bar.
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Music notation software
@briantheflute;
Sorry to hear about your circumstances, keeping my fingers crossed for you.
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Music notation software
@briantheflute
You might be interested in this person's work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISs6BaJP4JE
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by gam
Re: Music notation software
melody assistant: downloadable with unlimited free trial, only €20 for a licence. it'll probably do everything you need. if you want more melody assistant is pretty cheap still ad very functional.
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by greg sheils
Re: Music notation software
Rick
Touche. Unfortunaltely very few places carry staff paper for purchase any more.
For ITM though, since I tend to use the music more as an 'aide memoir' for my by ear work, it is faster to just write it out. I have sibelius and found it to be too time consuming for what I do.
Though davedupplaw's suggestion looks very intriguing.
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by zippydw
Re: Music notation software
Go raibh maith agaibh ar fad! / Many thanks to all!
Johnny Madra.
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by Johnny Madra
Re: Music notation software
I use Quickscore:
http://www.sionsoft.com/lit.html
# Posted on July 2nd 2011 by dogmageek