Digital sheet music vs. hard copies

[BVD Press]

Dear All,

Seeing the CD debate down the forum a little, I am curious what people think about digital downloads vs. hard copies of sheet music?

Any opinions welcome...

Now back to creating new Euphonium charts,

[TheHatTuba]

I've purchased a lot of both, and think its worth the wait to get the originals.

[tbn.al]

I much prefer digital and buy them over hard copies every chance I get. I print only what I need but have access to the entire master file whenever I need it. I don't have to buy storage cabinets as they are all on the server.

[BVD Press]

bloke "a fan of old-fashioned large pages and large fonts...getting the music stand away from the sound source, and delaying page turns until the ends of movements"

When I started publishing I decided to go away from the big paper for a couple reasons:

1. The big paper is a pain to store in file cabinets
2. I figured eventually digital might be popular and most people couldn't handle large paper sizes

The large size is presenting many issues for a lot of publishers now as they can't figure out how to get the music out for digital sales.

I am still on the fence personally for digital sales, but it has become incredibly popular...

I am 100% with Joe on the page turns. I spend waaaaay tooooo much time trying to find places to turn while engraving music. Sometimes just rests, but ideally a movement.

[Dan Schultz]

I like digital but still print out a 'master copy'... just in case.

[Ken Herrick]

For me digital is a much easier way to buy, as long as I know just what it is I'm buying. It is a day's trip to the nearest store with ANYTHING for tuba in store - then very little. That leaves mail order with the associated wait for delivery and sometimes exhorbitant postage and handling costs.

Some of the awkward page turns can be managed by some literal cut and paste work.

If one could hear a "performance", even synthesised, it would make it easier to decide what to buy. I would guess that most of the files used to produce the printed form could also generate a sound file.

[JohnSzkutko]

I had this line of thought for the past 2 years with regard to selling my music.

Here's what I concluded to develop my website/shop... (launched last December)

Digital download only. Pro - Instant, save $ with no postage, start practicing now
PDF downloads only, Acrobat Reader will fit music to page. (As for font sizes etc, this will depend on the original page size used and so on.)

Provide Digital reproduction or live YouTube performance. Pro - actually hear what you will purchase
Video - Provide snippets of actual parts, solo, solo with piano etc if only a digital reproduction performance

Of course, provide a secure shopping cart and payment system.

There are pro's and con's because there is no one solution.


Just some general banter...

Print your music on the quality grade paper of your choice. When binding, add clear plastic front and back covers. Maybe add a heavy card at the back of a piano score before the plastic cover. This is how I bind my hard copies!

This is worth the extra effort, as your music will be more robust and last longer than some printed on cheap quality paper/card.

Print all your music the same page size. (reduction scaling may be an issue, but email the composer/publisher of this issue. We do like to correct things as a result of positive feed back)

I have chatted with people who have purchased music after reading a small description from a catalogue, only to receive 2-4 weeks later something that didn't match the description and a dud work(s).

There must be a better way? There is.

I hope you like the system I have created. It's not the be all end all, or sole solution but I have addressed many issues and hopefully have made it easier to purchase music "from a catalogue"

[Ian Stewart]

I send all my music as PDFs for the following reasons:

People who want my compositions are in several countries and unbelievably, it still takes 5-8 days to send music to the U.S. from London.

The expense and time of printing means that I would have to charge far more for the music.

Colleges often have cheap binding and printing available for professors and students so it makes sense for them to do it.

The score can be sent for ensembles to study before they order the music. In fact I usually send the complete parts so that ensembles can try them out before they buy them.

[BVD Press]

I hope you like the system I have created. It's not the be all end all, or sole solution

And there are many options now...

http://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/

http://www.notendownload.com

http://www.artofsoundmusic.com/

http://www.lowbrassmusic.com/

http://www.thechoirstore.com/

http://www.jwpepper.com/

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/digital-sheet-music

etc...many perks for for all of the above and all very different for delivery of the actual product. There are more, but at 7am those are the ones I remember...

Maybe 5-10 years ago a laser printer was expensive, slow, etc., but now they are commonplace and if you have decent paper a great product can be printed from your home, dorm, etc.

[bearphonium]

I like the ability to buy something and receive it immediately, and I love the midi files that let me hear what a piece is supposed to sound like.

On another related note, the Tuba Ensemble that I am in is in the process of converting all of our library to digital files. Many of the hand written arrangements are being transcribed with music notation programs and now being stored electronically. Music that our members arrange is available via email or by accessing the archives rather than the arranger printing out a boatload of copies to bring to rehearsal.

bloke, I am with you on music size...I have to blow up all the marching band flip folder music to a font I can read...

[BVD Press]

On another related note, the Tuba Ensemble that I am in is in the process of converting all of our library to digital files. Many of the hand written arrangements are being transcribed with music notation programs and now being stored electronically. Music that our members arrange is available via email or by accessing the archives rather than the arranger printing out a boatload of copies to bring to rehearsal.

Scanning or transcribing? In last two months I have scanned in 11 feet of music so I am fairly sure I can relate...

[ztuba]

It's called an iPad and yes please for PDF versions of everything you sell. I might even pay $2 more for a book with a digital accompaniment for aquisition of both simultaneously.

[TubaRay]

I believe it is nice to have the option of having digital, or hard copy sent via mail. I like the ability to have the music NOW. I agree with the comments concerning size, etc., but it is simply more convenient to have speed. Less expensive is good as well.

[pgym]

and I love the midi files that let me hear what a piece is supposed to sound like.

I love MIDI files because I can drop them into Finale and get a free copy!

Seriously, if you're going to post audio samples on your website, use an audio format like MP3, AIF, WAV, etc. rather than a data format like MIDI.

And if you're going to post PDF samples, it takes all of 10 sec to strip out the security and permissions settings from a PDF and most editors these days can strip out overlays, so don't post PDFs of the complete file with sections "blacked/whited out."

[Dan Schultz]

Just a thought regarding the size of the printed page....

Most of the music I use is on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets. If it comes to me on anything larger, I make a slightly reduced copy and hand the original back. I keep the music for the several groups I play with in loose-leaf binders in clear sheet protectors.

Why?? We'll... is a simple way to carry music and it makes page turns much easier than fumbling with large pages.

Secondly... I need the space over the top of the page to get a clear view of the conductor. Us tubaguys need all the help we can get in the vision department. In fact... I have the top of a Manhattan Voyager cut off at 11" so I can get a clear 'peep' over the top of my music while having the stand at a good height for viewing my music. If music is handed to me in one of those 13" tall folders... I keep the folder under my chair and only put one piece of music at a time on my stand.

I don't think there is a good reason to have a 13" high piece of paper blocking my vision.

[Elbee]

One vote for the downloads! {commercial message: Bought a lot from Brian Doughty thru the years, He's great to work with...}

[opus37]

I vote for downloads. I've gone to them to manage my parts library because it is easier to find things. Most community bands and church organizations only distribute copies of the original music now, because they have too many lost parts and then it in not playable the next time they need it. I also use the plastic sheet sleeves in a 3 ring notebook for my current music. 8.5 x 11 works great for that.

[THE TUBA]

Although there is a particularly pleasant aesthetic value inherent in physical copies of sheet music, digital copies are often more convenient.

Digital copies are especially convenient for chamber ensembles. Say I'm in a brass quintet, I can find a new work online tonight, I can purchase it, download it, and email the parts out to the quintet members before I go to sleep. If I order normal sheet music, I might need to wait a week for snail mail delivery and then either mail the music out to colleagues or wait until our next rehearsal to distribute the parts.

Another advantage of digital downloads is the ability to print of a fresh and clean copy of your music when you need it. Strange things can happen to sheet music (too many pencil marks, falls in a condensation deposit, lost, stolen, forgotten, etc.), so it can be great to have another copy on demand.

[JohnSzkutko]

Only downside I see (and some have pointed out) is the option to resell.

I'm assuming you're talking about other people re selling your music from your site for a commission, ie. an affiliate system.

This comes down to the individual business/person/company and how they set up their web site.

Currently dormant (until i pull my finger out) I have a re-seller system for my site, working along side my shopping cart. It will pay a generous commission for re sellers. Other composers, like yourself Ken, can sell your music from my site with this system too. I'm working on this system and it will be running soon.

[PMeuph]

Only downside I see (and some have pointed out) is the option to resell.

I'm assuming you're talking about other people re selling your music from your site for a commission, ie. an affiliate system.

I think your assumption is off. I thinks he means re-selling the music once you are done with it. (i.e. If you quit music, or have too much music, or never play a tune anymore) I have found a couple great deals on a book I already owned. I bought the cheap one and sold the other at half the value I paid for it. This becomes tricky with digital music.