TubeNet

Hi

I am looking for an easy to use notation program. I have Finale 2002 which has way more functionality than I would ever need. But it is too hard to use. I am not a composer and I don't need to have every possible notation. I just want something that will be easy to learn and easy to manipulate the setup of a page. For example, one of the things I want to do is to make a scale sheet. It would have 8 or 9 seperate staffs with different key signatures with the scale written up and down on each line. So it would have 15 measures on each staff on one line. Each staff would have a double bar line at the end and be spaced evenly throughout the page. I am finding it very difficult to do this with Finale. I have spent many hours reading the instructions and trying, but I can't make it look how I want. Can any of you recommend something that is easier to use?

Thanks,
Stefan

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I've used beth Sibelius and Noteworthy, and come down firmly on the side of Sibelius. Providing that you don't want to use the programme as a sequencer, I find the end reults more professional, and the interface more intuitive.

For me Finale is still the fastest and the easiest. For a simple aproach try Finale Notepad (free).

Finale notepad is definitly simple - but a little too simple. It cannot do what I need. I have been sitting here trying to figure out noteworthy. It is a lot easier to learn and I am thinking that it might work. But I am finding a similar problem with it that I was having with Finale. Trying to create seperate staves which are unrelated to each other - new key, unique spacing within each staff. But with some work, I was able to come close with noteworthy.

Stefan

I own Sibelius and used to use it for all of my scores. When I switched from DP to Logic Audio, I trashed Sibelius completely. There are quite a few features on Sibelius that make it difficult to use in my opinion. Especially formatting correctly and inserting dynamic markings etc...

I am now quite happy with the Logic natation edito. It is easy to use, fast, and can print professional quality parts.

I have both Sibelius and Finale 2005. I still prefer Sibelius over Finale for its ease of use. The only reason that I have Finale is to be able to do accompaniments for SmartMusic.

snorlax wrote:Stefan...please go to www.geniesoft.com and download a demo of ScoreWriter or Overture. After using Finale since 1990, I have moved to Overture for all my work. Overture will give you the power of Finale without the hassle. Overture 4 will be a VST host when it comes out, if you care about such things!
Jim

Sigh, another nice package. Now, if only it would read and write Sibelius and Finale files.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. Does anyone have an opinion of how noteworthy compares to print music?

For the amount of work that I would need to do with one of these types of programs, I don't think I need anything as expensive as Sibelius, Finale, or any of these other programs that are $250+. Right now, these scales are about all I want to do.

Stefan

Chuck(G) wrote: Sigh, another nice package. Now, if only it would read and write Sibelius and Finale files.

Does aything other than Finale 2005 open Finale 2005 files?
Neither Finale or Sibelius formats are interchange formats.

I think both support MusicXML though. About the best current option for interchange.
Still MusicXML can be supported poorly, either on the export or import side.

Stefan, the key phrase is "right now." If my budget permits, I generally try to buy more than I need "right now." Many years ago, I needed something "right now" to churn out a quick chart for my quintet...I bought Finale and it unlocked doors that I never knew existed!
Jim

Jim

Believe me, I understand what you are saying. The thing is, I already have Finale 2002, which will certainly do anything I would ever need. Of course, I would have to take the time to learn it. I just need something "quick and easy". But I appreciate the advice. I followed that philosophy with my TV, and I am pretty happy .

Stefan

Stefan wrote:Thanks again for all the suggestions. Does anyone have an opinion of how noteworthy compares to print music?

For the amount of work that I would need to do with one of these types of programs, I don't think I need anything as expensive as Sibelius, Finale, or any of these other programs that are $250+. Right now, these scales are about all I want to do.

Stefan

Another package to consider is Lime, a WYSIWYG package. Not the worst or the best, it has a generous trial period:

http://www.cerlsoundgroup.org/main.html