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Notation Software Compatability

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:45 pm
by Dan Schultz
I use Finale and have looked at several other other 'high-end' notation programs. Are there any 3rd party programs that allows importing one into the other? A friend of mine uses Encore and it would sure be nice if we could read each others stuff seamlessly.

Does .xml work well?

Re: Notation Software Compatability

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 11:34 pm
by PMeuph
I use finale and sibelius. XML works, but not well. I often end up having to transpose passages and do a lot of editing once the parts are moved from one to the other....

YMMV.

Re: Notation Software Compatability

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 3:14 pm
by tbn.al
I'ts been a few years since I tried it but .xml used to work pretty well between Encore and Sibelius. Finale and Sibelius, no. If you can get a good original .pdf, not a scanned one, that works pretty well.

Re: Notation Software Compatability

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:13 pm
by Dan Schultz
tbn.al wrote:I'ts been a few years since I tried it but .xml used to work pretty well between Encore and Sibelius. Finale and Sibelius, no. If you can get a good original .pdf, not a scanned one, that works pretty well.
Good to know. How about .xml from Encore to Finale?

I have noticed that I've been getting very good results from scans on an Epson flatbed instead of my crappy all-in-one HP.

Re: Notation Software Compatability

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:14 pm
by wtuba
Dan — if you only need to be able to read each other's output, a very simple way is to print a pdf copy to your desktop. You can then send it to anyone. Of course, the recipient will be able to read it, but not work with the document... hope this is helpful. I'm a long-time Finale user, currently using Finale 2014. MakeMusic says that XMI can work with many platforms, but I have not had occasion to try it. You might pose a question on the Finale help board...someone might have info for you.

Will Traphagan

Re: Notation Software Compatability

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:29 pm
by Dan Schultz
wtuba wrote:Dan — if you only need to be able to read each other's output, a very simple way is to print a pdf copy to your desktop. ....
Oh... printing parts and making music available in printed form is not the issue at all.

I spent many, many years fighting the same type of problems with AutoCAD, Unigraphics, Solid Edge, and other computer-aided design programs not being compatible. Some third party programs helped.

Our community band director uses Encore... as do many of the local school band directors. As The Band librarian... it would just be nice for me to be able to import an arrangement and easily do edits as necessary.

I keep hoping that someone will do a cross platform for music notation. Shareware or freeware would be nice!

Re: Notation Software Compatability

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:01 am
by tbn.al
When using Sibelius I can read a score printed as a .pdf with a minimum of errors. When I try to read a score that was scanned as a .pdf I have too many errors to make it worthwhile. It has been my experience that trying to read a midi is worthless.