Conference napalm::commusic_v1

re .0

	Platform loyalists are hereby advised



	incoming  - -  DUCK !

    The only way to get hardcopy of MIDI sequences is to run a software
    package on some sort of personal computer with a laser or bitmap
    pin-driven printer.  
    
    I'm resisting my usual kneejerk response as to exactly WHAT computer 
    you should consider.  There are a small number of topics in here.. 
    try keywords like 'scoring' (and you thought that conference was gone!) 
    and do dir/title='printing', etc.  Regarding hardware choice, Fehsken's
    Law states that the software should determine the hardware.. choose the
    software functionality and the hardware choice falls out automatically.
    
    karl

    You may want to do a "DIR/KEY=SCORING" and read those notes.
    
    Edd

Make sure you consider the option of a score tablet plus a good pencil or pen.

Seriously, there seem to be two types of scoring packages out there: expensive
and difficult to work with (which produce good output), and cheap and difficult
(usually) to work with (which have distinct limitations).

Considering the expense if that's the *only* reason you're buying a computer,
especially since you'll also need a high-quality output device (I'd recommend
laser), you should consider seriously whether you'll actually be saving any time
at all, and *if* you are, whether it's worth it. A handwritten score is every bit
as acceptable ass a printed one at the copyright office, and if one of your
songs "makes it" you don't have to sweat the details of getting it printed.

Of course, if you've already considered all this and decided it *is* worth it
to you...oh, well- never mind...

Bob

    I used to write it all down very carefully.  I don't write music down
    anymore, unless I'm away from my tape recorder or it's just to complex to 
    hum.  When a song is sequenced I never even think of getting it scored.
    That's because there's just too much that doesn't convert well over to
    that format (aftertouch, pitch-bends, sysex, patches, levels and on and
    on).  You might consider exactly why it is that you want to dump to
    hard copy.  If it's for posterity or for other musicians, that's
    probably a good reason.  If it's to secure copyright or some such, a score 
    may not be necessary.  Even if you really have to have a score, it
    might be worth while to check with your friends or other contacts to
    see if you can bum the resources for a while.  If you're like me, most
    of the time spent on music may not involve scores anymore.
    
    Steve

    I retitled the note, as it appears to have little to do with the M1.
    
    Edd

I come at computer music from the other side.  We already had the computer
(in fact three Ataris plus the SPECTRE Macintosh emmulator plus a couple of
laptops).  I bought a synthesizer JUST so I could run it with a notation
program do get printed music although I'm finding it has other (�fun!) uses
also :-)  I need to transpose music for my marching band, I am composing
orchestral arrangements for children, etc.  and it is easier to play it in
a voice at a time, score it, transpose it, etc. and then get good copy printed
output.  Handwritten is the pits, particularly if you're a flutist and have to
read all those handwritten ledger lines.

1. On printers.  We have the HP inkjet and nowadays I would choose this over
   either matrix or laser.  Laser gives marginally better copy for a MUCH 
   higher price.  Dot matrix is sloppy looking and not very readable.  Today, 
   good notation programs support outline PostScript fonts which give very 
   readable text parts and beautiful notation.  Inkjet has come a long way.
   It is no longer messy, in fact replacing the cartridge is less messy and
   easier than replacing the toner on our laser printers here at work.

2. On notation programs.  Expect, at the low end to pay around $100 and at
   the upper end $600+.  I now have a copy of MusicWriter which cost about $120
   which I am going to sell because the MIDI part of it doesn't work with 
   SPECTRE.  I found it simple to use, gives great output, has all the 
   functionality I needed (transposition, percussion notation, voice 
   synchronisation, lyrics, expandable to produce scores with up to 16 voices,
   etc.)  I bought it just to see if this is a reasonable thing to try and do
   and now that I've got a bit of experience and know what is missing (like
   inflexibility in note spacing and such), I will now get what I really want.
   
   There are also a few public domain programs out there which you might try 
   just to see how the things work.  The best is to find someone who has the
   appropriate computer and sit down and try it.

3. On computers.  I will now by Notator because we already have the Atari 
   with built in MIDI port.  If you are mostly concerned about the appearance
   of printed text elements and will use it in conjunction with outline fonts
   and laser or inkjet printer, the Macintosh has the most potential (more
   font availability).  You can still do well with either a pc, Atari, Amiga, 
   or just about anything.  Consider your target configuration before buying,
   not just the notation software and machine.  I got into trouble because
   I didn't realize that the MIDI blackbox for Macintosh was incompatible with
   the SPECTRE emulator I was running.

4. BIGGEST ADVICE: Take the time to really look through this notes file.  Do
   several directories with keywords.  It is a big job to filter all the info
   in here but it is well worth the time.  Check the machine related notes
   conferences also.  Almost every one of them has a topic devoted to 
   notation programs running on that particular machine.

Cheryl

    
    Cheryl and the others:  thanks for the information.  I looked
    at a demo of the Finale' and Encore products....both would do the
    trick, Finale' seems more complicated.  I also have heard of 
    Music Printer plus....anyone out there with specific knowledge
    of this product...especially the ease-of-use issue!!!

Temporal Acuity Products will send you a demo disk of MPP for $10.  Their number
is 800-426-2673.

Ditto for Finale by Coda:  800-843-2066

Burns

See note 2413 and replies for more information about Music 
Printer Plus.  The composer this workstation is named after 
swears by the product, and he had no use for or knowledge 
of computers before he started using it.