Music Notation Software

[Craig Walters]

i've posted a number of links to software before, but this time i'm asking for help. i'm looking for music notation/music writing software. the only catch is, it needs to be either free or fairly inexpensive, like in the $50 range or so.

it also needs to be fairly simple. i actually have a couple of the more expensive, more elaborate types, like cakewalk and that sort, but i need something quite simple, more along the lines of the old Deluxe Music 3 type.

it would also be quite handy to be midi compatible.

and, it MUST be able to print out the music in standard notation.

i'm not interested in limited demos or trials, unless they lead to what i've described above, including the price range.

so, if you know of something like this, please, post a link here or even just a name and i'll do a search.

[Doug Nelson]

Re: Music Notation Software

http://lilypond.org/web/

Don't know anything about it, it just kept coming up in google searches.

[Craig Walters]

Re: Music Notation Software

hmm, from what i can see of lillypond (and thank you for that, btw), it's a notation writer. i suppose i shld have mentioned that i do want to be able to hear what i input, either by manually inputting or through midi. lilly seems to only write notation. you enter it into a text editor and then compile that file and it writes it out in standard notation.

so again, thank you, but that wont suffice.

[Craig Walters]

Re: Music Notation Software

ok, this one is looking pretty promising: http://www.anvilstudio.com/ . i've got it installed and playing with it now.

[James Penner]

Re: Music Notation Software

I don't know if you've seen it or not, but you might also want to check out http://www.finalemusic.com/SongWriter/.

[Dave.Cox]

Re: Music Notation Software

I have a set of music fonts that I downloaded sometime ago. They allow you to create music notation in your standard word processing program, or graphics program using standard text. I can't remember where I found them, but you can search for "music font" and you'll find quite a few.

[chillin]

Re: Music Notation Software

Notation Composer is a one that does what you want... I think, but it isn't 50.

[Littlecoo]

Re: Music Notation Software

Oooo... Deluxe Music! Yeah I remember using that for belting out many a high school music composition assignment that was then printed out on ye olde dot matrix printer- ACK!
Needless to say I don't miss it lol.
Here is a mob whose software I have tried and I quite like, they have a couple of robust, well-featured offerings around your price range: http://www.musicaleditor.com/

[Craig Walters]

Re: Music Notation Software

james, that looks really close to the criteria i set up. thanks

dave, that sounds a lot like lillypond, which doug mentioned, but thank you

and chillin, that also looks very close, except it's $150 instead of $50. still, might be worth taking for a spin to see if it's worth the extra $100.

thanks, guys. i appreciate this!

if anyone else has anything, please, continue

[Craig Walters]

Re: Music Notation Software

oh, that one looks good too, littlecoo! am listening to their web/online music thing now. very clever!

thank you

[Steve Conway]

Re: Music Notation Software

Audacity.......FREE!

Steve C.

[Craig Walters]

Re: Music Notation Software

steve, audacity can write music notation? i thought audacity was a wave editor?

[lkroll]

Re: Music Notation Software

Hey Craig. Just caught this thread. You know how frugal I am. Just did a quick check on Sourceforge's site (don't know if you have done this yet or not). Below is the search link.

http://sourceforge.net/search/?type_...music+notation

[Craig Walters]

Re: Music Notation Software

thanks, lyle. yes, i've been on sourceforge looking. i think that's where i first saw Anvil. but always appreciate more links

i'm getting some great help here so far. how bout is anyone USING any of these that they could give me a first hand, quick review of what they're using and if they like it or not?

[Steve Conway]

Re: Music Notation Software

steve, audacity can write music notation? i thought audacity was a wave editor?

It does wav, mp3's, and even some midis. Have to admit that is what I use it for, but someone said it would also give you notation. Admit I haven't tried that, and they didn't mention how to do it.

Someone else here did mention Anvil Studio. I know this will notate because I have used it for that.

Steve C.