Finale/Sibelius/Overture/Notation

[Andrea Muttoni]

Hey guys,

This is my first post :) I am a hobbyist musician--I produce and compose hiphop/techno pieces as well as classical.

However, I have trouble finding the software I need. I would like to be able to make scores. I started years ago with Guitar Pro because I found it easy to work with. I now recently switched to Finale but I find it very hard to insert music from scratch, especially with a mouse.

I do have a midi keyboard, so what suggestions do you have? What software is best for transcribing ideas in my head, unto electronic scores?

In answering consider this:

- I play by ear
- I stupidly stopped music theory years ago and now struggle to read music above and below the 5 line pentagram.
- I liked guitar pro's way of being able to add notes by clicking on the keyboard on the screen...it really makes it easy for me

I hope to get some replies :)

Thanks,

- Rekshaw

[Andrea Muttoni]

If anyone is interested, I have given Sibelius a go...and in my opinion it is by far the best program for mouse input.

[Glenn Simonelli]

I, too, use Sibelius. It has a very steep learning curve but over time I am growing more comfortable with it. I've found it takes longer to input a score that it used to take me writing freehand, but what makes it so wonderful is that most revisions a just a click of a button or two, and extracting parts is a snap.

I still run into brick walls occasionally--I haven't figured out how to write two-bar repeats, for example--but I think these are more likely limitations in my knowledge of the software than limitations in the software itself.

Bottom line; tough to learn, wonderful once you learn it.

[Fredrick zinos]

Lots of things neither of those programs can do, or at least I've never figured out. For example, String and winds Glissando and trill at the same time. Strings Glissando and trem at the same time. Too many notes are allowed that simply are not on the instruments. That said, both are a heck of a lot better than the notation programs of the past 400 years.

[Steve Philipp]

Sibelius is actually relatively easy to use once you get used to it, and you can input notes in a variety of ways including playing your midi keyboard or using the mouse/qwerty keyboard. It's actually surprising quick and easy to enter notation using the qwerty keyboard.

[Glenn Simonelli]

Well, I find that unless you use the flex-time input, it still takes longer to input music into Sibelius than it does to just write it freehand. For me, what makes the program invaluable is the ability to make revisions and hear the music as I'm writing it.

But yes, the more you use Sibelius the easier and faster it gets.

[Alexander Sadovski]

Overture is Mouse friendly and gives good looking scores. It plays Garritan PO.
Regards,
AlexBG

[Jeremiah Pena]

If you have any sort of MIDI keyboard, then Finale is great with that. It is annoying to enter notes by hand in Finale, but with a keyboard, it's the best notation software I've tried. But if you don't have a keyboard, I'd go with something else.

[Rahim Stratton]

I have used every piece of software listed except Overture.

I would have to say that although Finale is not the most user-friendly, most notably to new users, it is the one I favor the most. I actually have very little keyboarding skills, so I usually used to notate note-by-note using the mouse.

I actually use FL at this point in time, but that's not notation software.


I should get more used to using Sibelius and Notation.

[Andrea Muttoni]

I own FL Studio and it is my preferred application. I just love its streamlined and efficient outline that enables you to do what you want exactly how you want it.

People say FL Studio is limited and nowhere near to the "pros"...but it is just as good, if not better. All it needs is a good and knowledgeable user behind the wheel.

However, when composing classical music I prefer a notation layout and there is where Sibelius comes in.

[Glenn Simonelli]

What is FL Studio?

[Rahim Stratton]

Limited? IMHO, it can be quite diverse.

There is somewhat of a learning curve, but I concur with your second statement.

Oh, I would also prefer a notation layout myself, I just cannot say I have the funds to obtain both that and good-sounding samples.

[Rahim Stratton]

A very popular digital audio workstation.

I wouldn't really do it justice by elaborating on it myself, so:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FL_Studio