What (if any) Music notation software do you use?

[Jacob Royal]

What music notation software do you use when you write on the computer?

I use Finale PrintMusic 2009. After hearing the quality of some of the midi's here, I regret to getting this one.

[Anne Goodwin]

I have just recently upgraded to Sibelius 6. I will be able to report in more detail later but for the moment, it's looking really good. I'm especially liking that there is now a feature for moving a single word or syllable slightly left or right if the text for the lyrics happen to crowd a little too closely to each other. I find Sibelius to be very user friendly. However, I have not attempted advanced work beyond my own SSAATB (with organ) chorale so I am unable to state, in terms of music engraving, whether this software is 'perfect.' Also, Sibelius 6 has new features for composers that are very, very appealing - such as now being able to work with and compare 'versions' of one's score(s). Finally, the sound tones are so very 'on' that I find I want to begin creating tunes instead of just 'typing notes!' So - in two words - it's fun! :)

[Tyler]

Finale 2008. I should upgrade but their really hasnt been enough improvements to the software for me to do that.

[Adrian Allan]

I use Sibelius for the making of the actual score. It has served me well so far. For the actual inputing of the notes I use midi notation software. The reason I use this is because it is easier to change the midi date through graphs etc for tempo and note velocity. I then export it as an XML to sibelius and as a midi file to cubase to add the VST instruments.

[Alexander Sadovski]

Hi,
For a good score I am using Overture 4 and Garritan PO4 with Aria. Another possibility is Notion, very soon version 3.0 will be available. If you would like to write score and play lyrics in different languages, try Myriad Harmony Assistant with Virtual Singer.
Regards

[Chris Alpiar]

the music that you hear that sounds 'real' are not done from a notation program, but rather with a DAW and massaged, every scrap of nuance accounted for. Notation program = for making parts, one way to write a score and hear *something* back immediately. DAW (Digital Performer, Logic, Cubase, etc) is for recording midi and audio performances and for fine tuning them. And they are used in conjunction with sample libraries and vst instruments, like Vienna Symphonic Library or EWQLSO. Each library has certain nuance to learn to make it sound more realistic. And understanding the ins and outs of programming with your libraries as well as solid fundamental understanding of orchestration is all part of the modern composer process. Personally I use Finale 2010 and Sibelius 6 for notation, but I only use these programs to make parts for live sessions. I write by hand on paper sketches, then sequence in a DAW, then dump to Finale to create a score and extract parts

[Adrian Allan]

Does anybody know any more about Notion ? For a cheap program the built in orchestral samples sound really good - London Symphony recorded at Abbey Road. However I have heard that it can't export midi which seems a major drawback.

[Alex Mørch]

I heard, that Finale could be used with East-West samples? I heard that it should detect legato, forte, piano and so on and make the switches itself.. Im not sure, but might be worth checking out, if you're regretting your purchase ;)

I myself doesn't really notate the music, rather program it in Nuendo 3's piano roll window and use the automation for modulate the strings (a glide from non-vibrato to vibrato for instance). Used with tons of East-West samples.

[John McIntyre]

I use Notion...and quite adore it. The current samples do sound good, and sound great when they are massaged via notation. I.E. hairpins, articulations. and dynamic profiles. Notion3(the 3rd version) will be released in a few weeks and will allow for other sample libraries to be used as well as midi export and a plethora of new features. The current LSO samples have all been redone with close mike samples.

http://forum.notionmusic.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80

[Adrian Allan]

Thanks for that reply, John.

The way I see things going is for the better integration of samples with notation programs, eventually maybe even by-passing the need for a separate sequencer program (but the Kontakt player in Sibelius is not all that convincing for a number of reasons). Notion seems to be heading in this direction, which is a very wise move, and I will definitely download a limited demo of Notion 3 when it becomes available.

[Chris Alpiar]

yea these libraries built to read the articulations and what not come a lot closer to being convincing, and notion probably the most. But from my experience so far, there is still a large amount of finer finesse that only working with the samples in a DAW can provide true realism, depending on the sample libraries used. Which is double your workload of having written and massaged your piece in a notation program then needing to export it to massage it in a daw, when most of your music isnt being performed and recorded live. Ill keep my eyes (and ears!) open for developments with Notion and other software, but I am sticking with my process for now

[Adrian Allan]

There is some way to go along this line of development - but to me it seems inevitable.

Even if it means a dual function program where you switch between a screens - a note layout and a sequencer display. Human invention always strives to make life easier and all this exporting and importing is a pain that will eventually be rectified (give it a couple of years perhaps ?) by somebody in the notation programing business.

[pete whitfield]

I hope one day I'll be able to eat these words, but (as Chris says) a DAW is for making your sampled music sound right, a notation programme make it look right! I'm sure sometime soon the 2 will be properly integrated.
I use Logic for quick and dirty, Overture for sentimental reasons and Sibelius for poshness.
A quick word for noteflight.com Online music software. It may have a long way to come, but as a social music notation programme and for teaching and learning music online I predict it will get plenty of kudos in the coming months!
Simple example: