Notation Software

[D. Michael McIntyre]

On Thursday 22 November 2007, Luis de Bethencourt wrote:
> Please, by all means, look at all the good software out there and let
> me know what are your findings and opinions. You are far more
> experienced in this field so I trust your word.

I had hoped to do some big formal review, but I have been surprisingly busy 
the last few days, catching up with all the stuff I never have time for now 
that I'm working so many hours at my day job.

Quick impressions will have to do.

Between NoteEdit and Canorus, NoteEdit is really the only usable choice at 
this time, but Canorus looks very promising as an eventual replacement.  They 
seem to be addressing all the reasons why I always felt NoteEdit was a 
project that had more promise than practical use, but at this time I don't 
think I would be doing their project any favors by giving it a thorough 
review.  They probably know most of what I would point out.  They are only at 
0.4, and it shows, but I see very promising and encouraging things coming out 
of that project so far, and it's one to watch.

mScore certainly makes a better first impression as a notation editor than 
Rosegarden.  Out of the box, you get a nice looking composition that actually 
makes noise.  One thing that leaps out at me is they apparently have hard 
line breaks, if that's what the glowing green Enter key symbols represent.  
Everything about this application seems to be oriented toward drawing music 
on a page in a visual way, with a high degree of control over the 
presentation, and almost no control over playback reproduction.

They have come a long way since 0.2.x, and this project looks like it might be 
our best hope as a GIMP or OpenOffice.org in this category, though I have to 
admit that I just don't enjoy using it very much, and I don't think I will be 
abandoning Rosegarden anytime soon.  It feels too heavy for someone like me, 
just like Ardour is too heavy for my taste for audio work.

At this time, mScore wouldn't solve any of the problems I have getting things 
done with Rosegarden, but the framework they have in place is very solid, and 
well-conceived.  Once it is fully fleshed out, this will probably become the 
killer free, cross-platform graphical notation app for serious composers who 
want a high degree of control.

Though I must admit the more I look at this, I'm not sure if I would ever use 
this to solve a problem or not.  I can't see switching to mScore for my 
notation needs at this time.  What it's going to come down to is some future 
project that I can't do with Rosegarden, for which mScore saves my day.

Currently the project I have languishing on my desk is sitting there because 
our grace notes are broken.  On the other hand, mScore doesn't even have 
grace notes yet that I can see.  So for now, I'm still frustrated.

I also come away with a feeling of warm satisfaction.  I think all three of 
these are going to be useful in their own way, though I can't imagine myself 
using any of these other applications for more than the occasional project 
that thwarts me with Rosegarden.  I have the speed advantage on my home 
territory, because I'm better at most people in the world at pushing 
Rosegarden to its notation limits, and getting things done without false 
starts.  Still, I wonder how that might change once mScore or Canorus are 
further along, and deliver on their promises.  There are many things that can 
be done in Rosegarden, but they are prettier to do in an application 
dedicated entirely to notation.

-- 
D. Michael McIntyre