Your Notation Software?

[sbarrettmusic]

Thanks. I'm not smart enough to make my own, I struggle with making coffee. Do you have the regular or the Stream Deck XL?

It's actually quite simple! Just takes time to set up as these things do. I bought the regular model before the XL came out. I'm tempted to pick up the XL but I'm not sure I really need it. I like the size of the regular model and I already have everything organized into folders without needing too many sub-folders.

 

[tmhuud]

Sibelius, then Notion.

 

[Shakuhachi]

Sibelius, then Notion.
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Do you prefer Notion? Why this move?

 

[Mat.D.]

I‘m using Sibelius since Version 1. It does the job, but I‘m not really happy about it. Dorico might be an option....one day.

 

[Sears Poncho]

I‘m using Sibelius since Version 1. It does the job, but I‘m not really happy about it. Dorico might be an option....one day.

What would you like to see improved with Sibelius?

 

[tmhuud]

Do you prefer Notion? Why this move?

Sibelius first [it’s on the main desktop(s)], NOTION on my iPad Pro. Quick sketching and very intuitive. Allows me to sketch then sit at the piano and work things out. (Or better yet, write them down before my feeble brain forgets what I wrote!)

 

[Michael Antrum]

What are you like to see improved with Sibelius?

The GUI interface is so convoluted and stuff is hidden in very odd places. Also, the forced maintenance plan (or you can't upgrade and have to re-buy) really grates on me.

I've moved onto Dorico now, and I find it much more intuitive to use, and it does all of what I need, but I do understand it is missing a few things that other might miss...

 

[emasters]

Primarily Dorico now, having moved from Sibelius. Just got a new iPad Pro over the holidays. Using Notion with the Pen on the iPad -- something I've always wanted to do (enter notes via a pencil-like device versus key, keyboard or mouse). Perhaps Dorico on iPad some day...?

 

[Sears Poncho]

The GUI interface is so convoluted and stuff is hidden in very odd places. Also, the forced maintenance plan (or you can't upgrade and have to re-buy) really grates on me.

I've moved onto Dorico now, and I find it much more intuitive to use,

Thanks for the answer. I certainly understand the maintenance angle and the frustration, it's absurd. And frankly, probably a good reason.

The "intuitive" part doesn't really apply to me I guess. I've used Sibelius so long that it doesn't have to be "intuitive". I could do it in my sleep. What I can't figure out with Dorico is how to move notes up and down. With sibelius it's the up and down arrows.

 

[Markus Kohlprath]

. What I can't figure out with Dorico is how to move notes up and down. With sibelius it's the up and down arrows.

its option+shift+up/down arrow

 

[Sears Poncho]

its option+shift+up/down arrow

Thanks. This is the stuff that would drive me nuts.

 

[Shakuhachi]

Sibelius first [it’s on the main desktop(s)], NOTION on my iPad Pro. Quick sketching and very intuitive. Allows me to sketch then sit at the piano and work things out. (Or better yet, write them down before my feeble brain forgets what I wrote!)

Ah yes, i know this feeling.
IPad Pro nice, was thinking about it and thought the notation software would be the weak point.

How does your workflow work? (iPad to computer)?

 

[Markus Kohlprath]

Thanks. This is the stuff that would drive me nuts.

I went nuts more than one time. Especially before I found out how to move notes. But you can assign your own keycommands pretty much like in cubase. That helps but takes time to setup. After all I did the switch from sibelius to dorico and I'm pretty happy.

 

[Sears Poncho]

After all I did the switch from sibelius to dorico and I'm pretty happy.

I can't decide if I ''need" to. Do you think the printed music looks better, or is that up to personal skill level?

I played with Dorico a lot last nite. RIght now, it's sluggish. Something like copying and pasting one bar has a slight delay, etc. I do see the potential down the road. I can't see much of a difference with printed sheet music. If I were doing Xenakis, I think it would be a no-brainer that Dorico would be much better. For Leroy Anderson-ish symphony scores, I'm not seeing much of a difference. I've asked symphony players about what they think of my sheet music and they see zero problems. Maybe I just like new toys.

 

[ptram]

Thanks. This is the stuff that would drive me nuts.

Dorico uses the arrow keys for moving around. Without using the mouse, you can select everything with them. I find it liberating.

Paolo

 

[Takabuntu]

Logic Pro score editor, since 1.0, and before that Atari Notator SL, created by the same people.

Both Logic X Score Editor and MuseScore, but the latter only for sharing with my tutor.

 

[wst3]

I may be missing something, but I've been trying to use Musescore for about a year (just got the notice about subscription renewal), and I still don't get it. Am I missing something?

I use Finale for most of my scoring needs, and I have been working on integrating Studio One and Notion. Not there yet, but getting closer.

 

[bcarwell]

I use Finale. Was very hard remembering how to do many things until I got a tip from Dr. Obvious (DOH).

Several years ago I cut a deck of colored 3x5 cards in half, associating each color with a different function like notes, etc. I tired of having to again research the SAME problem I ran into 6 months ago.

When I ran across something I couldn't do, yes I had to stop, go through the manual, online help, YouTube, post on the forum, etc.-real PITA. BUT: I would then take one of the little blank 1.5 x 2.5 cards, write on the top the task I was stumped with ("Notes-erase", "Add Staff", "Change key", etc.) followed by terse numbered steps to accomplish same.

I picked the name for the task very carefully because I then alphabetized the growing stack of cards according to the task name. As I learned the more common functions I no longer needed a reminder for I would remove them from the deck. I now have a little stack of these cards for Finale (and Cubase). And I write cross-references on them to related cards as needed.

Now when I hit a snag, I just go to my stack of cards and find out how to do it instantly. Beats the hell out of fumbling through scribbled scattered notes, or a "Help" index which should be renamed "Hindrance".

Anyway, that's my approach to so many of these music software interfaces built by room temperature I.Q. Martians. Thank you Dr. Obvious.

 

[d.healey]

I may be missing something, but I've been trying to use Musescore for about a year (just got the notice about subscription renewal), and I still don't get it. Am I missing something?

Musescore (the program) doesn't require a subscription, it's free software.

Musescore.com is a community site to share music written with Musescore. It has a subscription option.

 

[Markus Kohlprath]

I use Finale. Was very hard remembering how to do many things until I got a tip from Dr. Obvious (DOH).

Several years ago I cut a deck of colored 3x5 cards in half, associating each color with a different function like notes, etc. I tired of having to again research the SAME problem I ran into 6 months ago.

When I ran across something I couldn't do, yes I had to stop, go through the manual, online help, YouTube, post on the forum, etc.-real PITA. BUT: I would then take one of the little blank 1.5 x 2.5 cards, write on the top the task I was stumped with ("Notes-erase", "Add Staff", "Change key", etc.) followed by terse numbered steps to accomplish same.

I picked the name for the task very carefully because I then alphabetized the growing stack of cards according to the task name. As I learned the more common functions I no longer needed a reminder for I would remove them from the deck. I now have a little stack of these cards for Finale (and Cubase). And I write cross-references on them to related cards as needed.

Now when I hit a snag, I just go to my stack of cards and find out how to do it instantly. Beats the hell out of fumbling through scribbled scattered notes, or a "Help" index which should be renamed "Hindrance".

Anyway, that's my approach to so many of these music software interfaces built by room temperature I.Q. Martians. Thank you Dr. Obvious.

This is a great idea. I often have only an unstructured list where I struggle to find my notes and use it only when I learn a new program. Your method is especially great if you don't work with an app on a daily basis like video editing in premiere where it's hard to remember after several weeks how something works.Thanks for bringing that up.