From: rtaylor@hns.com (Randy Taylor)
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: Composing & notation software... help me!
Date: 2 Sep 92 12:10:51 GMT
Organization: Hughes Network Systems Inc.
Originator: rtaylor@rtaylor


Here's my two cents worth.  See my comments below.

In article <tardif.715203810@montmorency>, tardif@montmorency.ulaval.ca (Pierre-Martin Tardif) writes:
|> Hi !
|> 	I bought a Roland SCC-1 card to compose music and
|> I wonder which software I should use ?????
|> 
|> 	I have some information on MusicTime from PASSPORT
|> and that's all...  I looked in Computer Shopper and the
|> only advertise came from Soundware.  They were offering
|> Band In A Box Prof., Encore, Finale, Ballade, MusicPrinter
|> Plus, Musicator, The Copyist and SCORE 3.

I use Cakewalk for Windows v1.2 for sequencing.  I also keep
Cakewalk for DOS v4.0E handy.  I don't have any scoring software
at present, but I do know that prices range from about $80 U.S.
to well over $500 U.S. - the more expensive software usually has
the most features.  I believe Encore falls into this category as I
recall and so does Finale, MusicPrinter Plus, The Copyist, and SCORE.
Some of the more expensive scoring programs have sequencing 
capabilities built-in.  Other sequencing programs for DOS/Windows
are Master Tracks (from Passport) and Sequencer Plus (from Voyetra).
Of the sequencer packages, I have found Cakewalk (from Twelve Tone
Systems) to be absolutley bullet-proof (in the DOS version) and
well-supported overall.  I rarely use the Windows version as I 
have a 286 ATclone in dire need of a CPU upgrade.  Master Tracks
has a good reputation, too.  I have had problems with the Voyetra
people on other products, so, in general, I wouldn't recommend them.
 
Band In A Box is a "Music-Minus-One" program that, as I understand
it, generates up to 5-part accompaniments to chord progressions
you type in.  It's more automated composition than algorithmic
composition, to my mind.  If you are interested in algorithmic
composition, I can highly recommend "The Jammer" from Soundtrek.
The Jammer has a lot of power and an easy to use interface and you
can come up with some pretty good stuff !

I also highly recommend Soundware as a mail-order house.  They
have always been extremely helpful.  They have spent time with
me in the past answering questions and they've only screwed up
one order of mine, which they promptly fixed.  They are good 
people running a good business - a hard-to-find combination
these days.


|> 
|> 	I really need help because I am lost in that jungle.
|> 
|> 	Also, how do I interface my SCC-1 card with Windows 3.1 ????

I wish I could help you more on this, but I don't own an SCC-1.  I suspect
that you'll need the MIDI Manager (? I think that's what it's called ?)
in either the Setup or Main sections of Windows 3.1.  Check your docs -
there's a fairly good explanation in there 'cause that's what I used
to setup Cakewalk for Windows.  Sorry this part is so vague...

|> 
|> Thank you a lot !

You are welcome a lot !  8-)

Randy Taylor
UNIX System Admin  (i.e. System Janitor)
Hughes Network Systems
Germantown, MD
rtaylor@hns.com
73750.3557@compuserve.com
jrtaylor@pan.com


|> 
|> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|> -- 
|> Pierre-Martin Tardif, etudiant gradue  (email: tardif@gel.ulaval.ca)
|> Laboratoire de Vision et Systemes Numeriques
|> Universite Laval, Pavillon Adrien-Pouliot, local 00100-I, Ste-Foy, Quebec,
|> Canada, G1K 7P4         (418-656-2131, ext 4848)
-- 
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& no one will talk to a host that's close.........     \'o.O'  
Unless the host (that isn't close)................     =(___)= 
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Newsgroups: comp.music