Best software?

[Colette Boulanger]

Hello, hello. I usually write my score out by hand (I have very good manuscript hand), but I know that in regards to proper formatting one needs access to a software program. I used to have access to Finale but don't anymore, and Musescore is good but the playback for choir gives more voice to the soprano (as in a non-shapenote choir) which makes hearing how it actually would sound difficult. Any suggestions?

[Wade Kotter]

You going to get a range of opinions; some, like me, prefer Finale; other like Sibelius; still others like MuseScore or Harmony Assistant or LilyPond. With respect to sounds using MuseScore, I suggest that you try out an instrumental sound for the voice parts and not those awful (in my opinion) choir sounds. I personally prefer Oboe or English Horn. Also, I believe there is probably a way to "tone down" the "soprano" (we use the term Treble in shape-note contexts); I've been told that MuseScore has pretty helpful support; your might want to contact them.

Wade

Wade Kotter
South Ogden, UT
"Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord"

On Saturday, October 13, 2018, 3:21:22 PM MDT, Colette Boulanger <bob.mc...@gmail.com> wrote:





Hello, hello. I usually write my score out by hand (I have very good manuscript hand), but I know that in regards to proper formatting one needs access to a software program. I used to have access to Finale but don't anymore, and Musescore is good but the playback for choir gives more voice to the soprano (as in a non-shapenote choir) which makes hearing how it actually would sound difficult. Any suggestions?

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[Dan Thoma]

I like Melody Assistant. It meets all my basic needs and is intuitive to use. It's free to try, reasonable to buy and gives you a lifetime of updates. If I wanted to overcome some of the small annoyances and gain greater control I could upgrade to Harmony Assistant, but I've really never seen a need.

On Oct 13, 2018 2:21 PM, Colette Boulanger <bob.mc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello, hello. I usually write my score out by hand (I have very good manuscript hand), but I know that in regards to proper formatting one needs access to a software program. I used to have access to Finale but don't anymore, and Musescore is good but the playback for choir gives more voice to the soprano (as in a non-shapenote choir) which makes hearing how it actually would sound difficult. Any suggestions?

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[R. C. Webber]

Generally, the cheaper programs will be adequate to produce an a cappella score.  You might want to start by deciding how you would prefer to input your score.  If you would like to drag and drop, you might try the Myriad products.  I like Harmony Assistant, and Dan mentioned Melody Assistant.  Myriad has a $20 voice synthesizer add-on with which I have had some success by adjusting the balance among the voices, though you could always play back with the instrumental settings Wade mentioned.  If you would be more comfortable entering your score and libretto as text, then converting to .pdf, you might Lily Pond.  An additional advantage of a text-based program is that you can produce scores and convert them to .pdf on virtually any computer and go to FedEx or a hotel business office to print.  As you know, Finale and Sibelius will do the job if you are willing to pay the purchase price.  However, in the absence of more complex instrumentation, using them probably is like shooting rodents with an anti-tank weapon.

Randy

On Sat, Oct 13, 2018 at 5:21 PM Colette Boulanger <bob.mc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello, hello. I usually write my score out by hand (I have very good manuscript hand), but I know that in regards to proper formatting one needs access to a software program. I used to have access to Finale but don't anymore, and Musescore is good but the playback for choir gives more voice to the soprano (as in a non-shapenote choir) which makes hearing how it actually would sound difficult. Any suggestions?

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[Micah Sommersmith]

In my version of MuseScore, pressing "M" opens the Mixer window, which should allow you to adjust the volume of each individual part.

Micah

On Sat, Oct 13, 2018 at 4:21 PM Colette Boulanger <bob.mc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello, hello. I usually write my score out by hand (I have very good manuscript hand), but I know that in regards to proper formatting one needs access to a software program. I used to have access to Finale but don't anymore, and Musescore is good but the playback for choir gives more voice to the soprano (as in a non-shapenote choir) which makes hearing how it actually would sound difficult. Any suggestions?

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[Micah John Walter]

I usually play back music using a piano sound, though occasionally organ; I'm usually bothered by most non-piano MIDI sounds. It does the job well enough for helping me hear the harmonies out loud, and my brain can fill in the rest based on my experience with knowing the timbre of the different parts in Sacred Harp singing.

I also will make a version of the file that has treble and tenor in both octaves; sometimes that makes a difference.

Micah W.

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