PrintMusic 2009 Update released
The boffins at MakeMusic have been beavering away, and now once again they attempt to make life a little better for all those of us who write with music software by updating the worlds best selling music notation program, PrintMusic 2009. So, have they succeeded?
Evolution, not revolution.
Improving on a program like this was always going to be tricky. On the one hand, users continually demand more from their music notation software; on the other, MakeMusic already has two notation programs ( Finale Allegro and Finale 2009) in the range above PrintMusic, for which the highest levels of functionality and performance must be kept in reserve. Plus, all Finale music software must be seen to be keeping ahead of rival Sibelius software in terms of facilities and value for money.
What’s New?
Composers and arrangers will enjoy the improved interface and streamlined workflow; the less steps in between the creative impulse and getting it down, the happier we are. Also new in PrintMusic 2009 is the ability to drag and drop expression markings and flexible expression editing. Elsewhere, MusicXML has been updated, allowing the import and export of MusicXML 2.0 files, which, unlike MIDI files allow the transfer of sounds and graphical elements in your files to other applications, including older versions of PrintMusic (back to 2006). In Print Music 2009, these files can now be compressed, making them much smaller and more transportable. XML Import also recognises advanced score features such as fretboards, composite time signatures, and articulation markings such as slurs, etc.
In practice, a lot of users like to scan music and then manipulate it using software, and PrintMusic 2009 facilitates this with the inclusion of SmartScore Lite by Musictek. One way in which 2009 moves forward is in it’s improved ability when scanning polyphonic music. Both Mac and Windows users can scan directly from SmartScore Lite, but it’s worth checking what scanner you are using, as it can work better with some than with others - MakeMusic’s own published examples use a Canon N670U, although Epson scanners are recommended. Please note that a dedicated scanner generally will produce the best results compared to an all-in-one machine . Owners of Intel based Macs are at no disadvantage, either. Bear in mind that you should expect to have to deal with some edits, but the number of these can be mercifully few when compared with other programs. Remember too that scanning software is designed to deal with engraver music, and not handwritten scores.
Score markings have been rationalized in PrintMusic 2009, with markings easily selectable from a grid display. Once entered into the score, markings can quickly be edited or moved around. Dynamic markings, lyrics, expressive text, tempo and rehearsal markings, plus techniques such as arco and pizzicato can all be easily applied to your score, and you can then hear the results. The Human Playback feature further enhances the results, with 15 preset options such as Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Latin, Rock etc. serving to help realize the sound of your piece as you intended it. Even the music entered via mouse can have a live performance quality to it; this is really a great feature in what is essentially a mass market rather than an elitist product, and the difference in sound quality with Human Playback can be striking indeed!
All in all, the new features on offer with PrintMusic 2009 represent refinements to what is already a very successful score writing program. Existing features have been enhanced, and the user experience benefits as a result. The Print Music 2009 upgrade will no doubt also do very well, as it offers all the latest refinements to existing PrintMusic users for a relatively small outlay; however, power users do also have the choice of upgrading to Finale 2009, which offers truly world class score writing features, for a very attractive cost indeed. Anyone interested in buying or upgrading to PrintMusic 2009 or Finale 2009 should contact the UK’s Finale specialist, www.northernmusiconline.co.uk